Chris Romaine

• Complete business set up and launch with initial focus on Brokerage.
• Expanded cross-functional organizational capacity by collaborating across departments on priorities, functions and common goals.
• Delivered business strategy and developed systems and procedures to improve operational quality and team efficiency
• Controlled costs and optimized spending via restructuring of budgets for labor, capital assets, inventory purchasing and technology upgrades.
• Raised performance in areas of sales, management and operations by identifying and targeting areas in need of improvement.
• Established and administered annual budget with controls to prevent overages, minimize burn rate and support sustainability objectives.

• Overall management of Property Business Development and Asset Management across the Group’s property portfolio
• Oversee new business commercial and residential leasing operations, lead generation marketing, market analysis, pricing strategy, real estate development feasibility to propose new business, highest and best use opportunities to deliver targets in terms of budgeted revenue, occupancy levels, retention and portfolio growth objectives
• Strategy: Development of business planning, revenue optimization strategies and budgets of the business unit to ensure that they are aligned with the Group growth and strategy objectives
• Design and implement strategic leasing & property management policies, key performance indicators (KPI’s) and revenue targets to ensure maximum yield and high tenant satisfaction and occupancy
• Work with the General Manager in development, acquisition, redevelopment and disposal strategy, as well as, on-boarding new properties upon handover and establishing commercial tenants into the new and existing portfolio
• Reporting of macro-level strategic analysis of the portfolio benchmarks across real estate best practice metrics of actual and forecasted indicators against comparable market data
• Operations: Facilities Management and Property Management micro-level manpower and time allocated resource management to streamline operational through-put of a growing portfolio under management
• Design, communicate and implement operation policies and guidelines to the staff to drive effective data management, leasing, tenant retention, negotiations, contract processing and compliance
• Oversee implementation of property management software and related IT systems to ensure compliance with business requirement
• Property Development: Evaluate new property investment and development proposals through financial matrices (DCF/IRR/NVP/ROI/ROE), conduct detailed market analysis, prepare feasibility reports, highest and best use studies, investment structures and joint venture assessment for consideration by the GM
• Support GM with execution of group’s real estate development initiatives in terms of project analysis, implementation, pricing, sales, agent commission schemes, leasing, marketing and liaison with consultants, contractors, surveyors and professional service providers/stakeholders
• Team Management: Weekly Business Development meetings with clear weekly objectives, responsibilities, action plans and clear obstacles to maximize team performance
• Conduct regular performance reviews, coach, counsel, support and provide necessary tools to motivate and focus the team
• Work with HR to deliver training plans and programs which support and enable the team to accomplish their tasks efficiently, enhance their skills and capabilities
• Coordinate with the HR department for recruitment (internal/external) as required
• Relationship Management: Maintain a network with key industry professionals, customers, senior contacts in the property market, government/regulatory bodies to facilitate leasing operations, deal making and keep abreast with the market trends and regulations
• EPICO’s property portfolio includes different residential and commercial buildings, offices, villas, apartments, industrial, and retail and development land plots
• EPICO operates in yearly maintenance contracts for own properties and third party properties.

• Projects Managed for Emirates REIT + Enrali Limited + Palmon Manrre Group;
• Office Park – Gross Income of 65+ Mil AED
• Cordoba Residence – Gross income of 29 Mil AED
• Palmon/Mannre Portfolio – Commercial, Residential, Warehousing and Labour Camps
• Annual budget presentation and cash flow analysis
• Managing and supervising the team of Property Coordinators/Administrators
• Develop and revise rental tariff subject to market conditions
• Approve leasing proposal new tenants, expansion and relocation as per rental tariff
• Prepare, tender, manage and review the Service agreements for Service providers
• Develop lease clause and conditions to create schedule of variations to agreements
• Monitoring and enforcing the terms of all Lease agreements
• Assisting and recommending for improving Property management procedures
• Work with Chief accountant to ensure collection of rent, service charge, and other invoices
• Monitor recoverable expense variance and advise for the revision of Service charge
• Generate reports and analyze with excel tools
• Coordinate with leasing teams for vacant commercial, retail and residential units
• Take responsibility for the occupancy
• Periodic inspection of the property to ensure highest levels of standards – especially aesthetic
• Coordinate Fit outs to ensure timely completion
• Weekly and Monthly reporting

