Zubair Syed, CMA

FINANCE MANAGER
Contact: +971506689747
Email: zubair.syed@outlook.com
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
https://www.linkedin.com/in/zubairsyed83/

PROFESSIONAL SNAPSHOT
Finance & Accounting expert with strong professional background leveraging CMA credential
with 15+ years’ experience in ERP, Cashflow Management, FP&A, reporting, and budgeting.
 Strategic analysis driven business partner via monitoring orders, contracts, sales, and
other financial results such as commissions and direct cost management.
 Highly proficient with ERP, SAP FI-CO including CO module, Dynamics Business Central,
Tally ERP 9, QuickBooks Enterprise, MS Excel & Access, Tableau (BI), and SQL.
Financial Planning & Analysis Variances & Trend Analysis
Budgeting & Monthly reporting System Automation & Process Improvements
OPEX & CAPEX Investment Planning Team player and Team Management Skills
KPI Reporting & Cost Controlling Statutory Financial Statements Preparation
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
SAP AND KAPS PETROLEUM LLC (EPC contractor) Abu Dhabi, UAE
FINANCE MANAGER DEC 2012 - APR 2020
Controlled all aspects of corporate accounting and financial reporting including general ledger,
fixed assets, accounts payable, accounts receivable, petty cash, bank reconciliation,
intercompany balances, payrolls, project pricing/costing, and BOM verifications of 3 group
entities. Reviewed and supervised the work of 5 staff and motivated the finance team for
better performance. Key Achievements:
 Analyzed new investments and business opportunities through valuation models. Built
top-level, forecasting model for planning & analysis.
 Forecast rolling cash flow with scenario models presenting simulations of financial
impacts of strategic decisions.
 Tracking project’s cash flow by analyzing CAPEX required and business OPEX cash
outflow.
 Accomplished zero-based budgeting of over AED 50M+ annually, analyzed department’s
assumptions, coordinated, and complied budget. Monitor costs and revenues whilst taking
cost reductions measures.
 Executed monthly management reporting of 7 BUs, based on variable costing and
absorption with balancing ensuring timely monthly closing, and accruals postings.
 Designed KPI reports, achieving 80% reduction in preparation time, KPIs based on
projects planned and earned value, actual versus budgeted variance, and target.
 Reduced Selling, General, and Administrative (SG&A) expense 15% by developing
Travel and Entertainment policy and procedure, ensuring defined controls.
 Executed Inventory Control process, reducing inventory loss 33% annually versus the
previous year through process standardization, training, and performance audit.
 Streamlined Invoicing process to reduce errors improved receivables quality, declined
DSO by 50% and rigorous follow-ups, and Cashflow improvements.
 Held ultimate responsibility for preparations of Statutory Financial Statements under
IFRS. Consolidation of Financial Statements of overseas offices.
 Coordinated ICV audit & reporting.

One-Off Projects within the Group:

 Re-designed COA and redesigned Cost elements, 15 Cost & 7 Profit Centers. Enabled
activity-based assessment and distribution for overhead cost allocation.
 Limit headcount by 15% by persuading management to adopt an MS Dynamics Business
Central ERP - led groupwide implementation.
 Lead financial modeling for AED 94 million of PSI Real Estate construction joint venture,
including investors’ distribution waterfall.
 Arranged facility with Commercial Bank for Pharma Tech’s (Group Co.) valued AED
35m for financing guarantees and L/C for Dubai Health Project.
 Restructured the General Policy of the company in HR, administration affairs, and
Employee relations. Supervise the implementation of policy, regulations, and important
decisions and execution.

SICURO GROUP FZE Dubai, UAE

Financial Controller APR 2010 - SEP 2012
Hired to set up accounting functions, prepare financial statements, audits, and internal
management reporting. Key Achievements:
 Achieved by revising chart of accounts, enabled profit-center accounting, prepared an
annual budget, and executed cash flow planning for the company.
 Executed cash flow forecasts to analyze the liquidity and profitability of the business.
Projects within the Group:
 Implemented SAP by working with the SAP Consulting team, with primary responsibility for
the design and implementation of Costing and Financial modules for the division.
 Customized FICO module for various global, GL, AR, and controlling parameters in IMG.
 Collaborated with Valuation experts as project lead to prepare a business valuation for the
sale of a business segment to the new investor.

EARLY CAREER
Senior Accountant; Pioneer House LLC, Dubai, UAE NOV 2007- APR 2010
Assistant Manager Finance; IGI Insurance Ltd, Pakistan APR 2007- SEP 2007
Finance Executive Officer; Takaful Pakistan Ltd, Pakistan DEC 2006- APR 2007
Finance Executive Officer; Central Insurance Co. Ltd, Pakistan MAY 2004- NOV 2006

EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS

CERTIFIED MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANT - CMA United States
Institute of Management Accountants - the USA
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE The United Kingdom
The University of Northampton - UK
MBA IN FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING Pakistan
Preston University
CA FOUNDATION CERTIFICATE Pakistan
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Languages: Fluent in English, IELTS 7.5 General (Feb 2019)
Certifications: Financial Modeling and Valuation Analyst FMVA from Corporate Finance
Institute – Canada
Presentation: Presentation Skills Training Certificate – School of Business Studies (ICAP)