CA. Syed Faisal Zahid

Accomplished chief financial officer with over 20 years of global finance experience. Adept at integrating AI tools to streamline financial reporting and forecasting. Proven track record in optimizing operations for large utility and energy projects across the Middle East and India. Strategic financial planner specializing in AI-powered financial reporting and risk management. Demonstrated success in project cash flow management, fundraising, and implementing AI-based tools to enhance decision-making accuracy. Skilled at driving financial performance and ensuring compliance in multicultural and multi-location organizations.

• Arrange finance for Large Projects – Energy and Education Projects
• Accredited with Best Team Management Award to manage the Finance & Operations Department for 2019 & 2020
• Actively involved in planning & carrying out effective cost control procedure & policies
• Fund Raising & Banking Relationship: Demonstrated skills in developing banking relationship with Banque Saudi Fransi and arranged banking facility for SR 50 million towards LC, guarantees and short-term loan. The break up facility was A) SR 15 million – Short term Loan fund. B) SR 15 Million – Bank Guarantees C) SR 20 Million – LC Facility with post financing up to six months
• Budgetary Control: Efficaciously ensured that the expenses exceeding the budget are properly approved by Management and the reasons for such deviations and given and documented for future references
• Bidding for Large Tenders: Participated in contracts & tender negotiations and won the contract over 100 Million Riyals

220246

1. Control Complete Finance & Accounting, Strategic Decision Making

2. Formulating & Applying Financial Strategies

3. Board Meetings: Governance & Financial Performance

4. Compliance & Reporting

5. Investment Analysis and CAPEX Evaluations

6. Project Operational Control, Financing, Costing, and Analysis

7. Banking & Trade Finance

8. Supplier & Vendor Management

9. Shipping & Logistics Management

10. Performance Reporting & Financial Statements

11. Budgeting & BEP Analysis

12. MIS Reporting & Financial Analysis

13. Sales Reviews & Performance Tracking

14. Legal Compliance & Document Management

15. Statutory Audits.

All the Above activities and tasks are done using Generative AI Tools

• AI Integration : Use AI-driven financial forecasting tools to predict revenue, expenses, and cash flow more accurately based on historical data, market trends, and economic indicators. Tools like AI-based predictive analytics can assist in scenario planning and strategic decisions.
• Automated Decision Support : Implement AI-powered decision-making platforms to simulate different business scenarios, optimizing cost controls, investments, and operational efficiencies.
• AI Integration : Deploy AI algorithms for real-time monitoring of key financial metrics. These tools can offer recommendations to optimize financial strategies by analyzing vast datasets quickly, identifying trends, and detecting risks.
• AI Integration : AI tools like automated reporting platforms can prepare real-time financial dashboards for the board, helping visualize the company's financial health. Machine learning can offer predictive insights on the likely outcomes of strategic decisions.
• AI-Powered Presentations : Automated insights and trend analysis for board presentations can be enhanced through tools like Power BI or Tableau , using AI to generate relevant reports and projections.
• AI Integration : Use AI for automated compliance monitoring and auditing tools that analyze transactions and flag any non-compliance with statutory requirements (Companies Act, GST/VAT, Income Tax, etc.).
• AI-Driven Internal Audits : Leverage AI-based audit management systems for real-time tracking of compliance adherence, automated generation of compliance reports, and quick detection of potential violations.
• AI Integration : Use AI-driven financial models for evaluating capital expenditures (CAPEX) and investment opportunities. AI tools can simulate various market conditions and forecast ROI, risks, and cash flow impacts.
• AI Integration : Implement AI-driven project management tools that offer predictive analytics to monitor cost overruns, delays, and financial performance. AI can help optimize resource allocation and improve the accuracy of financial projections.
• AI-Powered Cost Control : Use AI tools for real-time tracking of operational expenses and perform variance analysis to highlight areas for improvement.
• Supply Chain Optimization : AI can analyze historical data to optimize shipping processes, ensuring that products are delivered at the lowest cost and within optimal timelines.
• AI-Powered Analysis : AI can automate performance reports with custom dashboards that update in real-time, helping management get a clearer view of profitability, cash flow, and balance sheets without manual effort.
• AI Integration : Leverage AI tools for automated budgeting , predicting both revenues and expenses based on real-time data. AI can also perform break-even point (BEP) analysis by simulating different cost structures and revenue projections.
• AI-Driven Variance Analysis : AI can compare actuals vs. budgets, detecting trends and explaining variances automatically, helping management adjust quickly.
• AI Integration : AI-powered Management Information Systems (MIS) can automate the preparation of reports, consolidating data from various sources and offering predictive insights into key financial metrics like profitability, cash flow, and debtors aging.
• Predictive Financial Insights : Use machine learning models to forecast future financial performance and provide insights into trends, risks, and opportunities based on historical data.
• AI Integration : Use AI-based sales performance analytics to track sales, calculate BEP, and perform variance analysis. AI can also identify patterns in sales performance, helping you optimize strategies and forecast future sales.
• AI-Powered Sales Forecasting : Implement machine learning to predict sales based on market trends, past performance, and external factors such as seasonality or economic conditions.
• Document Automation : Automate legal document creation and filing with AI-driven document management systems , ensuring timely compliance with local and international regulations.
• AI Integration : Automate audit processes using AI-based audit tools that can review transactions, identify anomalies, and generate comprehensive audit reports. These tools can enhance the accuracy and efficiency of annual statutory audits.
• AI-Powered Financial Audits : Use AI to continuously monitor financial transactions for any inconsistencies or potential fraud, reducing the risk and improving the accuracy of audits.