Sitharaman Ganesan
Consultant
Kolkata,WB
Summary
CMA certified professional with 25 years diverse experience in global FMCG companies like Kraft Heinz/Nestle. Seeking position as Finance Manager / Controller/ Consultant in a high performing business.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
External Consultant
Nestle India Ltd - Moga Factory
02.2020 - 05.2022
- Contractor Time Management – Structure / Operations Review
- P2P (Procure to Pay) or Source to Pay Process Review and Testing of Controls review for ALL P2P documents and activities
- Review of Conformity of Working Hour Time Compliance to local laws- All Factory Employees Blue
- Contractual Agreement Review of Third-Party Contractors including Security Deposit & Payment terms
- Review the process of requisitioning services under Manpower/Job/Other Services based, Job under various Service Contracts
- Plant Attendance Review of Third-Party Manpower Contractors
- Workdays -Six Months comprehensive Review of Third-Party Manpower Contractors
- Review of Biometric Attendance for Corrections of Contractual Vendors
- Review of Spending incurred on Vendors under “No PO procurement “for violations
- Process Overview of FFOH (Factory Fixed Overhead) Reporting
- Quality Department: Testing Vendors – Review for SES /Delays /Efficacy of Accrual provision
- Driving efficiencies at Nestle Quality Assurance Centre (NQAC) Moga –Benchmarking with Competitors
- Fixed Assets Overview
- Freelance Consultant: Kolkata, India
Financial Reporting & Consolidation Manager
MENAT & ROA (Middle East Turkey & Africa)
11.2017 - 10.2018
- Liaising with Zone and World Headquarters on all reporting requirements
- Performed Financial Accounting Consolidation/ Review of BS Reconciliations for the region
- Coordinate with BU/ Finance managers to ensure month end results are accurate
- Developed and maintained the integrity of the financial reporting process and financial controls
- Review of Hyperion Upload routines including submission of monthly reporting schedules to World Headquarters
- Ensure all Risks and Opportunities are highlighted
- Managing the preparation and distribution of internal financial statements while maintaining the highest quality standards
- Coordinated, developed and updated written policies and procedures over the financial reporting process
- Management of Insurance and tax statutory positions /VAT
- Overall responsibility of cash flow and working capital
Financial Reporting Manager
MENAT (Middle East & Turkey)
08.2015 - 10.2017
- Managing daily activities for Accounting, Accounts Payables, Accounts Receivable and Treasury
- Financial accounting in confirmation with corporate policies, accounting standards
- Managing monthly closing process, including reconciliations and analysis of related accounts
- Managed Internal and Statutory audit for the region
- Conducted SOX related controls and remediation of SOX deficiencies
- Implemented Financial Systems Simplification (FSS) Project with Deloitte
- Consolidating financial accounting & performing Balance Sheet reconciliations
- Analysed and presented KPI reports along with helping various corporate and ad hoc reporting
- Managing the cash flow and working capital for the MENAT region
- Consistent high WHQ ratings in terms of Reporting submissions reinstated for Consolidated Middle East & Africa which was lacking due to finance team / management structure change in 2017.
- Streamlining financial reporting activities across business units ensuring faster month end close for the business.
Zero Based Budgeting (ZBB) Lead
MENAT
08.2014 - 07.2015
- Organizing fixed cost budget for the full region
- Led ZBB (Zero Base Budgeting) implementation including IT systems roll out and integration across business unit
- Set up ZBB management routines for visibility of all fixed spend costs
- Linked to this, implement clear accountabilities for budget owners and package owners
- Managed and reviewed Turkey BU financials for the interim period post business transfer from Europe
- Implement Zero Based Budgeting across the Middle East and Africa region (MENAT).
- Drive savings and efficiencies by reviewing in detail cost base and question every cost.
- Zone Recognition for successful implementation of ZBB in the region
- Turkey Business Transfer from Europe- Closely worked with the Deloitte Team/ CFO to assess the current risks and ensure business financials reflect the true status which helped facilitate in turnaround of the loss-making BU.
Manager Management Accounting
Middle East / North Africa
07.2012 - 07.2014
- Providing financial, commercial and strategic support to the business
- Maintain pricing data vis a vis competition, review the pricing at regular intervals
- Initiating price changes by analysing market wise and product wise profitability
- Evaluating market level performance for risk & opportunity vis a vis target
- Managing Fixed Costs for the Region - Budgeting and Actual review
- Analyse market wise, product wise profitability
- Control the market spend on trade and marketing activities
- Generation of MIS and presenting it to management for effective decision making
- Visibility of pricing data by customer/ SKU and monthly changes to identify any revenue dilution
- Reporting and Budgeting of Fixed Costs by Cost Centre and review with Dept. Heads
Manager Financial Accounting & Treasury
MENA
05.2010 - 06.2012
- Managing the Accounting and Reporting activities for Dubai region
- Meet the Statutory as well as internal audit requirements with Sox compliance
- Managing treasury function responsible for use of funds in profitable manner
- Preparation of MIS and report to WHQ with regards to treasury & forex
- Evaluate the Forex exposure and arrange for the forward covers
- Negotiation banking facilities for Trade finance, Forex, Bills discounting and bank guarantees
Manager Financial Accounting Reporting & Payables
Middle East
07.2009 - 04.2010
- Managing the Accounting and Reporting activities for Dubai region
- Overseeing the Accounts Payable function
- Manage Internal / Statutory audit for Dubai Business Unit
- Streamline the Accounts Payable function and set up of payment routines aligned with suppliers
Assistant Finance Manger
Middle East
11.2008 - 06.2009
- Credit Control and monitoring of Incoming funds
- Accounting and Reporting activities for Dubai region
- Managing Trade Spends and allowances for UAE / Oman markets
- Meet the Statutory as well as internal audit requirements with SOX compliances
- Hyperion Upload and submission of Monthly Reporting Schedules to WHQ
- Generation of MIS Reporting
- Setting up of MIS Routines and standardize reporting requirements for business review
Business Analyst
SAR Region
05.2006 - 10.2007
- Control and manage marketing spends covering all product groups
- Led and coordinated business reporting improvements / visibility for marketing spends for entire company.
