Awais Zafar Email & Phone Number

Pakistan

Pakistan

I served as the Director of Finance and Legal, providing strategic and operational financial leadership to drive the company's success. With a focus on optimizing growth and profitability, I oversaw the FP&A function, corporate secretarial compliance and investor relations. As an experienced financial leader in the e-commerce startup space, my responsibilities encompass a range of crucial activities:• Strategic Business Planningo Lead the strategic business planning process, identifying key opportunities & risks, to maximize value creation potential, providing insights on revenue management, pricing, promotionso Collaborate with leadership teams to set medium-to-long term strategic direction & operating plans• Integrated Business Planning (IBP)o Launched Integrated Business Planning in coordination with a consultant.o Implement a comprehensive planning framework to streamline operations and enhance overall business efficiency• Budgeting and Planningo Perform budgeting and cash planning activities, ensuring alignment with the company's financial goals and objectives• Commercial Team Collaborationo Collaborate with the commercial team to develop effective ways of measuring and monitoring performanceo Improve visibility on performance and targets, driving continuous improvement and sustainable growth• Working Capital Managemento Oversee the working capital cycle of the e-commerce startup and optimize cash flow• Funding and Investor Relationso Coordinate with investors for the company's expansion and growth plans• Financial Statement Review and Complianceo Review financial statements to ensure accuracy and compliance with accounting standardso Maintain a thorough understanding of relevant regulations & laws, ensuring corporate affairs & taxation management compliance• Board of Directors Engagemento Collaborate with the Board on various matters, support decision-making processes with a focus on financial considerations & implications

Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan

At EP Systems I was responsible for providing strategic and operational financial leadership, overseeing the FP&A function, corporate secretarial compliance, investor relations and to meet the needs of a growing Fintech startup by working closely with the CEO and other department heads. My responsibilities included• Ensuring the integrity, completeness and cohesiveness of accounting information;• Complying with local financial requirements, enforcing compliance and advising management on needed actions;• Assisting other departments with their analysis and queries from time to time; Spearhead/participate in special projects as needed within the department, within a broader finance environment and/or cross-functionally with other departments;• Launched EMI (Electronic Money Institution) pilot operations "OneZapp",• Provided value-added analysis of financial results, performance against budgets and strategic direction;• Preparation of projections for new avenues and providing suggestions;• Managing investor relations, assisting in Due Diligence and meeting the reporting requirements;• Managing departmental staff by ensuring delegation of tasks, enforcing teamwork spirit and communication with each other for efficient and effective results;• Authored key financial policies/controls for existing and new products and ensuring their compliance;• Developing and maintaining strong control systems in line with Risk and Accounting Policies, and best industry practices;• Dealing with tax advisors, consultants and lawyers on different requirements of the company;• Preparation of working papers and presentations for board of directors;• Ensuring compliance with applicable corporate laws and central bank regulations;• Carried out Corporate restructuring (Holding Company creation);• Reviewing contracts and new arrangements with investors, vendors, banks and other external parties;• Managing the working capital; &• Overseeing HR & Admin Function of the Company

Lahore District, Punjab, Pakistan

While working in the Assurance and Business Advisory Services department of the firm and I had been involved in audits (including group audits), reviews, agreed-upon procedures (including professional consultancy) and financial valuation services carried across various sectors of the industry in various capacities. The experience helped in developing analytical, numeracy and problem solving skills. Also developed the ability of handling situations under pressure, and meeting deadlines. Extensive client interaction and teamwork enhanced my interpersonal skills. Overall, the experience boosted my commercial awareness giving me a chance to familiarize with the field of professional services.Audit & Assurance• Managing teams to ensure right mix of skills and strengths are being leveraged as effectively and efficiently as possible;• Coordinating with professionals in various fields including legal experts, actuaries, system process assurance teams and IT experts;• Assisting and guiding clients regarding significant accounting, reporting and compliance issues;• Decision-making for resolution of critical matters and ensuring deadlines are met effectively;• Ensuring compliance with management policies and statutory requirements and adequacy of reporting systems;• Analyzing financial statements to ensure compliance with local laws and International Financial Reporting Standards and reviewing systems to identify control weaknesses and suggesting recommendations; and• Relationship management of existing and prospective clients.Business Advisory and Special Assignments• Financial valuation services to clients for companies engaged in automobile sector;• Review of Financial Models prepared by clients to ensure that the projections and underlying assumptions are logically and accurately compiled;• Assisted in conducting financial feasibility for investment in healthcare sector;• Assisted in sell side advisory services to sponsors of a chemical manufacturing company

Pakistan

Pakistan

The role covered the same area of responsibilities and functions as an Audit Trainee, but covered more complex assignments and a more extensive review function.

Pakistan

My responsibilities as an Audit Trainee in Assurance and Business Advisory Services (ABAS) at PwC encompassed following:• Analysis and review of financial statements, ensuring adequacy of reporting system, compliance with local statutory requirements, and adherence to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs), compilation of financial statements in compliance with IFRSs and the local statutory regulations while assessing all areas of financial statements, ensuring adequacy of audit procedures and compliance with International Standards on Auditing (ISAs).• Developing audit plans, evaluating controls, preparation of audit reports identifying control weaknesses, associated risks, implications and suggesting recommendations thereon and communicating findings to engagement partner and senior management.• Managing teams to ensure right mix of skills and strengths are being leveraged as effectively and efficiently as possible.• Review of Compliance with the applicable laws and industry specific regulations which mainly includes Companies Ordinance 1984, Income Tax ordinance 2001, Code of Corporate Governance and Sales Tax Act 1990.• Interpretation of the financial statements, determining the adequacy and reasonableness of the assumptions used in the preparation of the forecasts provided by the audit clients to obtain evidence about the going concern assumption• Reviewing audit work performed by team members and assessing for adequacy in light of risks identified.• Evaluated Cash Flow projections prepared by management including operational assumptions used, economic forecasts, cost of capital and sources of future finance to conclude on applicability of the Going concern Assumption and to identify indications of impairment of individual cash generating units.• Co-ordination with professionals in various fields like legal, actuarial, system process assurance and IT experts

Chartered Accountancy (Ca), Auditing, Accounting & Finance, Ca - Finalist (2 Papers Of Module F Remaining)

Intermediate (Fsc), Pre-Medicine/Pre-Medical Studies, A+

Matriculation, Science, A

Activities and Societies: Debating, Quiz, Dramatics