James Donald Email & Phone Number

United Arab Emirates

United States

• Working on redesigned & Streamlining AP workflows, identify and drive automation opportunities, delegation of authorities and create KPIs for the department.• Driving training and improvements to the process.• SOD / Internal control documentation, advice and guidance on AP activities to team.

Toronto, Canada Area

• Reporting to the Controller & CFO, responsible for full cycle Accounts Payable Operations for 2 Entities i.e. timely AP invoice processing, vendor statement reconciliations, Month end close accruals, accuracy audit, re-classes, Metrics (KPI & SLA) • Managing the AP team, set goals and targets relating to the quality and productivity of the team and facilitated continuous training and improvements to the process.• Redesigned AP Process flows, updated delegation of authorities, consolidated vendor invoicing, eliminated inefficient vendor relationships and created KPI for the department.• Implementation of expense management program for T & E - expense management software. • On-boarded 2 other US entities onto Net Suite.• Process Improvements: Implemented OCR for invoice entry, Expensify for expense management, • Cleaned up Telecom and Internet ownership & PAP's• Cleaned up $550K worth of invalid liability

Oakville

• Working in AP team handling multiple entities and multiple currencies• Responsible for Vendor and GL Reconciliations – ensuring 100% CSAT by monitoring, maintaining TAT, handling escalations (if any)• Single Point of Contact for AP payment queries - Investigate and Provide resolution to invoices stuck in exceptions, by coordinating with warehouse, receivers and requisitioners.• Handling Duplicate Payment Audit process by performing Root Cause Analysis on duplicate payments and presenting recommendations in CAPA model.• Collaborating with FinTech / RPA team robot issues & development

• SME for Finance & Accounting shops, responsible to study processes & drive process improvement projects using Lean & Six Sigma methodologies (DMAIC) • Robotic Process Automation Assessments, facilitation for UAT’s, Creation of Business Requirement Documentation• Program Management Finance Dept on initiatives led by the organization, acting as a liaison between business & IT department• Delivery Risk Management – Stressed & Red Flag Accounts, Governance, Mediation & Closure• Maintenance / Tracking of Sprints – follow-up and planning for backlog / open items. Negotiating / Mediating work around for roadblocks / challenges.• Reporting on the Accuracy, Efficiency & Effectiveness of the metric reporting to financial, operational and compliance processes for my span. • KPI Reporting and Governance meeting with External Stakeholders.• Involved study and comprehending business processes and multiple GL applications – Majorly SAP, Peoplesoft, Navision

• Managed a team for processing payable i.e. Candidate Expense Reimbursements, American Express recruitment & Business travel account card reconciliations & Payments, Talent Vendor Payments, BGV Payments.• Performed FTE analysis i.e. Resource calculations for determination of the team size and used strength based assignment model to enable team to perform at the best.• Drove Continuous Process Improvements, developed metrics for the processes KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS/PROJECTS:• Built a knowledge management repository for effective documentation capture, detailed SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) • Successful Deployment of SFDC for the HR & Finance community – Interface ERP - SAP• Project Lead for Automation for BTA & Recruitment Cards – ERP SAP• Project Lead for ICR / OCR – ERP SAP

• Successful setups of Accounts Payable department in Hyderabad to handle AP for North America, Singapore, Dubai, Australia, and ensuring payments are processed within payment terms.• Met stakeholders on a fortnightly to address major challenges with interunit settlements for payments to vendors like MDS and telecom vendors (AT&T, Verizon) resolving disputes and payment discrepancies.• Met PO creators /buyers on a weekly basis to resolve issues with receipts, Purchase order creation.• Recruitment of staff, assessing training needs, gauge knowledge levels of staff & analyze performance.• Responsible for day to day operations, stakeholder management & Metrics reporting.• Review and approve all major accounts payable transactions over $100,000 for US & 5000 SGD to ensure entries in good order.• Primary Pay-cycle approver, Vendor maintenance approver.• Periodic review of vendor setup policies, one time vendor & inactive vendor cleanup. • Trend Analysis & Root cause analysis of issues and closure. 1st Escalation point to address issues.• Policy and Procedure review. Year-end appraisals, goal sheet preparations.KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS/PROJECTS: • Fit Gap analysis of global AP prior to opportunity identification project.• UAT SPOC for Deployment of new imaging software• Vendor solicitation and conversion project (Vendor payment transition from Cheque to ACH)• Project ResQ – to reduce ageing of invoices & Debit Memo • Revamped the training method for reducing the learning curve turnaround time-reduction from 3 months to 1 month.• Designed a search tool to reduce the research time for productive time and hourly rate for temporary employee payments.• Driven a 6 sigma initiative for improvement of quality • Introduced and executed Inter region Cross trainings; Introduced and led the Employee engagement initiative

