Muhammad Shafiq

ACCA-qualified auditor with Big 4 foundations at KPMG (ISA-compliant statutory and substantive audit under IFRS and local GAAP) and 4+ years' progressive experience across external audit, internal audit/risk advisory and financial control in regulated, multi-site organisations in the UK and Pakistan. Skilled in audit planning and fieldwork, risk assessment, evaluation of internal control structures, financial statement audits and stakeholder liaison through to sign-off. Analytical and detail-focused, with strong time-management, problem-solving and communication skills built across fast-paced, deadline-led, multi-engagement environments.

Fluent in English; open to relocation to bring ACCA-qualified technical depth and hands-on client-side controls experience back into practice.

Assistant Financial Controller at voco Reading, an IHG Hotel (2026-05 – Present)

• Own the balance sheet control environment: monthly reconciliation review, supporting schedules and variance investigation across all GL accounts, providing the audit trail relied on by external auditors
• Test and enforce financial controls across Cost Control, Income Audit, AP, AR, Credit Control and General Cashier, identifying and closing control gaps
• Lead month-end close (journals, accruals, prepayments, fixed asset reconciliations), resolving trial balance variances to tight deadlines
• Prepare monthly financial statements and management reports; present financial analysis and profitability recommendations to department heads and ownership
• Principal liaison for internal, external and statutory audits — preparing audit-ready schedules and evidence packs and resolving auditor queries
• Recruit, train and develop finance team members, embedding SOP compliance and consistent control application

Assistant Financial Controller at Taplow House Hotel & Spa (2026-02 – 2026-05)

• Prepared monthly management accounts and variance analysis; performed balance sheet reconciliations and journal postings supporting audit-ready records
• Strengthened internal controls across income and cost processes; provided direct support to statutory and internal audit processes
• Supported budgeting and forecasting, translating operational activity into financial reporting

Night Auditor at Ibis Hotel (2024-11 – 2026-01)

• Performed nightly financial reconciliations and control checks across room revenue, occupancy and guest ledger balances, resolving discrepancies in real time
• Maintained financial integrity of daily reporting, forming the control foundation later relied on in month-end and audit review

Accountant at Asmat & Co (UK Accountancy Practice) (2023-10 – 2024-09)

• Prepared statutory accounts under FRS 102/105 for a portfolio of SME and sole-trader clients
• Performed substantive and controls audit testing as part of year-end audit and accounts assignments
• Completed VAT returns and managed client compliance with HMRC deadlines and requirements

Business Consultant / Analyst at Hyphen Consultancy Pvt Ltd (2022-04 – 2023-09)

• Conducted internal audits and risk assessments across client engagements, evaluating controls and recommending remediation
• Built financial models and Power BI dashboards to support audit findings and process improvement recommendations

Audit Associate at KPMG (2021-04 – 2022-03)

• Executed statutory audit fieldwork for clients across multiple industries under ISA and IFRS/local GAAP, evaluating operational landscape and internal control structures and performing substantive testing and analytical procedures
• Prepared audit documentation and working papers to KPMG and ISA quality standards
• Collaborated with audit seniors and managers on engagement planning, fieldwork execution and completion

ACCA Qualified – ACCA Global, UK (2025-10)

MSc in Project Management – BPP University, London, UK (2025-01)

BSc (Hons) in Applied Accounting – Oxford Brookes University, UK (2021-09)