Mohamed Arafa

15+ years of finance experience across Accounts Payable (AP), General Ledger (GL), Fixed Assets (FA), financial operations and reporting across Egypt and Oman. Regional finance leadership across UAE, Egypt, KSA, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait, with responsibility for 200+ employees. Strong expertise in Financial Control, AP, GL, FA, reconciliations, month-end closing, sales accounting, supplier accounting, invoice processing, payments, gross margin, shrinkage, accruals, rebates, and audit coordination.

Key contributor to SAP S/4HANA and Coupa implementations across 7 countries, including Oracle-to-SAP data migration validation and UAE implementation support. Certified in the Managing Mastery Program (Harvard Business Impact), with proven capability in team building, talent development, succession planning, and attrition management. Experienced in process improvement, automation, compliance, and cross-functional finance transformation.

Senior Regional Finance Operations Head at Majid Al Futtaim (Global Solution) (2024-02 – Present)

• Regional Finance Oversight: Lead finance operations across UAE, Egypt, KSA, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait, ensuring compliance with corporate policies and local regulations.
• Team Leadership: Lead a workforce of 200+ employees, setting performance standards, coaching, and ensuring operational efficiency.
• SAP S/4HANA Implementation: Key contributor to implementation across 7 countries, including Oracle-to-SAP data migration validation, reconciliation, testing, and finance process readiness.
• Coupa Implementation: Supported Coupa implementation across 7 countries, ensuring AP process alignment, testing, adoption, and operational readiness.
• UAE Implementation Support: Selected team members from the regional team and traveled to UAE to provide hands-on implementation support, successfully completing 3 month-end closings.
• Talent Development & Attrition: Build and mentor teams, identify high-potential employees, strengthen succession planning, and implement strategies to reduce turnover.
• Invoice Management: Supervise end-to-end invoice booking, validation, and posting across high transaction volumes.
• Payments Administration: Lead scheduling and execution of supplier payments, optimizing cash flow and ensuring adherence to contractual terms.
• Supplier Reconciliation: Oversee reconciliation of supplier accounts, resolving discrepancies and maintaining strong vendor relationships.
• Distribution Center Processes: Manage AP processes linked to distribution centers, including goods receipt, stock reconciliation, and logistics cost allocation.
• Gross Margin & Shrinkage: Monitor gross margin, shrinkage provisions, and related adjustments for accurate financial reporting.
• Rebate Management: Administer supplier rebate programs, ensuring proper accounting treatment and timely recognition of income.

Country Account Manager at Majid Al Futtaim (Global Solution) (2022-07 – 2024-01)

• Accounts Payable: Managed invoice validation, supplier reconciliations, payments, accruals, and payable balances.
• General Ledger: Oversaw journal entries, account reconciliations, provisions, and month-end closing.
• Fixed Assets: Managed capitalization, depreciation, asset reconciliations, and Fixed Asset reporting.
• Sales Accounting: Oversaw sales-related reconciliations, revenue postings, and variance analysis in coordination with commercial teams.
• Financial Control: Reviewed Balance Sheet and P&L; accounts, investigated variances, and supported accurate financial reporting.
• Closing & Compliance: Coordinated reconciliations, financial controls, audits, and month-end closing activities.

Key Accounts Manager – Head Office at Majid Al Futtaim (Retail) (2018-09 – 2022-06)

• Managed Accounts Payable and Import finance operations using JDE and GIMA financial systems, ensuring accurate and timely accounting.
• Controlled price and quantity changes during invoice processing and resolved supplier price discrepancies with the merchandising team.
• Monitored supplier litigation percentages and average waiting times with the receiving department.
• Conducted purchase analysis, reviewed supplier debit balance reports, and handled supplier issues and relationships.
• Performed internal sales reconciliations and oversaw intercompany reconciliations for STV goods.
• Managed daily/monthly purchase reconciliations between GIMA and JDE and submitted reports to NEGO+.
• Prepared closing and gross margin reports and monitored net stock, shrinkage provisions, supplier payable reports, and rebate incidence.
• Managed provisions for display stock, stock depreciation, and supplier bad debts.
• Analyzed variances between Balance Sheet and P&L; statements and coordinated month-end intercompany reconciliations.
• Conducted weekly/monthly landed-cost reconciliations and reported variances to the Import Manager.

Accounts Payable Supervisor at Majid Al Futtaim (Retail) (2015-01 – 2018-08)

• Prepared supplier average waiting time reports and resolved supplier price discrepancies with the merchandising team.
• Conducted purchase analysis, reviewed supplier debit balance reports, and handled supplier issues and relationships.
• Prepared and verified internal sales reconciliations and managed intercompany reconciliations for STV goods.
• Oversaw purchase reconciliations between GIMA and JDE and prepared FOC reconciliations.
• Compiled closing and gross margin reports and monitored net stock, shrinkage provisions, supplier payables, and related provisions.
• Prepared rebate incidence reports, calculated packaging consumption, and coordinated month-end intercompany reconciliations.
• Verified closing stock of the import center against system stock and conducted weekly/monthly landed-cost reconciliations.

Import & Logistics Supervisor at Majid Al Futtaim (Retail) (2012-05 – 2014-12)

• Processed import invoice entries, including adjustments to GRN prices, and recorded landed and logistics costs.
• Reconciled landed costs and prepared related provisions and reports.
• Reconciled Carrefour supplier statements and logistics cost provisions and managed monthly reversals.
• Prepared debit notes for net rebates and recorded store claims, price compensation, and accruals during closing.
• Executed intercompany reconciliations and reconciled e-vouchers in JDE between purchase and sales records.
• Led monthly team meetings, developed Excel tools to streamline workflows, and collaborated with internal and external auditors.

Senior Accountant at Al Mansour Chevrolet (2011-05 – 2012-04)

• Recorded daily financial transactions and prepared and reconciled bank statements.
• Monitored purchases and sales activities and followed up with suppliers and customers on outstanding issues.
• Managed treasury operations, including cash-flow oversight and cheque/cash deposits and withdrawals.

Bachelor of Commerce and Business Administration in Foreign Trade & Accounting – Helwan University (2006 – 2010)