Shafiq Ahmed

• Planning and Execution: Develop and execute comprehensive audit plans and strategies for clients. Coordinate and oversee audit engagements from start to finish, ensuring adherence to timelines and quality standards.
• Client Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, serving as a key point of contact. Understand client needs, address concerns, and provide timely and relevant advice and recommendations.
• Team Supervision and Development: Lead and supervise a team of audit professionals, providing guidance, training, and mentorship. Monitor team performance, review workpapers, and provide feedback to ensure accurate and high-quality deliverables.
• Audit and Financial Reporting: Conduct detailed financial audits, examining financial statements, internal controls, and compliance with relevant regulations and accounting standards. Identify risks and propose appropriate controls and process improvements.
• Internal Control Evaluation: Assess the effectiveness of internal controls and risk management systems. Identify control weaknesses or deficiencies and recommend enhancements to mitigate risks and improve efficiency.
• Technical Expertise: Stay updated with changes in auditing standards, accounting regulations, and industry best practices. Apply this knowledge to effectively address complex audit and accounting issues.
• Business Development: Contribute to business growth by identifying opportunities to expand services and acquire new clients. Prepare proposals, participate in client meetings, and actively promote the firm's audit and assurance services.
• Compliance and Reporting: Ensure compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and professional standards. Prepare and submit necessary reports and documentation to regulatory bodies, such as financial statements and tax returns.
• Risk Assessment: Evaluate and analyze the risk profile of clients, including identifying emerging risks and assessing their potential impact on financial statements and operations. Develop risk-based audit plans accordingly.
• Quality Control: Maintain and uphold the firm's quality control procedures and standards. Participate in internal quality reviews and implement corrective actions as necessary.

• Financial Analysis: Conduct thorough financial analysis to assess the financial health and performance of clients' businesses. This may involve reviewing financial statements, analyzing key financial ratios, identifying trends, and providing insights and recommendations.
• Financial Planning and Forecasting: Assist clients in developing financial plans, budgets, and forecasts. Help clients set financial goals, evaluate revenue and cost projections, and create financial models to guide decision-making.
• Investment Advisory: Provide guidance and advice on investment opportunities and portfolio management. Conduct research, assess risk-return profiles, and offer recommendations on asset allocation, diversification, and investment strategies based on clients' financial goals and risk tolerance.
• Business Valuation: Conduct business valuations to determine the worth of a company or its assets. Use various valuation techniques and methodologies to assess the fair value of businesses for purposes such as mergers and acquisitions, financial reporting, or dispute resolution.
• Financial Reporting and Compliance: Assist clients in preparing accurate and compliant financial statements in accordance with relevant accounting standards and regulations. Ensure adherence to reporting requirements and help clients interpret financial information for stakeholders.
• Cash Flow Management: Help clients manage their cash flow effectively by analyzing cash inflows and outflows, optimizing working capital, and providing recommendations on liquidity management, credit control, and cash flow forecasting.
• Risk Management: Identify and assess financial risks faced by clients and develop risk management strategies. This may involve analyzing market risks, credit risks, operational risks, and proposing risk mitigation measures such as insurance coverage or hedging strategies.
• Tax Planning and Compliance: Provide guidance on tax planning strategies to minimize tax liabilities while ensuring compliance with tax laws and regulations. Help clients identify tax-saving opportunities, prepare and file tax returns, and address tax-related queries and audits.
• Financial Process Improvement: Assess and improve clients' financial processes, systems, and controls to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and internal controls. Streamline financial operations, recommend automation tools, and implement best practices for financial management.

• Devising internal audit plans for large 5 star hotels of Muscat along with review and approval of the internal audit reports
• Designing and implementing audit methodology for the firm in compliance with the audit methodology of RSM International
• Design of accounting and internal control system along with supervision and review of provision of business process outsourcing services to clients
• Conducting in-house seminars on IFRS and ISA for training of local and expat staff
• Assisting foreign clients in setting up businesses in Oman and guiding through the legal and secretarial formalities
• Prepared the firm's flagship publication “Doing Business In Oman” as per the guidance of RSM International
• Successfully negotiated terms and conditions of audit facilitation services to a large Government Organization

• Financial Strategy and Planning: Develop and implement the financial strategy of the fund management company, aligning it with the overall business goals and objectives. Oversee financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting processes to ensure optimal financial performance.
• Financial Reporting and Analysis: Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting, both internally and externally, including the preparation of financial statements, management reports, and investor communications. Conduct financial analysis and provide insights to support decision-making and strategic planning.
• Fund Management and Performance Evaluation: Monitor and evaluate the performance of investment funds managed by the company. Analyze fund performance, including returns, risk metrics, and benchmarks, and provide recommendations for optimizing portfolio performance.
• Fund Accounting and Operations: Oversee fund accounting and administration functions, including NAV calculation, expense management, and compliance with regulatory requirements. Ensure adherence to fund accounting standards and best practices.
• Risk Management and Compliance: Develop and implement risk management policies and procedures to identify, assess, and mitigate financial risks associated with fund operations. Ensure compliance with relevant regulatory frameworks, such as investment regulations and reporting requirements.
• Treasury and Cash Management: Manage cash flow, liquidity, and treasury functions of the fund management company. Optimize working capital, oversee cash management strategies, and maintain relationships with banks and financial institutions.
• Investor Relations: Act as a key liaison with investors, addressing their financial queries, providing performance updates, and managing investor relations activities. Ensure transparency, accuracy, and integrity in investor communications.
• Regulatory Compliance: Stay up to date with relevant financial regulations and industry standards governing fund management. Ensure compliance with applicable laws, rules, and guidelines, and oversee regulatory filings and audits.
• Financial Systems and Technology: Oversee the implementation and maintenance of financial systems, including accounting software, portfolio management systems, and reporting tools. Identify opportunities for process automation and optimization.
• Team Leadership and Development: Lead and manage the finance team, providing guidance, mentoring, and professional development opportunities. Foster a collaborative and high-performance culture within the finance department.

Joined the firm as audit trainee as per the requirements of the ICAP's bye laws and elevated to Manager Audit, Assurance and Consulting during my tenure. In addition to common responsibilities as manager audit, following additional responsibilities were included in my job description

• Planning and carrying out Special audits (systems audit of stock brokers, sales tax audits, cost audit of manufacturing companies etc.) and investigative assignments
• Income tax advisory and drafting the tax appeals on behalf of clients
• Planning and conducting financial due diligence and representation on behalf of the clients in mergers and takeovers
• Compliance with the requirements of MSI Global Alliance for international affiliation and membership
• Compliance with the quality control requirements of ICAP and representation on behalf of the Firm to ICAP for Quality Control Reviews