Job Market

CVs

Bassam Abi Saab

Address:
Personal Statement:
Education:
Work Experience:
Professional Skills:
Personal Skills:
Other Details:
Interests/Hobbies:
References:
Bassam Abi-Saab 
BO16 Street  Koura, Lebanon Phone:+961-76-335818 |  Email: [email protected]
Career Goal: Accounting Manager /Finance Controller/ Sr. Accountant 
Dedicated Finance with over ten years of experience in accounting and financial reporting, developing and implementing financial systems, strategies, processes and controls that significantly improve P&L and BS scenarios. Expert in establishing accounting functions, systems and best practices; collections, cost recoveries, cost-reduction, automation and tax strategies; and lasting business relationships to ensure goal-surpassing fiscal performance. Experience in Business Planning & Budgeting including investment decisions. Computer skills include proficiency in MS Office, Vision, Navision, Sun Systems and SAP.
Education and Professional Memberships
Pebblehills university – Accounting and auditing — CALIFORNIA
Bsc in Auditing and Accounting, 6/2003
INstitute of chartered accountants — beirut - lebanon
Certified Chartered Accountant and Auditor, 9/2002 
central college – commerical science and accounting — beirut - lebanon
BT in Auditing and Accounting, 6/1999
 
Shell open university — the hague-netherlands
Certified Fraud Examination Course, 9/2012
Certified Financial Modeling Course, 6/2012
Upstream Economics Course with a 100% score, Certificate earned 2010-2011
Front Line Leadership Course 11/2010
IFRS Course, 8/2008
Certified Public Accountant, 10/2008 
Internal Control Framework Course, 12/2008
Risk Management and Financial Course, 12/2008 
Exploration and Production Course, 10/2008
 
 
MeMBER IN THE AMERICAN INSTITUTES OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS – USA (MEMBER SINCE 2011)
MEMBER IN THE NEWYORK AMERICAN ASSOCATION OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS — USA (MEMBER SINCE 2010)
member in the institute of management accountants — USA (MEMBER SINCE 2007)
 
Experience
Shell iraq petroleum b.v — basra, iraq 
Majnoon Field Finance Controller, 03/2014 to 01/2017
Owner of the Field Finance Controlling Activities in the Majnoon Oil Field supervising 5 field accountants, acting as a Subject Matter Expert in Accounting and Reporting Responsible for submission of all group returns which includes, statutory and MI reports.
Lead quarterly balance sheet review challenging reconciliations as the SOAR owner.
Embedded SIPD accounting and reporting policies and procedures including treasury and cash policies. 
Embedded controls in a newly established controllers organisation in Iraq with significant changes following First Commercial Production.
Successfully lead the Fixed Asset Conversion from Project 2 Assets handover phase for Majnoon in accordance with the Group Accounting Standards as well as the Industry Best Practices. 
Wrote the existing policies in SIPD governing the revenue accounting and the capitalisation policy according to the Majnoon Contract.
Working Capital Management, treasury forecasting, developed short term funding strategies, Vendor payment strategies in line with Cost Recovery Structure.  
Supported Materials Managers in developing and improving the Material Management Policy and Procedures. 
Finance Focal Point for Risk and Insurance.  Active participation in Financial Evaluation and Tendering Process in collaboration with C&P& Risk and Insurance Team.
External stakeholder Engagements
SOC – State Oil Company
Support FM at Unified Reporting System “URS” review meetings, 
FinCom – on Fixed Assets and Insurance and Inventory Count. 
Presented to SOC the Fixed Assets Register, Fixed Assets Accounting /Allocation of Cost Methodology supporting with their submission to MOF.
Provided insurance contract updates including an overview of the Insurance Tender Process. 
Coordinated the yearly physical inventory count between SIPD, SOC, PETRONAS and PWC. 
Audits - Manage external audits (PWC NL/Dubai) applied group accounting policies, Finalize Statutory Accounts for the Board of Directors including signatories and Legal Filling. 
Support FiP at Vendor meetings 
Banks Relationship management
Supervised the Field Finance AP team – FFC team resourcing and development, Processing of Invoices, Petty Cash, Banking, Expense Claims, WHT (in coordination with Tax), coordination with SBSC, AP migration.
 
Key Achievements:
Successful implementation of In Country Field Finance Controller Team.
Successfully Lead the Fixed Assets Conversion Project Which had a significant impact on SIPD BV Cost Recovery. 
Successfully Migrated Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivables Activities from Dubai to Iraq. 
Successfully Implemented the Cost Recovery Module resulting in a smooth Cost Recovery Process.
 