Responsible for processes (a) Vendor setup (b) Trade Payable System (c) Compliance (d) Billing (e) Cash Apps (f)Revenue Reconciliation (Studio Ops)- Periodic validation of Vendor master database- New Vendor setup audit - Handled the Quarterly Suppression activity – Suppressing the Inactive vendors- Ensure timely submission of Domestic & Foreign Year end reporting & Co-ordinate with the Corporate Finance in remitting the Withholding funds to IRS - End to end management of 1099, 1042 B-notices & P- notices - Maintenance of MIS for year ending tax related activities - Identify areas of process improvements & drive improvement projects- Weekly Reviews with Process owner on metrics & Compliance- Weekly review with Corporate Tax team along with process owner on the Reporting policies - KYC calls across business units on Operational issues - Ensured customer SLA consistently on Process Accuracy- Resource management – Timely feedback and appraisals & mentoring team members- Ensured proper backup for Compliance activities through rigorous cross training plan- Chalked out an action plan for the team with clear focus to negate the stress points- Periodic Review and employee appraisals to ensure robust career path layout- Conduct Quarterly PKT & share the improvement areas- Single of Point of contact for handling on-hold Invoice management – achieved ZERO invoices in Resolution Queue for 2 major Business Units

A one year training program designed for candidates with potential to be groomed as leaders. The selection procedure is based on various parameters i.e. written test, psychometric test, JAM sessions, group discussions etc., post selection the trainee will be put through a series of trainings which comprise of soft skills, leadership skills etc., the trainee has to manage these session in addition to the daily responsibilities / deliverables/ projects. During this period I had been handling Vendor Maintenance and Compliance Teams Projects handled as a Management Trainee:Vendor maintenance HOTO project from AP perspective.Transition and setup of B & P Notices

Incharge of a team of 5 associates (invoice processing & audits):Responsible for calculating Monthly Variable incentive payouts for the process Technical SPOC for the team. Resolution Queue Single Point of Contact for 2 business divisions.Projects handled as a Process Developer:Setup and Lead the duplicate payment audit payment project.Single point of contact for SSO migration project from our team

Hyderabad

1st corporate exposure - as an associate was trained, tested and exposed to Invoice Processing, Audits, duplicate payment audit, customer service, vendor maintenance pieces

A leading financial consultancy, specializing in project financing from major banks and other financial institutions.- Involved preparation of project reports of small / medium scale industrial projects and other varied aspects of work connected with term financing of projects.- Scrutiny of technical know how agreement and suggestion of certain clauses in the interest of project.- Study of process in respect of its commercial viability- Working closely with representatives from financial institutions & panel engineers/ and completion of formalities for disbursement of funds.- Completing the formalities with respect to setting up Pvt limited companies i.e drafting & working with Registrar of Companies for Memorandum & Articles of association, registrar of firms for Partnership firms.- Conducting research of MoA at ROC as part of Loan scrutiny.- Liasing with various regulatory bodies like EXIM licenses, Sales tax offices for exemptions and schemes

Accounting Fundamentals, Accountancy

Accounts Payable, Petty Cash, Payroll / Tax Credits, Unions & Guilds, Production Paperwork and Budget

Mba, Finance And Financial Management Services

Bachelors Degree In Commerce, Business Administration, Management And Operations

Activities and Societies: Debates, JAM Sessions, Essays

+2, Commerce

Activities and Societies: Member - Literary Union , School Debate Club, JAM sessions, Essay Writing competitions - at Graduation level

Ssc, Maths, Science, Economics

Schooling