ANDREW BELL
Dubai
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
11
11
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Director and Deputy MLRO
ARC Group Ltd
1 2023 - Current
- Played a key role in establishing ARC Group’s presence in the MENA region, collaborating with the Group CEO and President to define and implement local and regional business strategies
- Acted as Deputy MLRO, ensuring adherence to local regulatory requirements set by ADGM, DFSA, and SCA, thereby maintaining full compliance and managing risk effectively
- Led partnership development initiatives across the region, focusing on expanding the client base for SPAC, de-SPAC, IPO, and dual-listing engagements
- Managed a multi-disciplinary delivery team responsible for handling EMEA transactions and collaborated with international teams for global project execution
- Served as the Chief Investment Officer (CIO) for ARC Group, overseeing ARC’s asset management arm, and acted as an outsourced CIO for global funds under management
- Directly involved in sourcing and executing high-value transactions, fostering client relationships, and securing cross-border capital market deals.
UAE Country Manager and Group Finance Manager
Beehive P2P Limited
11.2019 - 12.2022
- Managed UAE-based teams across business development, credit, operations, compliance, and marketing, aligning their activities with corporate growth strategies to achieve month-on-month business expansion
- Worked directly with the Group CEO, COO, and CFO on strategic initiatives, including fundraising efforts, business model development, and establishing new branches across multiple geographies
- Liaised with the DFSA, ensuring all regulatory reporting, including financial and crowdfunding submissions, were accurately completed and in full compliance with regional standards
- Spearheaded finance functions for the entire Beehive Group, which encompassed seven entities spread across Asia, GCC, and Cayman
- Managed financial reporting, audits, VAT submissions, and tax compliance for all group entities
- Developed and maintained strong relationships with institutional investors, securing significant funding to support SME lending and expansion efforts across the region
- Successfully managed all internal and external audits (including those by PWC and GT), as well as Sharia compliance audits, ensuring transparency and compliance with international standards.
Operations and Group Finance Manager
Beehive P2P Limited
04.2018 - 11.2019
- Focused on optimizing operational processes to improve efficiency and increase output, implementing digital solutions to enhance team productivity
- Drove improvements in operational turnaround times (TATs) while managing a growing team and scaling the business through process automation
- Collaborated closely with senior leadership to refine business strategies, facilitate fundraising, and explore new opportunities for regional expansion
- Managed financial operations for all group entities, including overseeing external and internal audits, tax planning, and regulatory reporting in compliance with both regional and international standards.
Finance Manager
Beehive P2P Limited
10.2017 - 04.2018
- Worked closely with the CFO on managing group financial operations across multiple jurisdictions, ensuring compliance with local and international financial regulations
- Led audit and tax planning efforts across the group, including external (PWC) and internal (GT) audits as well as Sharia compliance audits
- Played an instrumental role in transitioning the company’s financial reporting processes to be more robust and scalable as the company grew.
Senior Accountant and Digital Transformation Manager
Hodgson Hey Limited
02.2016 - 08.2017
- Managed a portfolio of clients, offering a range of professional services including audit, taxation, and financial advisory
- Spearheaded the firm’s transition to cloud accounting and led its Making Tax Digital (MTD) initiative, ensuring both internal teams and clients were prepared for the digital shift
- Played a key role in optimizing the firm’s internal processes, enhancing operational efficiency to support a scalable growth model
- Provided training and mentorship to apprentices, contributing to the professional development of junior staff members.
Senior Accountant
Sheards Accountancy Limited
06.2012 - 02.2016
- Managed audits and financial reporting for a portfolio of clients, including FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 companies, ensuring compliance with accounting standards and financial regulations
- Delivered tailored financial solutions to clients, enhancing operational efficiency and driving cost savings
- Provided training to clients and staff on accounting software, helping them improve their financial reporting capabilities.
Trainee Accountant
B M Howarth Limited
03.2008 - 06.2011
- Assisted senior staff in providing audit and accounting services to major clients, including FTSE-listed companies
- Managed a personal portfolio of clients, delivering audit, taxation, and advisory services across various sectors
- Contributed to the firm’s digital transformation efforts, helping to implement a paperless office environment.
Education
AAT and ACCA -
Kaplan Financial
Leeds, UK 01.2010 - 01.2015
AS Levels - undefined
Huddersfield New College
Huddersfield, UK 01.2007 - 01.2008
GCSE - undefined
Honley High School
Honley, UK 01.2002 - 01.2007
Skills
Strategic Financial Leadership
Multi-Jurisdictional Regulatory Compliance
Investment Banking & Capital Markets
Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
Cross-Border Listings & SPAC Transactions
Team Leadership & Talent Development
Digital Transformation & Process Optimization
Audit, Tax & Financial Planning
Investor Relations & Fundraising
References
Available upon request.
Timeline
UAE Country Manager and Group Finance Manager
Beehive P2P Limited
11.2019 - 12.2022
Operations and Group Finance Manager
Beehive P2P Limited
04.2018 - 11.2019
Finance Manager
Beehive P2P Limited
10.2017 - 04.2018
Senior Accountant and Digital Transformation Manager
Hodgson Hey Limited
02.2016 - 08.2017
Senior Accountant
Sheards Accountancy Limited
06.2012 - 02.2016
AAT and ACCA -
Kaplan Financial
01.2010 - 01.2015
Trainee Accountant
B M Howarth Limited
03.2008 - 06.2011
AS Levels - undefined
Huddersfield New College
01.2007 - 01.2008
GCSE - undefined
Honley High School
01.2002 - 01.2007
Director and Deputy MLRO
ARC Group Ltd
1 2023 - Current
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