June 2016 – October 2016

Community Manager of Principle and Residential Body Corporate – Index Tower DIFC

August 2014 – May 2016

Community/Owners Association manager – Elite Residence Dubai Marina

• Liaised regularly with RERA, Dubai Land Department and other governing authorities to legally establish the Owners’ Associations.
• Performed all administrative, financial, secretarial functions on behalf of the Owners Association, taking direction from the Board (Committee).
• Day to day financial management of communities using ‘Strataware’ Community management software.
• Provided facilities management functions including the physical supervision of service providers, ensuring works were being carried out in accordance with their contract and ensuring KPI’s were being adhered to and that works were approved prior to approval of invoices for payment.
• Day to day administrative and secretarial management of communities, including liaison with Board member and owners, the preparation of business correspondence including letters, emails and meeting documents and the preparation and convening of Annual and Extraordinary General Assemblies including issuing Agendas and minutes.
• Preparation of General and Reserve fund budgets for the Owners’ Association.
• Calculation of service charges based on the approved budget, using Unit Entitlement schedules as a guideline and preparing and overseeing tender documents and process.
• Advising Board members and owners in accordance with their governing documents, including the Jointly Owned Property Declaration, Building Management Statement and Community rules.
• Maintaining a role of Unit Owner information, Exclusive use parking rights, Asset Registers and Entitlement schedules.
• Renewing insurances and submitting routine insurance claims as required.
• Calculation of and distribution of utility related invoices based on meter readings.
• Performing debt collection functions in relation to overdue service charges.

• Manage a portfolio for 62 Properties for individual owners.
• This included both Residential and commercial.
• Business development to increase the amount of units under management.
• Marketing and promotion of properties using various means including the internet, Newspaper, company brochures and by working with relocation agents.
• Processing of rental applications including detailed screening of applicants and discussions with Landlords.
• Lease negotiations, preparation of tenancy agreements and discussions with Landlords.
• Payment of DEWA bills and Service Charges for and on behalf of the Landlords.
• Initial, final and routine (yearly) inspections and written reporting to the Landlord.
• Recognizing the need for, organizing and overseeing maintenance and renovations (liaising with approved service providers).
• Obtaining quotes and implementing property maintenance and repairs quickly and efficiently.
• Achieving maximum revenue on behalf of the Landlord by ensuring, in conjunction with the leasing agents, that all units carry as high an occupancy rate as possible.
• Liaising with Strata, government and industry departments e.g RDC, Dubai Municipality and RERA.
• Developing and maintaining good relationships with the Landlords.
• Ensuring, as far as possible, that the tenant’s complaint and concerns are attended to with efficiency.
• Collection and monitoring of rent payments and preparing documentation in the case of arrears (including management of bounced cheque recovery and termination notices).
• Controlling Petty Cash so as to cover the costs of minor incidentals.
• Maintaining as accurate filling system so as to incorporate property and tenancy related information.
• Ensuring that relevant information is entered into the Masterkey (CPM system) software program in an accurate and timely manner, and that all renewal dates and maintenance issues are not only regularly monitored but followed up as necessary to ensure resolution.
• Managing and training a Leasing team of up to 6 employees.

• Assisted clients with property sales and development.
• Preparing and Interpreting legal documents including listings and sales contracts.
• Providing legal, economic and market advice.
• Liaising with escrow companies, lenders, home inspectors and pest controllers.
• Ensuring terms and conditions of agreements are met.
• Maintaining and liaising with clients.
• Coordinating property closings and overseeing document signing.
• Analyzing market trends to determine competitive market prices

Achievements

• Sold 14 units from October 2011 to July 2012.
• This included 8 Town Houses which were the hottest properties during this period in the Green Community.
• Concentrated on what was selling well instead of the big sales.
• Sold a total of 4 x Family Villas and 2 x 1 Bedroom Apartments.
• Suggested a program for our website – Having been asked by many investors where else they should invest their money in Dubai, I asked the CEO if it was possible to put a tool on our website which would allow them to research.

• MB Capital is an advisory stockbroker trading in Contracts for Difference as well as traditional stocks and shares.
• Speak to existing and potential clients on a day to day basis.
• Develop and build future relationships by providing Stock Market information.
• After conducting compliance checks to gauge level of risk - Tailor and suggest best financial solutions for new clients.
• Check suitability for clients financial situation for product.
• Describe and present product in clear and concise manner.
• Organize face to face appointments.
• Continuous training on financial markets and stock picking for future trading of clients.