Faisal Zafar
Matola,Maputo
Summary
To pursue a challenging and dynamic role in financial and strategic management for a people oriented organization with opportunity for professional growth based on personal skills and achievements. Forward-thinking team leader skilled at operating departments efficiently to meet goals. Successful background matching employees with roles for maximum performance. Proactive and hardworking individual focused on continuous operational improvement.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Finance Manager
Aga Khan Academy Mozambique
01.2017 - Current
- Managed investments to diversify financial portfolios and grow revenue.
- Researched and facilitated software integration to streamline accounting and financial processes.
- Analyzed financial statements against forecasts to prepare high-level variance analysis.
- Maintained responsive organization with sustained revenue growth through industry forecast monitoring and deliberate financial planning.
- Trained new and existing staff members in various financial procedures to prepare for job requirements.
- Reviewed documentation and identified financial discrepancies where applicable.
- Monitored budget and revenue trends, compiling reports for company leadership to inform decision-making.
- Completed filings and upheld strict compliance with regulatory agencies and supervisors.
- Forecasted trends and recommended improvements based on financial risk analyses.
- Created organizational structures to improve accounting and finance functions.
- Supported change management by understanding and addressing impacts of new accounting policies, financial statement initiatives and non-standard transactions.
- Investigated daily variances and corrected errors to resolve discrepancies.
- Initiated comprehensive account assessments to check viability, stability and profitability of business operations.
- Performed spending analysis and partnerships to refine policies and develop recommendations for improvement.
- Improved overall financial reporting by streamlining control processes and reporting structures.
- Reviewed historical records, current operational data and forecasting information to identify and capitalize on system enhancement opportunities.
- Prepared internal and regulatory financial reports, balance sheets and income statements.
- Performed routine closings, maintained clean, accurate and accessible records and kept close eye on transaction updates throughout each quarter.
- Developed strategic plans for day-to-day financial operations.
- Recruited, interviewed and hired multiple employees and implemented mentoring program to promote positive feedback and engagement.
- Processed invoices and contacted appropriate parties for timely payment receipt.
- Drove revenue stream development through strategic collaboration and partnerships.
Finance Manager & International Reporting
Aga Khan Foundation Mozambique
Maputo
07.2013 - 12.2016
- Managed financial compliance and reporting of the grants portfolio (USD$50 Million) implemented in eight district of northern Mozambique. This portfolio included mix of funding from international agencies and government of Mozambique.
- Responsible for generating periodic financial reports for donor agencies and insuring all due diligence done for quality assurance and compliance. Including working with project team and supervision of finance field staff for preparation of relevant documents and financial forecasting of the projects as per
annual plans and project logic models. - Preparation and submission of financial reports/cash requests to donor agencies (i.e. USDA, EC, CIDA,GAC, World Bank, etc.) on periodic basis.
- Meeting with donor agencies, relevant finance and program staff on financial reports queries and technical issues. Also, compliance check of partner organizations, receiving funding from AKF (M),including their internal compliance audits.
- Mapping of financial data with the approved budget and work plan in all thematic areas (i.e. Civil Society, Health, Education, Rural Development and Agriculture) for efficient automatic report generation from accounting system.
- Grant reconciliation of individual donors as well as of the projects; release of funds to various projects on needs basis, according to their budgetary requirements.
- Ad hoc reporting requests, information requests an explanations that arise within the corporate accounting team (and across the group as required).
- Initiate the project visits as and when required for audit as well as for their financial training/capacity building purposes.
- Meeting with implementing partners to discuss budgetary issues, funding requirements and monitoring
of project spending. - Coordination for external audits for specific donor’s programme i.e. EC, USAID and CIDA etc. Eight external audits completed in three years with clean reports and NIL adjustments.
- Preparation of concise and brief guidelines from donor regulation after thorough research from donor polices and signed agreements.
- Maintenance of permanent files including successful proposals, all original award document and official correspondence regarding funding or other agreement terms and conditions.
- Responsible for periodic financial statements and annual financial statements with working papers for external audits.
- Facilitated external annual audit and conducted internal audits/reviews of projects including presentation of reports to management by building dashboards with key indicators.
- Drafting of finance manual, flow charts, procurement policy, administration, travel policies. These policies than transformed into e-system.
- Responsible for preparing (Branch) Mozambique financial statements and data for consolidation with AKF Portugal first time since start of AKF Mozambique
Finance Officer
Al-Khair Foundation, United Kingdom
01.2012 - 07.2013
- Collaborated with team leaders to define standards, policies and procedures to meet company revenue goals.
