Mahmoud Ababenh

• Strategic Financial Leadership: Formulate and implement comprehensive financial strategy that aligns seamlessly with corporate vision, fostering growth, profitability, and sustainability.
• Financial Due Diligence: Create and present business plans, investor pitches, and conduct valuations for Ventures.
• Venture Capital Expertise: Identify, evaluate, and oversee fundraising opportunities for early-stage startups and innovative ventures, cultivating robust network of VCs.
• Capital Raising: Spearhead initiatives to secure funding through diverse channels such as debt, equity, and partnerships, ensuring that capital structure aligns with overarching goals.
• Risk Management: Proactively evaluate financial risks and deploy strategies to mitigate them, safeguarding financial health of company.
• Team Leadership: Motivate and mentor high-performing finance and venture capital team, cultivating culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence.
• Stakeholder Relations: Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with venture capitalists, investors, financial institutions, and other key partners, leveraging resources to drive success.
• Market Analysis: Stay abreast of market trends, competitive landscapes, and emerging opportunities, providing insights that shape strategic

• Oversee the financial planning of the company, analyzing liabilities and investments to manage risks effectively.
• Directly report to the CEO, preparing timely financial statements and management accounts, and implement robust internal control procedures.
• Provide financial reports and interpret financial information for managerial staff, recommending strategic courses of action.
• Analyze costs, pricing, variable contributions, sales results, and actual company performance against business plans.
• Achieve a 15% increase in sales through cost reduction, enhancing the company's competitiveness.
• Draft annual budgets, standard costing, financial ratio analyses, and feasibility studies, encompassing cash flow, discounted cash flow, and project terminal value.
• Collaborate with external auditors to complete audit formalities, ensuring the integrity and reliability of accounting records, financial statements, and management accounts.
• Lead financial management activities, including budget and forecast preparation, management accounting, regulatory and financial reporting, and the development of internal control policies.
• Secure necessary banking facilities for the company at minimal cost. Mentor, develop, motivate, and provide essential training to supervised staff.
• Establish and oversee the company's finance IT system.
• Ensure compliance with laws and company policies. Successfully managed and mitigated risks by implementing sound financial policies and adhering to strict compliance guidelines.

• Evaluated and improved performance management structures to strengthen frameworks and enhance results.
• Initiated successful business development initiatives in alignment with the company's strategy and core competencies.
• Led change and transformation efforts across business areas to deliver benefits and align company resources.
• Directed the activities of lighting and sound crews to coordinate efficient production operations.
• Cultivated a work culture of collaboration and inclusion to boost morale and reduce turnover.
• Monitored sales forecasts and conducted financial planning to help the organization achieve revenue goals.
• Assessed service contracts and collaborated with legal counsel to negotiate improvements.
• Negotiated new annual contracts and service agreements with vendors to secure optimal pricing.
• Established personnel performance metrics to encourage efforts toward common goals.
• Implemented process improvements to shape organizational culture, optimize procedures for higher efficiency, and support the company's evolution and growth.
• Evaluated suppliers to maintain cost controls and enhance operations. Conducted statistical analyses to gather data for operational and forecasting team needs.
• Documented processes and drafted Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to comply with regulations and company policies.
• Collaborated closely with organizational leadership and the board of directors to guide operational strategy.
• Formed strategic partnerships and engaged with potential clients to drive business development.
• Contributed to sales and marketing strategies to support the achievement of revenue goals.

• Functioned as a senior strategic finance business partner for the CEO, Board of Directors, and senior management.
• Formulated short- and long-term financial strategies aligned with business growth objectives.
• Introduced and presented the Transformation Project to the Board of Directors, encompassing company strategy, organizational restructuring, process engineering, and ERP implementation.
• Spearheaded significant cost-saving initiatives in COS, thereby bolstering the organization's profitability.
• Crafted financial management reports, presenting monthly updates that facilitated key decisions by highlighting both favorable and adverse variances, prompting appropriate actions to minimize adverse variances.
• Implemented key financial analyses and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to assist the CEO and key management in making strategic decisions.
• Oversaw and guided the accounts operation to ensure the timely and accurate submission of financial statements.
• Monitored cash flow closely and introduced new techniques to enhance liquidity for business operations.
• Led the finance team, providing regular feedback, coaching, and mentoring to unlock their full potential.
• Conducted feasibility studies for key projects, facilitating crucial investment activities.
• Addressed business inquiries from shareholders, the Board of Directors, and the Audit Committee.
• Developed a risk management strategy by implementing new internal controls and financial policies and procedures.

