Muhammad Umer Farooq, Cfa Email & Phone Number

Dubai, Ae

Islāmābād, Pakistan

• Provide strategic leadership to the Board of Investment in establishing Specialized Economic Zones (SEZs) to foster sustainable industrial development.• Oversee corporate initiatives and serve as the primary liaison for the Model SEZ.Establish and nurture relationships with internal and external stakeholders to enhance support for the establishment of the Model SEZ.• Identify and address key strategic, social, and political issues, taking proactive damage control measures.• Oversee the recruitment process for consultants by defining eligibility criteria and evaluating consulting firms to ensure alignment with project requirements and predefined standards.• Manage external consultants in conducting feasibility studies, defining their scope of work, and ensuring quality output meets established standards and objectives.• Facilitate B2B meetings between Pakistani and Chinese businesses to foster mutually beneficial joint ventures, driving collaboration and partnership opportunities.• Organize and manage international B2B conferences focused on matchmaking opportunities among businesses across various sectors, enhancing collaboration and partnership potential.

Pakistan

• Developed and executed strategic plans in alignment with shareholder goals, driving organizational growth.• Advised the board and chairman to ensure alignment with the company’s vision and mission.• Led cross-functional teams in Operations, Marketing, Finance, and HR, building collaboration and enhancing performance.• Built strategic relationships with partners, suppliers, and regulatory bodies to support operational success.• Analyzed business challenges, implementing solutions for stability and growth.• Conducted cash flow analyses and developed financial models to support liquidity management and forecasting.• Supervised accounting and regulatory compliance, ensuring accuracy in tax reporting (VAT, Income, Withholding Tax).• Aligned assets and liabilities strategically, managing short-term investments to optimize liquidity.• Updated HR and IT policies to align with best practices; managed pension and gratuity funds for end-of-service obligations.Achievements:• Increased sales by 300% and profitability by 500% within three years.• Aligned team goals with organizational objectives, improving performance.• Developed controls to prevent income leakages; reduced staff turnover from 70% to 10% through engagement and incentives.• Established a performance appraisal system with KPIs to manage team effectiveness.• Formed dedicated IT, Accounts, and HR departments for operational efficiency.• Created an online marketplace, currently used by Australian restaurants under a royalty agreement.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

• Managed the Credit Control function for Corporate Banking, International Banking, SMEs, Financial Institutions, and Home Finance.• Enhanced team skills and performance to ensure timely achievement of departmental objectives.• Developed and maintained Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to reflect system and process changes.• Updated the Operational Risk Profile by identifying risks and controls across all unit functions.• Conducted periodic Risk Control Self-Assessments (RCSA) and monitored results for continuous improvement.• Ensured timely and accurate Management Information System (MIS) reporting, exploring and implementing automation opportunities.• Collaborated with IT to drive the implementation of new systems and enhancements to existing processes.• Applied internal policies and external regulations promptly and accurately.• Stayed informed of legal updates to ensure compliance with new legal requirements affecting unit operations.• Created and updated Service Level Agreements (SLAs), establishing agreed Turnaround Times (TAT) with all departments.• Monitored adherence to TATs while maintaining quality, addressing breaches through corrective measures.• Coordinated with legal and Sharia compliance teams to ensure documentation and limit management practices meet all regulatory requirements.• Established and regularly updated the Business Continuity Plan for the department.

Dubai

• Directed and supervised the documentation function for UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain portfolios, encompassing bilateral, syndicated, and structured facilities.• Ensured rigorous preparation and completion of all documentation in accordance with credit approvals and bank policies prior to facility drawdown, thereby safeguarding the bank against potential legal and financial risks.• Fostered strong collaborative relationships with stakeholders to thoroughly understand their needs and deliver strategic solutions.• Conducted regular reviews and updates of policies, procedures, and work guides to ensure uniformity and promote a culture of compliance across teams.• Spearheaded initiatives for process standardization and automation within my areas of responsibility, provided ongoing support to the SCB Group for related projects.• Effectively implemented each automation initiative, ensuring consistent interpretation and clear communication among all stakeholders• Proactively identified, assessed, and mitigated process risks in collaboration with the operational risk function, ensuring strict adherence to SOPs and timely compliance with all turnaround times through systematic and ongoing testing.• Ensured a state of audit readiness by effectively managing internal and external reviews, facilitating timely resolution and closure of audit findings.• Delivered targeted coaching, training, mentoring, and motivation to unit managers and team members, driving significant improvements in overall performance.• Recognized and cultivated high-potential team members to strengthen succession planning while promoting a sustainable work-life balance.• Directed departmental budgeting and capacity planning initiatives to optimize resource utilization and enhance operational efficiency.• Streamlined departmental processes to boost efficiency and consistently uphold exceptional quality standards.

