Absolomon Mabharera

Seasoned Financial Planning professional who can get underneath the numbers understanding what is happening operationally and translate financial performance into better business decisions.

I consistently ask: What changed? Why did it change? What does it mean for the project or business? And what should we do next? I am a hands-on leader who enjoys digging into project performance, improving how information is reported and giving stakeholders the financial insight they need to make better decisions.

I have partnered with agronomy and project operational leaders to improve visibility into projects and business performance, challenge assumptions, strengthen forecasting, financial planning and turn financial data into practical decisions. Leveraged forward-looking analytics, business acumen, and modern finance tools to identify risks and opportunities, support business growth, optimize operating expenses, and bring a thoughtful financial perspective to how we allocate resources.

Finance Manager – FP&A & Special Projects at Maxi Possibilities Engineering (2019-02 – Present)

Operate at the intersection of finance and strategy, leading day-to-day delivery of project financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and comprehensive analytical support across the business' multi live projects. Produce high-quality financial insights, improving forecasting accuracy, preparing detailed cost evaluations, strengthening FP&A processes, and partnering with operational leaders to drive overall projects performance.

• Lead financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and long-range analysis to support small-to-medium EPC project delivery and growth.
• Coordinate the development of rolling forecasts and long-range financial plans.
• Lead the preparation of monthly business reviews and intra-month flash forecasts, ensuring accuracy and clear variance commentary.
• Apply Earned Value Management (EVM) and IFRS 15 revenue recognition to align forecasts with actuals and assess cost/schedule performance, cash flow, and liquidity.
• Develop and improve financial models used for budgeting, scenario planning, operational forecasting, and performance tracking.
• Enhance forecasting methodologies, assumptions, and processes to increase accuracy and efficiency.
• Produce monthly management reporting packs, Board decks & slides, including KPI analysis, performance commentary, and actionable recommendations. Provide deck commentary illustrating financial variances and explanations in financial statements.
• Turn messy, incomplete, or contradictory data into a clear point of view on what's actually driving the numbers. Translate complex analysis into executive-ready answers to four questions: What changed? Why? What does it mean? What should we do next?
• Conduct detailed variance analysis to identify key drivers, trends, cost pressures, and improvement opportunities.
• Build, maintain, and enhance detailed financial models for forecasting, scenario planning, pricing, and strategic initiatives.
• Partner department leaders, helping them understand performance, cost drivers, budget ownership, and improvement opportunities.
• Identify trends, anomalies and opportunities for cost savings and operational efficiencies.
• Flag significant financial risks, forecast concerns, control issues and project performance concerns to the MD.
• Lead scenario planning, sensitivity analysis, and ROI work for investments, pricing, hiring, and commercial decisions.
• Perform financial reconciliations across multiple projects and areas of the business and assist with month end financial closes processes.
• Drive Lean Six Sigma (DMAIC) and AI-enabled automation initiatives to modernize reporting and eliminate inefficiencies.
• Lead, mentor, and develop finance teams across multiple locations.

Freelance FP&A Manager– AI Model Training Expert (Fixed Term Short Contract, Concurrent) at Ethos Expert Network - UK (2026-04 – 2026-08)

• Create, evaluate, and refine AI-generated presentations across core FP&A workflows, including monthly business review (MBR) decks, budget and forecast presentations, variance analysis exhibits, board finance packages, long-range plan decks, and KPI dashboard slides.
• Apply deep FP&A domain expertise and variance-storytelling techniques to assess AI outputs for financial accuracy, validate technical reasoning, logical structure, help improve Large Language Models (LLMs) used within the finance industry and executive/board readiness.
• Apply detailed annotation guidelines consistently while maintaining exceptional quality standards.

Accounting Manager at CA Agriculture (2015-01 – 2018-12)

Reviewed and provided timely, accurate and consistent financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and management reporting and analysis for the crop commodities origination agribusiness unit, translating financial metrics into relevant insights to help improve decision making, performance and business growth. Managed GL integrity, multi-unit consolidations, grower accounting, and liquidity for large cash flows. Delivered cost analysis, commodity market insights, and capital investment evaluations.

Spearheaded FP&A, financial models, training teams, and advising leadership on strategic agribusiness decisions. Coordinated annual budgeting and continuously monitored financial performance across crop origination and ginning operations.

• Prepared and presented timely financial statements, dashboards, and Board-level commentary and recommendations.
• Consolidated multiple input data files, tables, graphs (e.g. tables on F&I business drivers, prices assumptions, P&L and balance sheet and SG&A schedule forecast etc.) & convert them into a meaningful output document, provide commentaries on SGA cost.
• Implemented and monitored internal financial controls, ensuring compliance with tax requirements, financial regulations, company policies, and GLOBAL G.A.P audits certifications.
• Led month-end and year-end close processes in full alignment with the company accounting calendar and regulatory standards.
• Managed inventory and biological assets in compliance with IAS 41, ensuring accurate valuation and reporting.
• Identified financial risks, implement mitigation strategies, and evaluate investment opportunities with clear financial recommendations.
• Led, mentor, and develop high‑performing finance and field teams (8 direct, 24 indirect reports), fostering accountability, collaboration, and professional excellence.

Origination Accountant at Cargill (2002-04 – 2014-12)

Played a pivotal role in supporting strategic financial planning, operational analysis, and business decision-making. Delivered high-impact insights that drive profitability, efficiency, and alignment with agriculture business unit objectives. Supported commodities origination operations, trading, planning, and functional managers through budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, and general business decision support.

Collaborated with country finance teams, agronomists, executive leadership, auditors, tax, and legal functions to drive process standardization, controls, and efficiency across the cotton and grain business operations.

• Owned grain and oilseeds business unit variance analysis of actual results versus budget and forecast.
• Prepared and delivered executive-level financial reporting packages including Quarterly Financial Reviews (QFR), monthly P&L summaries, and financial performance decks highlighting key drivers and performance indicators.
• Delivered accurate monthly management accounts, IFRS compliant reporting packs, and closing processes, ensuring General Ledger integrity and financial transparency.
• Prepared quarterly cost savings and expenses management analysis to drive deeper understanding and management of spending across the grain product lines.
• Created and enhanced dashboards for margin, volume, and expense tracking.
• Supported budgeting and forecasting cycles for the grain and oilseeds product lines.
• Processed grain and cotton settlements, review and verify producer payments, and ensure accuracy in contract farming and seed multiplication projects.
• Supported long-range planning (LRP) and headcount forecasting.
• Identified process improvement projects that improve budgeting and forecast planning process.
• Collaborated with HR to validate payroll inputs, including overtime, labour costs, and allowances, ensuring accuracy in payroll processing.
• Led and manage processes for achieving and maintaining international sustainability agricultural program certifications (USAID, CNFA, Gates Foundation, IPM, CmiA/BCI/Compaci, Global GAP).
• Champion a strong safety culture, adhering to all safety policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Mentored accounting and accounts payable staff, assign tasks, review work, and provide performance feedback to build team capability.
• Advised growers respond to challenges around profitability, funding, diversification and succession
• Partnered Agronomy Head to perform financial evaluation of new business development opportunities.

Master of Science in Project Management – Edu Effective Business School (2023-01 – 2025-05)

Master of Business Administration in Business Administration – University of Zimbabwe (2006-01 – 2010-08)

Higher National Diploma in Business Management – Masvingo Polytechnic College (1997-01 – 2000-04)