• Develop and implement financial strategies, including budgeting and forecasting.
• Ensure alignment of financial plans with supermarket’s business goals and objectives.
• Monitor financial performance, analyzing key financial indicators, and providing insights to management.
• Identify areas for cost reduction, revenue enhancement, or efficiency improvements.
• Prepare accurate and timely financial reports, including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements.
• Ensure compliance with accounting standards and regulatory requirements.
• Identify and mitigate financial risks, such as credit, market, or operational risks.
• Implement internal controls and financial policies to safeguard supermarket’s assets.
• Manage cash flow of supermarket to ensure it meets its operational needs.
• Optimize working capital to reduce financial costs to improve liquidity.
• Assist in long-term financial planning and investment decisions.
• Provide financial input for strategic initiatives, such as expansion or new store openings.
• Manage company’s liquidity, including investments and banking relationships.
• Optimize financing strategies to minimize interest costs.
• Supervise and monitor finance and accounting staff.
• Ensure high level of competence, motivation, and teamwork within finance department.
• Negotiate terms with vendors and suppliers to optimize cost savings and payment terms.
• Monitor and manage supplier relationships to ensure timely and cost-effective procurement.
• Coordinate internal and external audits.
• Ensure that organization complies with all financial accounting regulations and standards.
• Implement cost control measures to optimize expenses without compromising product quality or customer service.
• Implement and maintain financial systems and software to streamline financial processes.
• Work with executive team to develop and execute financial strategies that support supermarket’s growth and profitability.
• Communicate with investors, analysts, and stakeholders about company’s financial performance and prospects.

• Successfully managed Due Diligence and M&A transactions, optimizing transaction value.
• Played a pivotal role as a strategic planner during the company’s short and long-term planning sessions.
• Conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the organization's fiscal performance, instituting 5-year budgets for the first time.
• Implemented crucial financial analysis, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and designed new Management Information System (MIS) reports. These reports analyzed variances versus budget in terms of both value and volume, providing insights to the CEO and key management for strategic decision-making.
• Led short-term projects facilitating key investment activities.
• Addressed business inquiries from owners and Board of Directors.
• Planned and supervised the financial functions of the group by applying sound financial principles.
• Successfully re-implemented a new ERP system, rectifying errors made by the X-Finance Senior team. Reconciled balances with the old ERP and cleared all suspense accounts amounting to AED 50 million through adjusting entries in both ERPs.
• Developed internal controls and introduced financial policies and procedures, such as the Group Approval Matrix, AR doubtful policy, Inventory Slow-moving policy, month-end, and year-end closing activities.
• Restructured and strengthened the finance team of 35 staff to enhance financial discipline and controls.
• Initiated various process improvements to streamline the finance team's workflow, increasing productivity and efficiency, and reducing unproductive time spent in non-key areas.
• Introduced team-building exercises to help staff understand their key objectives and reach their full potential.
• Established monthly finance and operation meetings to facilitate key decision-making processes, reducing the gap between the finance and operation teams.

• Plan, organize and direct the activities of the finance department.
• Controls and secures defined level of liquidity and monitors cash flow.
• Oversee preparation of month-end, quarter-end, and year-end financial statements in accordance with IFRS.
• Designing annual budgeting system with semi-yearly revisit bases to ensure meeting company’s goals and objectives.
• Review all month-end closing activities and accordingly reporting the financial performance (Management Accounts) actual vs. budget with analyzing the variances.
• Maintain ongoing relationships with a variety of commercial banks and financial service providers.
• Managing yearly financial closing with external audit.
• Identifying financial trends and advising on how future business decisions might be impacted.
• Developing long-term business plans based on reports.
• Developing strategies to minimize financial risk.
• Track the company's financial status and performance to identify areas for potential improvement.
• Analyse costs, pricing, variable contributions, sales results, and the company’s actual performance compared to the business plans.
• Manage all aspects of the company’s cash management, treasury, collateral, and credit risk exposure.
• Design and produce actionable reports for senior management to track performance and support business decision-making
• Own the full process of reporting and forecasting for the company including revenue and P&L forecasting, budgeting and financial review meetings