• Led documentation vetting for Islamic and conventional facilities, managing Corporate, Financial, Strategic Clients, and HNWIs for bilateral, syndicated, and structured transactions.• Ensured accurate preparation, secure storage, and validity maintenance of security documents per credit approvals.• Identified and resolved documentation deficiencies with business units to enable seamless facility disbursements.• Updated SOPs and documentation policies regularly to ensure compliance and operational excellence.• Managed and mentored unit staff, developing targeted training, development plans, job rotations, and succession strategies.• Addressed daily operational challenges and collaborated with legal counsel to mitigate risks and ensure regulatory compliance.• Actively participated in audits, achieving timely resolution of findings within established timelines.• Created and shared exception reports to improve transparency and accountability across teams.• Established an automated Notification/Escalation system to monitor business and credit process changes.• Coordinated reporting on expiring guarantees with Trade Finance for timely claims processing.• Tracked all “Conditions Subsequent” within the documentation system to ensure timely follow-up.• Managed document scanning and lodgment using a maker-checker control process to maintain accuracy.• Secured critical documents with fireproof storage and dual control, maintaining file movement and access records with regular inspections.• Facilitated timely release of securities upon credit settlement or repayment, ensuring accurate follow-up.

• Managed the Agency Function for syndicated transactions, ensuring efficient coordination and communication among all participating banks where Mashreq Bank served as the agent.• Maintained comprehensive records of commitments and outstanding balances for each participating bank, ensuring compliance with all documentation requirements and accuracy in financial reporting.• Executed timely updates of commitment records following new disbursements or settlements, facilitating effective financial tracking and management.• Managed the integration of new participants in secondary market deals, handling sales, transfers, or novation of shares with precision and clarity.• Coordinated customer drawdowns by verifying participation amounts and disseminating relevant notifications to all stakeholders, ensuring transparency and compliance.• Disbursed Mashreq Bank’s share of drawdowns to borrowers, adhering to established protocols to guarantee accuracy and compliance.• Reconciled incoming funds from participating banks, promptly notifying relevant business units of fund availability to optimize operational efficiency.• Managed the receipt of principal repayments, fees, and interest from borrowers, ensuring timely remittance of respective shares to participating banks in accordance with contractual obligations.• Calculated and applied break-funding fees in alignment with facility agreement terms for early repayments, safeguarding the bank’s financial interests.• Processed drawdown notices from agent banks, ensuring compliance and accuracy in transactions involving Mashreq Bank as a participant.• Facilitated the disbursement of funds and issued remittance instructions to the agent bank, ensuring timely execution of transactions.• Collected and reconciled repayments, fees, and interest from the agent bank, maintaining the integrity of financial operations and fostering strong interbank relationships.

• Lectures to MBA Banking & Finance on the subjects of Portfolio Management (Finance Major) Foreign Exchange and Risk Management (Banking Major).• Defining course objectives, drafting course outline and identification of related study material.• Preparation of teaching aids such as handouts and presentations.• Examining the students & preparation of results.

• (Bankakademie International (Now Frankfurt Business School) is Frankfurt based consultancy firm rendering services throughout the world especially for SME sector. In Pakistan they were awarded an Asian Development Bank funded project which was being implemented through four participating financial institutions and the. Central Bank. URL: www.frankfurt-school.de)While working as Lending Expert for the project major TORs include:• Support to Bankakademie International in due diligence and market studies.• Asset Products development, in line with market studies, to cater target customers.• Recruitment, training of lending staff, development of training material and Opening pilot branches of PFIs (Participating Financial Institutions).• Member of credit committee for sanctioning cash flow based loans.• Guidance, supervision and evaluation of performance of lending staff of PFI.• Close communication with the respective local PFI representatives on day to day basis.• Support to internal auditors in development of internal audit system.

Major Responsibilities/ Duties:• Analyze credit appraisal reports prepared by relationship officers of the unit.• To act as member of Credit Committee to evaluate credit appraisals.• Client visits and verification of asset-valuations if necessary.• Training/Mentoring of newly appointed staff members for their respective departments.• Ensuring the implementation of credit policy of the bank and compliance of laws & regulations issued by State Bank of Pakistan or other regulatory authorities.

Look after Credit Administration function of five branches of MCB Bank Limited which includes:• Monitoring of credit portfolio of assigned branches. (which include monitoring of expiring facilities and monitoring of all types of expiring time bound documents)• Execution of legal documents of a versatile credit portfolio of branches.• Compliance of credit management policy• .Inspection of hypothecated / pledged stock• Repayment monitoring• Charge registration with Securities & Exchange Commission.• Compliance of regulations issued by the regulatory authorities.Obtained a comprehensive theoretical as well as practical training in three departments of commercial bank (three months each).1.Credit Management & Operations: Credit appraisals, financial statement analysis, credit reports, mark-up calculations, and documentation of collaterals.2.Foreign Trade & Foreign Exchange: Opening of L/Cs, confirming & advising L/Cs, negotiation of documents, foreign remittances, foreign currency accounts, UCP-500, URR, URC and Incoterms. 3.Consumer/Retail Banking Operations: Account opening, cheque payments, vouching, remittances, clearing/collections etc.

Cfa, Accounting And Finance

Mba, Banking & Finance

Ocp, Oracle Developer

Bachelor'S Degree, Business/Commerce, General