- Established and enforced controls on revenue and expenses to protect company assets.
- Evaluated project applications and verified with outline specifications to approve, reject and recommend adjustments.
- Monitored budget and revenue trends, compiling reports for company leadership to inform decision-making.
- Updated general ledger of accounts with current, accurate and industry-compliant data to meet all internal and external audit requirements.
- Managed customer deliveries and assisted with carrying out orders to promote maximum satisfaction.
- Overhauled process for year-end inventory audits to improve accuracy.
- Input vendor payments and updated accounts to reflect new balances.
- Established and checked coding procedures, monitored reports and updated internal files.
- Performed spending analysis and partnerships to refine policies and develop recommendations for improvement.
- Established and enforced internal controls, workflows and policies for tracking, reconciling and reporting on accounting activities.
- Identified improvement changes regarding key processes for internal controls and accounting procedures.
- Developed strategic plans for day-to-day financial operations.
- Generated sales tax reports for each operational jurisdictions, monitored bi-weekly payroll and prepared and paid out sales commissions.
- Prepared cash flow projections, cost analysis and monthly, quarterly and annual reports.
- Performed routine closings, maintained clean, accurate and accessible records and kept close eye on transaction updates throughout each quarter.
Senior Corporate Accountant
MVR Marketing, United Kingdom
09.2010 - 12.2011
- Used advanced software to prepare documents, reports and presentations.
- Cooperated with senior leaders to create operating budgets and initiate financial planning.
- Compiled general ledger entries on short schedule with 100% accuracy.
- Conducted technical and analytical reviews of tax returns to check for accuracy and qualified deductions.
- Facilitated financial and operational audits, working with internal and external managers to communicate recommendations or issues surrounding audits.
- Contacted customers to immediately find resolutions for escalated issues.
- Maintained integrity of general ledger and chart of accounts.
- Provided journal entries and performed accounting on accrual basis.
- Used accounting software to issue tax returns and prepare consolidated reports.
- Identified audit risks, prepared budgets and coordinated with management and audit team in preparing related reports.
- Prepared quarterly LP financial reports for various venture capital funds.
- Developed and implemented corrective actions to bring business areas in line with standards.
- Researched technical tax issues to define tax effect or impact of certain tax positions.
- Partnered with auditors to track errors and add contributions to maintain accuracy.
- Resolved financial and tax issues and maximized customer satisfaction scores.
- Trained new employees on accounting principles and company procedures.
- Prepared working papers, reports and supporting documentation for audit findings.
- Tracked funds, prepared deposits and reconciled accounts.
Education
Association Charted Certified Accountancy - Accounting And Finance
Kaplan Financial College
Birmingham, United KingdomMBA - Finance And International Reporting (in-progress)
FBT Birmingham
United KingdomCertificate - Project Management
FBT College Birmingham
United Kingdom04.2013
BBA - Finance
National College of Business Administration
Pakistan04.2010
Skills
- In depth knowledge of IS, IFRS, and Canadian GAAP with familiarity of Canadian tax and charities regulations
- Conversant in preparation of Financial Statement; including balance sheet, Statement of operations,
- Cash Flow and statement of equity for organizations dealing with multiple currency and consolidation of accounts
- Donor reports of Governmental aid agencies such as DFAID, EC, GAC, World Bank, etc Also, other private foundations and corporate donors
- In-depth knowledge of compliance regulations of various donor agencies and streamlining their reports and cash flow needs of project in implementation areas Including policy development, project auditing and compliance training to staff for capacity building on compliance
- Comprehensive knowledge of project accounting and all other operational areas; while, insuring international standards, GAAP, and local rules and regulations are incorporated in books
- Comprehensive knowledge of Internal and External Audit; Audit Standards, Procedures, Test of Details/Controls and Analytical Procedures
- Computer & Internet Security, Technical Support and Project Management
Timeline
Finance Manager
Aga Khan Academy Mozambique
01.2017 - Current
Finance Manager & International Reporting
Aga Khan Foundation Mozambique
07.2013 - 12.2016
Finance Officer
Al-Khair Foundation, United Kingdom
01.2012 - 07.2013
Senior Corporate Accountant
MVR Marketing, United Kingdom
09.2010 - 12.2011
Association Charted Certified Accountancy - Accounting And Finance
Kaplan Financial College
MBA - Finance And International Reporting (in-progress)
FBT Birmingham
Certificate - Project Management
FBT College Birmingham
BBA - Finance
National College of Business Administration
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