 
Shell Abu dhabi b.v — abu dhabi, uae, shell development & offshore Pakistan
Finance Controller, 12/2007 to 03/2014
Ledger Accountant and Reporting Analyst, 11/2006 to 11/2007
Complete ownership of the Ledger Accounting and Financial Accounting supported by a virtual team in Finance Operation. Providing business context for Group Reporting. 
Initiated regular KPIs such as MI results, Dashboards and Cash flow analysis.  Coordinated the dashboard meetings with VP Finance, Finance Leads and Abu Dhabi Country Chair.
Leading SADBV Financial Audits, applied group accounting policies, worked closely with PWC NL and Dubai on the statutory accounts review, Audits - Support external audits (PWC NL/Dubai) applied group accounting policies, Finalize Statutory Accounts for the Board of Directors including signatories and Legal Filling. 
Developed and managed external relationships (e.g., banks, insurers, auditors) and constantly look for ways to strengthen overall financial performance. 
Responsible for the relationship with Finance Operations as the country focal point. Sharing business knowledge and strengthen financial controls. 
Owner of business assurance, governance processes in accordance with Group Policies (Business Risk Management, FCM, Risk and Control Identification). Risk assessment on JV and SAD plus updating the Risk Matrix with interface with various stakeholders. 
Owner of business planning activities. Initiated planning process Improvement including the restructuring of Shell Abu Dhabi financials models using the Shell Financial Modelling Best Practices. 
Provided Finance Input in the annual reserves process (ARPR). Updated the SM and PRET for the yearly ARPR submission. 
Manage all tax declarations with the government of Abu Dhabi.
Owner of the local treasury activities, timely update of Treasury Policies, timely payment of dividends, timely and accurate treasury forecasting. Along with the Group Treasury Manager GFP submission including the preparation of associate funding plan.
Acted as an accounting subject matter expert within Abu Dhabi, provided accounting and reporting guidance (Supported the creation Associate Funding Accounting Note, Depreciation, Decommissioning and Impairment Accounting Note) and Provided support for the GASCO Amended and Restated Agreement Accounting Note
Managed the liquidation of Shell Development Onshore Pakistan. The role included dealing with External Auditors basically the preparation of accounts on a non-going concern basis, Tax Advisors/Consultants for the preparation of WHT Filling and Tax Filling, the SECOP and the local tax authorities.  
MENA region focal point and supported with UI Initiatives for continuous improvement related to identification of execution pain and the improvement of the ways of working with SBSC.
Acted as an interface between Shell Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi NOCs, negotiated the recovery of outstanding services and manpower services receivables which was a major success in Abu Dhabi. 
 
great brands nigeria limited & British american tobacco— LAGOS, NIGERIA
National Chief Accountant, 8/2003 to 9/2006
Supervise 5 accountants in head office and 4 accountants divided into 4 regions
Handled full spectrum of financial and cost accounting role eg. AR, AP, GL, forecasting, budgeting. Prepared the full set of financials including the variance commentaries, presented the monthly cost overview with aim to identify cost reduction opportunities and elimination of waste. 
Conducting monthly review on the financial results with the CFO and FM. 
Performed project cost forecasts/budgets, cost tracking, monitoring and controls. Provided project expenditure monitoring of the newly constructed Ibadan tobacco field including the accounting of it based on the completion method. 
Responsible for all group reporting to HQ in UK.
Reviewed & approved payment vouchers & journal entries. Review completeness, accuracy, transaction validation and the insurance of segregation of duties. 
Performed cash flow forecasting, budgeting and working closely with the operations and projectteams in analyzing margins, variances and cost analysis.
Issued project cost reports for review and approval.
Developed and maintained internal control and effective accounting system and policies for the set up.
Supported CFO in ensuring that intercompany cost allocations are in line with managementagreement and transfer pricing policy
Established and maintained systems for cost-sensitivity analysis and early-warning of cost-overruns
Worked consultatively with the respective departments on cost reduction initiatives. Lead the initiative to come out with the ACE project with aim to reduce cost on C&C and depots as well as logistic cost.
Key Achievements:
Delivered six-figure cost savings by initiating expense analysis of depot lease alternatives, leading to acted-upon leasing recommendations.
Introduced business process improvements (ACE project) that enhanced A/P functions, established common vendor files, eliminated duplication and reduced monthly processing time by 17%.
Introduced business process improvements that enhanced the audit functions, established a better audit plans, better internal controls, decreasing errors and accounting misstatements.
Introduced business process improvements that enhanced recoverability of accounts receivable in a challenging environment in Nigeria.
Lead on training the local employees on accounting standards and individual performance plans along with competency assessments to ensure the right employee is fitting in the right scope.
Increase in collection process by moving from credit basis to secured credit basis moving to goal zero in times of money theft or loss.
Introduced a new treasury process with the support of local banks to create an efficient online bank payment system to reducing time consuming and spend in issuing cheque payments but a transfer payment. Also created a payroll payment system where salaries are transferred to each employee bank account instead of paying it cash.
 
 
Activities and Interests
 
Internet: Surfing webs,  
Automobile : Cars in general, sports cars, racing.
Traveling: France, England, Belgium, Italy, Japan, and Poland.
 
Languages
Arabic (native) English (fluent) French (Fluent)
Polish (Fluent)

Back