Muhammad Saad

Commercial finance and Investment professional with 15+ years of partnering with business leaders in retail, FMCG, F&B, hospitality and manufacturing, within a 50+ entity group (AED 1.8B+ revenue). Skilled in financial management and reporting, IFRS consolidation and month-end closing, budgeting and rolling forecasts, financial modelling, and margin, pricing and cost analysis. Experienced in investment appraisal and capital allocation for new projects and expansion, supporting investment committee and board decisions.

Proven in turning financial analysis into business decisions that improve profitability and cash flow, and in improving finance processes, reporting and controls to deliver faster, more accurate management information. Currently a CFA Level II Candidate, ACCA, and MBA in Finance & Risk Management (UK), supported by advanced certifications in financial modeling and financial planning & analysis.

FINANCE MANAGER - ALMADINA GROUP - UAE, KSA, Qatar, Oman & India

(2019)

Multi sector Holding Co with 50+ Entities and AED 1.8 B+ Revenue. Sectors: Retail, FMCG, Food and Beverages, Hospitality, Commercial Real Estate Development & Leasing (Shopping Malls), Manufacturing, SAAS, Construction, Investment Management.

• Built 3-statement and DCF-based investment models (NPV, IRR, payback) for new stores, projects and expansion initiatives across retail, F&B and real estate; prepared feasibility studies and capital allocation analysis to support investment committee and board decisions.
• Developed unit-economics and contribution-margin models by store, category, channel and marketing campaign (breakeven sales, cost per unit, margin per order), identifying loss-making units, products and campaigns and informing pricing, cost and rationalization decisions.
• Built forward-looking scenario and sensitivity models testing the impact of cost inflation, demand changes and macroeconomic variables on group profitability and cash flow, helping leadership assess downside risk and priorities capital allocation.
• Secured and restructured AED 300M+ multi-bank financing; built lender models, negotiated terms, and monitored DSCR/ICR/leverage covenants.
• Oversaw group-wide liquidity, working capital cycles, and intercompany funding supporting rapid multi-sector expansion.
• Led IFRS consolidation for 50+ entities; delivered board packs on EBITDA, cash flow, liquidity, and return metrics.
• Directed group-wide budgeting, rolling forecasts, variance/breakeven analysis, and KPI dashboards for multi-segment operations.
• Led UAE Corporate Tax and VAT compliance; managed full EMARATAX return filing and planning.
• Oversee end-to-end accounting operations and monthly closure, ensuring accurate recognition of revenue, deferred income, expenses, prepayments, and accruals in compliance with IFRS. Manage lease accounting (IFRS 16), joint ventures and associates (IAS 28), and investment accounting (IFRS 9 & IAS 40). Supervise fixed assets, inventory variance analysis, cash/bank, related-party, supplier and customer reconciliations, while monitoring AR/AP and payroll cycles.
• Managed statutory audits with top-tier auditors, Acted as a strategic finance partner to operations, procurement, IT, senior leadership, equity shareholders, Lenders, FTA auditors and valuers.

FINANCIAL REPORTING MANAGER - ALMADINA GROUP

(2016 - 2019)

Owned end-to-end monthly, quarterly, and annual close and IFRS-compliant consolidation for an AED 1.8+ billion Revenue with 50+ diverse sectors legal entities. Delivered statutory and management accounts, resolved complex intercompany eliminations, and presented board-level performance packs and dashboards covering profitability, EBITDA, cash flow, liquidity, working capital, variance analysis, and return metrics, strengthening financial governance, executive decision-making, and capital discipline. Led group-wide budgeting exceeding AED 1.2B, rolling forecasts, and KPI-driven performance analysis across multi-segment operations.

Delivered variance analysis, breakeven and margin insights to improve planning accuracy, cash-flow visibility, and data-driven commercial decision-making at business-unit and leadership levels.

FINANCIAL ANALYST - ACCENTRIC MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS - DUBAI, UAE

(2013 - 2016)

Clients: Retail, FMCG, Hospitality, Saas, Construction, Manufacturing

• Performed monthly financial reviews and variance analysis (Actual vs Budget vs Forecast) across multiple client businesses, analyzing cost trends, identifying anomalies, and improving profitability and working capital metrics (DSO, DIO, DPO).
• Prepared annual budgets, rolling forecasts, and cost optimization analyses, conducting detailed line-item revenue and cost reviews, developing management reports, and supporting leadership during financial performance review meetings.
• Developed financial models and project feasibility analyses, including NPV, IRR, and scenario modeling, supporting project evaluations, business turnaround initiatives, and multi-entity reporting requirements.

ACCOUNTING ASSOCIATE - BUSINESS MANAGEMENT WORLD - PAKISTAN

(2011 - 2013)

• Assist in Execution of statutory audits for listed and private companies in accordance with IFRS and ISA, including trial balance finalization, control testing, risk assessments, and preparation of audit schedules.
• Performed reconciliations (bank, AR/AP, petty cash), reviewed financial systems, processed payroll checks, and supported monthly/quarterly closing and reporting to ensure accuracy and compliance.

RESEARCH ANALYST - SAMSON GROUP OF COMPANIES - PAKISTAN

(2009 - 2011)

• Performed retail sales trend analysis, FMCG market segmentation reviews, and urban-rural establishment surveys while auditing stock positions and evaluating salesforce effectiveness to identify growth opportunities and improve market execution.

MBA - Finance & Risk Management - Abertay University

ACCA - Chartered Certified Accountant - ACCA Global

CFA Level I - CFA Institute