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Work Background
Lakhraim GroupVP Transformation - Finance & Shared Services
May. 2025Dubai, United Arab EmiratesLead the design, setup, and operationalization of the Group Shared Services Unit, driving enterprise-wide integration and efficiency for a hospitality chain with a workforce of 5,000+ at 65 locations across GCC. • Design and launch the Group Shared Services model, aligning structure, governance, with business goals. • Integrate Finance, HR, Contracts, Procurement, IT, Facility Management, Engineering, Marketing, PR, and Government Relations under one centralized strategy. • Establish SLAs, governance protocols, and reporting systems to ensure service quality, accountability, transparency. • Build leadership capacity and operational readiness across all functions to deliver scalable, high-impact support. • Standardize policies, internal controls, and procedures to ensure compliance, efficiency, and risk mitigation. • Lead digital transformation, cost optimization, and process reengineering initiatives across support functions. • Foster cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder alignment, develop KPIs and performance systems.
IHCGroup Finance Director - Reach Holding and Subsidiaries
Aug. 2023 - Feb. 2025Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab EmiratesReach Group is a subsidiary of IHC (International Holding Company) Abu Dhabi publicly listed conglomerate on ADX comprising 1,000+ entities in various business segments. As the Group Finance Director, I have successfully led the Corporate finance function of 10 subsidiaries with 250+ customers, managed monthly payroll (WPS/Non-WPS) and financial consolidation for 8000+ outsourced staff. Business Verticals included Reach Group SPV Ltd. (ADGM) Holding company, - Reach Employment Services (Dubai & Abu Dhabi) - Manpower Outsourcing services, - Reach Digital LLC (Abu Dhabi) - IT BPO services, - Reach Energy LLC (Abu Dhabi) - Outsourcing services for Oil & Gas sector, - Reach BPO LLC (Abu Dhabi) - BPO services, - Reach 3C for Call Center (Dubai) - Call center services Successfully managed and delivered outcomes at Holding and subsidiary level across areas: - Financial Planning and Strategy, Annual budgeting, Forecasting, and 5-year plans - Public Company Compliance & Reporting of consolidated financial statements in compliance with IFRS - Daily working capital Management through bills-discounting, and CAPEX planning through term loans. - Investor Relations & IPO Readiness through the development of financial policies and controls, compliance with governance standards (achieved clean internal audits). - Seamless Implementation of ERP Oracle NetSuite in record time across subsidiaries and Holdco. - Partnering with subsidiaries' CEOs to improve cash flow, margins, P&L and ICV certifications. - Approving Bid Pricing to secure Bid/Performance Bonds. - Mentoring a large diverse finance and payroll team. Successfully structured and managed Holdco/subsidiaries shared services teams in post-merger integration. - Monitor VAT health checks, correct VAT treatment on invoices, and Corporate Tax Automation project roll-out.
IHCHead of Corporate & Operations Finance - WFC Holding & Subsidiaries
Dec. 2020 - Jul. 2023Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab EmiratesWFC Holding is subsidiary of IHC (International Holding Company) Abu Dhabi publicly listed conglomerate on ADX comprising 1,000+ entities in various business segments. In my role with WFC Holding as Corporate and Operations Finance Head, I: - Successfully structured and managed shared finance services to support 3,000+ staff across 100+ clients, supervised payroll payments, improving efficiency by 80%. - Delivered timely accounting & financial reporting, ensured accuracy and full compliance with IFRS, Group reporting. - Successfully lifted and shifted finance operations of 3 major clients within 6 months, managed 900,000 annual transactions in AR, AP, GL and FR (R2R, P2P, O2C and FP&A) through SLA delivery. Prepared consolidated FS for external auditing. - Achieved DSO reduction by 50%, saved AED 2 mn annually through automated invoicing, improved operating cycle. - Successfully led financial due diligence for a BPO acquisition, renegotiated the PP (saved AED 2 mn), aligning optimal use of resources in post-merger integration. - Achieved full compliance with UAE VAT laws through VAT health checks. - Drove strategic business plan, annual budgeting, and 5-yr operational strategy, advised the CXOs on financial results versus budgets/forecasts/prior periods, for improvements. - Successfully implemented RPA solutions for automated bank and credit card expense reconciliations, reduced operational costs and improved productivity by 20%.