- Control over Budgets, Finalize Plans with Marketing, Review actual and reasons for variances.
- Support to management & product group in decision-making supporting three business groups.
- Job function includes Monthly Analysis of Sales / RIG; Evolution of Key Financial Data.
- OPL / Dynamic Forecast / Making gap analysis with actuals; Review and analyse costing data
- Leveraged knowledge of SAP Reports to provide visibility of marketing spends customized to stakeholder’s requirement - improving controls and aiding faster decision-making.
- Successfully completed international audit in Marketing with no issues being reported
Senior Accounts Officer / Accounts Officer
Kolkata / North East Region
01.1996 - 04.2006
- SAP Implementation of FICO (Finance & Control) and P2P (Procure to Pay) Modules at Kolkata Branch
- Additional Responsibility of managing Data Standards and Data Management for All Customers and Vendors.
- Trained on SAP and as SUPERUSER was assigned the task of training end users / cutover preparation for GO-LIVE.
- Worked on the New Sales Incentive Package and implemented by successfully testing and identifying inherent bugs
- Implementation of BPCS Financials. Trained on AS 400 platforms as KEYUSER and assigned the task of training end users / cutover preparation for GO-LIVE.
- Successful Globe Template Implementation of SAP – Finance & Control and Procure to Pay Modules as Superuser
- 100% Data Quality in Customer & Vendor Data (based on results of GO-LIVE)
- Rated No1 (topmost rating) in 2006 Annual Appraisal – only 2 employees with such rating across Nestle India Limited
- Implemented BPCS Financials (AR/ AP/ GL) at the Branch and undergone training on AS 400 platforms as key user
Education
CMA -
The Institute of Certified Management Accountants Australia
01.2011
ICWA Intermediate - undefined
ICWAI of India
01.1994
B.Com. (Honours) - undefined
Calcutta University
01.1992
Skills
- Accounting / Consolidations
- Budgeting
- Accounts Payable
- Financial Reporting
- Management Accounting
- ERP implementation
- Internal Control/Compliance
- Stock and Sales Accounting
- Debtors Control
- Procure to Pay / FICO in SAP
- Cash & Treasury Management
- Financial Analysis
Accomplishments
- Analysed and presented prevalent issues /risk assessment / risk mitigation to the Factory Manager / Factory Controller
- Savings Initiatives worked upon during review and shared with Factory Controller
- Monitored the switchover of Contractual Time Management from legacy system to WEB-MIS to reduce manual corrections
- Process Improvement recommendations discussed with stakeholders with Action Plan
- Value Addition to Key Controls and Processes highlighted and shared with Management.
- Contractor Outsourcing tasks evaluated for operational effectiveness and costs
- Substantial Reduction in biometric attendance corrections post implementation of action plan
PROFILE
- Finance Manager worked closely as a business partner across departments and taken on assignment/ projects aimed at performance and improvement of the business
- Strong communication and people management skills
- Supervise and lead finance teams for managing the financial reporting process, budgeting/forecasting, internal controls and compliance
- Play an active role in Finance projects and initiatives / VAT Implementation
- Trained in SAP/ BPCS AS 400/ Hyperion/ Epicor 10 ERP Applications
- Support CFO/Controller to oversee all financial accounting / internal control /compliance matters in the region
- Understanding and awareness of Commercial and Operational areas of the business
- Perform risk assessment across company to identify any areas of revenue/yield dilution and design & implement mitigating controls
- Proactive individual focused on system and reporting improvements for management review and maintaining the general ledger.
- Liaising with internal and external auditors, tax consultants, legal parties and bankers
Timeline
External Consultant
Nestle India Ltd - Moga Factory
02.2020 - 05.2022
Financial Reporting & Consolidation Manager
MENAT & ROA (Middle East Turkey & Africa)
11.2017 - 10.2018
Financial Reporting Manager
MENAT (Middle East & Turkey)
08.2015 - 10.2017
Zero Based Budgeting (ZBB) Lead
MENAT
08.2014 - 07.2015
Manager Management Accounting
Middle East / North Africa
07.2012 - 07.2014
Manager Financial Accounting & Treasury
MENA
05.2010 - 06.2012
Manager Financial Accounting Reporting & Payables
Middle East
07.2009 - 04.2010
Assistant Finance Manger
Middle East
11.2008 - 06.2009
Business Analyst
SAR Region
05.2006 - 10.2007
Senior Accounts Officer / Accounts Officer
Kolkata / North East Region
01.1996 - 04.2006
ICWA Intermediate - undefined
ICWAI of India
B.Com. (Honours) - undefined
Calcutta University
CMA -
The Institute of Certified Management Accountants Australia