Expert Details
Financial Due Diligence, Valuation and Business Plans; Investment, Private Equity
ID: 736746
Saudi Arabia
Expertise:
- Corporate Strategy
- Banking & Treasury
- Analysis & presentations
- Digital Transformation
- Business planning & Strategy
- Private Equity and M & A
- Restructuring
- ERP Systems
- Cash Management
- Compliance
- Corporate Governance
- Risk Management
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2019 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: CFO and Chief Investment Officer | Department: Finance |
Responsibilities:A real estate and energy development fund backed by reputed UHNW Saudi shareholders. The company manages and develops commercial, industrial, and residential projects in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Cyprus, Lebanon, the USA, and Europe. The company also invests in Renewable Energy project development, hospitality ventures, and private equity investments.Reporting to the Chairman and CEO (shareholders), the mandate is to manage a global USD 100+ million investment portfolio to generate high returns commensurate with the risk. Managing a team of 10 at the HQ. Currently also serving as Group CFO, Renewable Energy Project Developer and Energy Service Provider offering turnkey Energy Saving Solutions, owned by the group. Achievements: - Restructured global investment portfolio (real estate and PE investments). - Reviewed investment proposals; identified and led select transactions. - Identified under-performing investments and initiated exits to minimize losses. - Put in place formal due diligence processes and established minimum criteria for all new investments. - Reviewed several investment proposals – identified and initiated select transactions. - Restructured accounting systems and principles and put in place new systems based on fund accounting. - Streamlined and simplified reporting systems to turn the focus on KPIs. - Instituted a new system for monthly reviews that monitored KPIs against strategic targets. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2013 to 2018 | Employer: Habtoor Leighton Group | Title: Group CFO | Department: Finance |
Responsibilities:One of the largest international contractors in the MENA region, HLG was a JV between Al Habtoor Group and Leighton Australia (now CIMIC, Australia’s largest project development and contracting group with annual revenues exceeding US$24 billion).Group CFO at a time when HLG had 20,000 employees with branches in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Iraq. The group had annual revenues of USD 3 billion and an ongoing pipeline of over 35 large-scale projects. This role reported to the CEO and Board of Directors, overseeing a team of 80 with 12 direct reports. Achievements: - Developed trusting relationships with key stakeholders; put in place finance strategies to reduce risks. - Supported project bids and helped win several large-size projects. - Prepared the company for an IPO; improved corporate governance and risk management procedures to initiate the IPO process. - Integrated and restructured the finance organization – reduced headcount from 110 to 80 professionals while ensuring the business remained effectively supported by building a qualified team. - Treasury and Cash Management: - Improved cash management in an extremely challenging financial environment - reduced receivables and unbilled work by over 30% resulting in a huge positive impact on cash flow. - Led treasury and managed banking relationships, raised funds, and loan syndication through bonds. - Restructured long-term debts and banking facilities of over USD 1 billion. - Led working capital management, active exchange, and interest rate risk management. - Led an aggressive cost reduction campaign resulting in over 10% reduction in overheads. - Integrated and consolidated cash flows across the region Best practice and system improvements: - Introduced a performance review system to improve focus on KPIs and align targets with strategy. - Reviewed compliance process and introduced new systems to ensure compliance with Australian Stock Exchange mandated controls and reporting requirements. - Established a customer-centric approach to the finance function to better support business units. - Introduced a system to better align the bid estimation process with actual costs resulting in more accurate costing and improved bid results. - Reduced reporting period and improved efficiency by implementing best practices. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2006 to 2012 | Employer: Al Shafar Industries (Alumco) LLC | Title: Chief Financial Officer | Department: |
Responsibilities:A holding company with interests in the manufacture of building materials, engineering, and construction industry. The company owns 14 subsidiaries across the MENA, UK, and Far East region. The company had over 3,000 employees with USD 400 million in revenue.The role reported to the CEO and Board of Directors, led a team of 22. Achievements: - Developed corporate strategy focused on improved profitability and growth through diversification and partnerships. - Set up Risk Management strategy, procedures, and controls. - Lead managed PE investment in the company from international investors (over USD 150 million); raised funds through banks. - Reduced costs, scaled operations, and spread overheads across projects - improving profitability by 20% - Set up several JVs and partnerships with European partners across the GCC. - Lead managed an acquisition in the UK (led due diligence, negotiating SPA, post-acquisition restructuring) - Led IPO readiness for the company. - Led budgeting, cash flow forecasting, and long-term financial planning activities. - Managed treasury operations, including strategy for cross-utilization of funds and low-cost financing. - Introduced Employees’ Incentive Plan and Employee Share Options Plan for key members of management. - Worked with experts to ensure legal and tax compliance across group operations. - Led the IT function, established a system of internal reporting, and implemented a robust MIS system. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2000 to 2006 | Employer: Naser Al Sayer Group | Title: Group Financial Controller | Department: |
Responsibilities:Operations in various sectors including automotive, Oil & Gas, manufacturing, real estate, healthcare, FMCG, retail, hospitality, and freight & shipping. MNC partners included Toyota, Renault, Hitachi, Canon, and Alcatel. The group had over 3,000 employees and revenues of over USD 1 billion.Reported to the Chairman and board members, leading a team of 10 professionals. Naser Al Sayer Group has over 30 companies with centralized support functions – Finance, Internal Audit, HR, Legal, and IT. Achievements: - Defined and reviewed KPIs for group companies with a focus on business strategy and long-term goals. - Set up new businesses in the building materials industry (aggregates, asphalt, and ready-mix concrete). - Led fund-raising from banks of over USD 100+ million. - Directed and oversaw IT, HR, and legal functions; led recruitment to key senior management positions. - Played a key role in re-engineering business processes and functional performance. - Improved internal risk management procedures and set up internal audit function. - Led preparation and analysis of feasibility studies for new projects. - Led cost savings by coordinating foreign exchange inflow/outflow across group companies. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1994 to 2000 | Employer: Rees Oil & Gas Services LLC | Title: Finance Manager | Department: |
Responsibilities:Owned by Al-Zawawi Group, the company provides geophysical surveys and oil field-related services on long-term contracts to international Oil & Gas companies in JV with an American MNC, Grant Geophysical Inc.Streamlined purchasing procedures leading to savings of over USD 10 million. Improved management of surplus funds to generate higher yields with lower risks. |
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International Experience
| Years | Country / Region | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Years: 2019 to Present | Country / Region: Saudi Arabia | Summary: Finance, Investment, and Banking |
| Years: 2006 to 2018 | Country / Region: United Arab Emirates | Summary: Accounting, Auditing, Banking, Financial Management |
| Years: 2000 to 2006 | Country / Region: Kuwait | Summary: Cost Management, Financial Management, International Taxation, Investment Management |
| Years: 1994 to 2000 | Country / Region: Oman | Summary: Accounting, Financial Reporting, and Banking |
Career Accomplishments
| Licenses / Certifications |
|---|
| American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, USA Certified Public Accountant (CPA) 2006 Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, UK Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA) 1997 |
Language Skills
| Language | Proficiency |
|---|---|
| English | Expert |
| Arabic | Fluent |
| Hindi | Native |
| Urdu | Fluent |
Fields of Expertise
accounting, corporate finance, international taxation, banking, auditing, enterprise risk management, corporate governance, internal controls, business valuation, cash flow planning, business plans, due diligence, fundraising, financial forecasting, financial management, budgetary control, business startup