Jamal Al-Ghurair Group of CompaniesActing CFO - Porcellan LLC.
Jan. 2018 - Dec. 2019Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesIndustry: Industial Manufacturing, Distribution, Marketing and Sales of Porcelain Tiles Porcellan LLC is part of Jamal Al Ghurair Group of Companies, with Tiles Manufacturing facility of 50,000 sqm situated in ICAD, Abu Dhabi. In my role as Acting CFO, I: - Directed daily cash flow and treasury operations and ensured seamless business continuity, while strengthening banking relationships and negotiating favorable credit facilities. Streamlined financial reporting processes, successfully cutting month-end close timelines by 9 days, significantly improving operational efficiency and visibility. - Restructured AED 100 million in bank financing for a loss-making entity, and secured $800,000 in annual savings through successful enrollment in the Abu Dhabi Electricity Tariff Incentive Program. - Led a strategic M&A feasibility study for potential post-merger synergies with RAK Ceramics, and developed bankable business plans to support the investment case. - Consistently provided actionable financial insights and cost-saving strategies, while mentoring and empowering the finance team to drive performance and support business growth.
Jamal Al-Ghurair Group of CompaniesActing CFO - Gypsemna LLC
Jan. 2018 - Dec. 2019Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesIndustry: Industial Manufacturing, Distribution, Marketing and Sales of Gypseum Board. Gypsemna LLC is part of Jamal Al Ghurair Group of Companies, with Gypsem Board Manufacturing facility of 50,000 sq m situated in ICAD, Abu Dhabi. In my role as acting CFO, I: - Managed daily cash flow and treasury functions, ensuring operational continuity and liquidity across the business, while strengthening banking relationships and negotiating favorable credit facilities. - Spearheaded strategic pricing and cost-reduction initiatives at Gypsemna Company LLC, resulting in improved profitability and streamlined operations. - Led end-to-end financial analysis and reporting, reducing month-end closing time by 9 days and enhancing reporting accuracy to strengthen financial controls and regulatory compliance. - Delivered actionable financial insights and cost-saving recommendations, while providing strong leadership and mentorship to the finance team to elevate overall performance.
Jamal Al-Ghurair Group of CompaniesSenior Manager Financial Planning and Strategy - Al Khaleej Sugar International Projects
Mar. 2013 - Nov. 2020Dubai, UAEIndustry: Industrial Manufacturing/Sugar Refining, Commodity Trading, Break-Bulk Port handling & Logistics Services, Corporate Farming - Collaborated closely with the CEO to lead financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and investment analysis for cross-border projects. Spearheaded financial due diligence and partnered with technical, commercial, and legal teams to develop accurate, executable budgets. - Built and maintained robust financial models and conducted market studies for diversified agribusiness ventures—including sugar beet and cane farming, manufacturing, refining, and commodity logistics—supporting a $100M investment portfolio across the UK, Africa, Pakistan, Egypt, Malaysia, and Brazil. - Delivered comprehensive variance analysis of financial performance vs. budgets, forecasts, and historical benchmarks. Stress-tested models under multiple scenarios (base, best, worst cases), resulting in bankable structures used to secure financing in collaboration with Big 4 firms and international banks. - Oversaw end-to-end contract execution and data governance for a Sharia-compliant financing structure, ensuring full audit compliance for Dubai Islamic Bank’s “Salam” product.
McDermott International Inc.Budget Controller - Fabrication
Mar. 2011 - Feb. 2013Dubai, UAEIndustry: EPCI - Engineering, Procurement, Fabrication, Construction & Installation of On-Shore/Off-Shore Energy Solutions Managed Annual Budget, 5-year plan, monthly and quarterly forecast for Engineering and Fabrication DOE for booked and Pipeline Projects. Quantified areas of cost efficiency and reduction. Measured the financial impact of lease/buy options and other capital expenditure feasibilities. Managed 2 direct reports. Industry: Off-Shore Oil&Gas (EPC) - Reviewed five-year fabrication standard against actual DOE; analyzed over-under absorption of DOE, monthly, quarterly and annual reporting. - Developed Fabrication standards (Class 5 to 1 rates) for bid pricing, standard man-hours, variable and semi-variable overheads - Managed Capex Budget and Forecast, compared versus prior periods, prepared reasoning for the BU meeting decks.
Caribou CoffeeHead of Finance
Oct. 2009 - Feb. 2011Dubai, UAERetail Food and Beverage Services: • Successfully led the day-to-day financial activities of the UAE market with broad responsibility for the preparation of management reporting, budgets, statutory reporting, cash flow management, and prepared analysis aimed at improving business performance. • Oversaw the full spectrum of day-to-day financial operations and maintained an in-depth understanding of the key drivers and KPIs of the business to derive clear and succinct analyses of the ongoing business and financial performance of operations. • Delivered monthly management reporting in compliance with IFRS to Head office based in Kuwait. • Ensured accurate and proper recording and treatment of all transactions with adherence to the accounting standards and policies. • Successfully implemented and maintained accounting system, internal controls, working procedures. • Completed Fixed Assets & Inventory Physical Counts, corrected write-offs and costing methods. • Spearheaded liaison with external auditor, achieved clean external audit of 6 years with Big 4 in 6-moths, • Initiated and led the Annual budget and forecasts process with recommendations reports to business. • Introduced outlet wise P&L reporting and renegotiated rents of few outlets obtaining sales certifications from Big 4. Comparing industry-standard expense ratios to Sales. • Ensured an effective management of payables, receivables, and cash flows. • Coached subordinates and team members. • Oversaw ad-hoc responsibilities (Supply chain), assignments and related duties.
Lakson GroupManager Budget & Planning - Clover Pakistan
Aug. 2006 - Sep. 2009Karachi, PakistanIndustry: FMCG, Manufacturing, Powdered Beverages TANG | Trading of Chocolates and Cheese - Laid the Foundation of Planning and Budgeting department for powdered beverage TANG under franchise agreement with Kraft Foods, and trade products - Philadelphia Cheese and Toblerone Chocolate. - Partnered with CMO on feasibility of distribution set-up of products across Pakistan. - Developed a working model for CEO of setting up a bottling plant of Malt-based drink "Fayrouz" with Egyptian counterparts.
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, L.P.Financial Analyst
Dec. 2004 - Jul. 2006Karachi, Pakistan- Responsible for Monthly dashboard reporting and SKU-wise margin analysis for Consumer healthcare products to Regional head office in Dubai, (Aquafresh, Sensodyne, Paradontax, Iodex, Panadol). - Prepared and reported quarterly templates and management packs comparing P&L, cost drivers, Headcount, Risk and mitigation, working alongside Manufacturing, Commercial and Sales heads. - Performed the Due Diligence of sourcing an alternate distributor, warehousing & storage space for Cx products. - Responsible for monthly, quarterly and Annual reporting and budgeting for Phrama products.
A. F. Ferguson & Co. (a member firm of the PwC network)Audit Supervisor
May. 2000 - Nov. 2004Karachi PakistanSuccessfully completed four years of professional training in progressive roles for external audits, certifications, and regulatory and governance compliance. Clients included British Petroleum (BP), Engro, 3M, IUCN, NCR, PSO, Aventis, Bayer CropScience, Packages Ltd (industries exposure Oil & Gas (Upstream and Downstream), Manufacturing FMCG, Polymer and Chemicals, NGOs, Pharmaceuticals).
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