Umer Syed

Strategic and results-driven Finance Executive with over a decade of experience across Manufacturing, Construction, FMCG, Real Estate, and E-commerce sectors. Proven track record in leading financial strategy, optimizing P&L performance, and managing complex international supply chains across US, UK, and EU marketplaces. Expert in leveraging data-driven insights (MRR, LTV, CAC) to drive profitability and operational excellence within high-growth SaaS and E-commerce environments.

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at SKUhunt (Sulazra Group) (2025-03 – Present)

Lead enterprise-wide financial strategy to drive sustainable growth and operational excellence in a fast-scaling SaaS environment.

• Oversee strategic planning, budgeting, long-range forecasting, scenario modeling, and capital allocation.
• Direct accounting operations, financial reporting, audit coordination, regulatory compliance, and enterprise risk management.
• Drive data-backed decision-making across the organization through advanced financial analysis and performance tracking.
• Optimize core SaaS KPIs including MRR growth, churn reduction, CAC efficiency, LTV maximization, gross margins, and payback period.
• Advise founders and board members on pricing strategy, monetization models, product investments, and market expansion risk assessment.
• Strengthen internal controls and governance frameworks to enhance transparency, accountability, and investor confidence.
• Implement cost optimization and operating leverage initiatives to improve profitability and long-term cash flow stability.

Head of Finance, Supply Chain & Operations – Amazon E-commerce at Ensight (Sulazra Group) (2024-04 – Present)

Own full P&L accountability across US, UK, and EU Amazon FBA marketplaces, driving revenue growth and margin expansion for a multi-category private label portfolio.

• Lead FP&A, budgeting, rolling forecasts, cash flow planning, and working capital optimization to support scalable growth.
• Improve profitability through COGS control, contribution margin analysis, and TACOS/ACOS performance management.
• Develop data-driven demand forecasting and inventory models integrating sales velocity, seasonality, PPC trends, and turnover ratios to prevent stock-outs and excess inventory.
• Direct international sourcing (China) and supplier negotiations, optimizing MOQs, payment terms, and landed costs.
• Oversee end-to-end supply chain operations including production planning, freight (air/sea), customs clearance, 3PL management, VAT compliance, and cross-border trade.
• Reduce logistics and landed costs through freight optimization, packaging redesign, supplier consolidation, and warehouse cost control.
• Build scalable SOPs and lead cross-functional teams (finance, procurement, logistics, PPC, account management) to align operational capacity with growth targets.

Head of Finance and Operations at Jungle Advisor (Sulazra Group) (2024-04 – Present)

• Led financial strategy aligned with long-term business goals.
• Managed budgeting and forecasting with focus on accuracy and alignment.
• Oversaw daily finance ops, including accounting, payroll, and reporting.
• Delivered financial insights to guide strategic decisions.
• Ensured compliance with all financial regulations and standards.
• Drove process improvements for greater efficiency and cost control.
• Collaborated cross-functionally to execute key initiatives.
• Built strong ties with leadership, clients, and vendors.

Manager Finance at Dubizzle Group - Zameen.com (2019-11 – 2024-03)

• Aligned finance operations with Sales, Legal, and Audit teams.
• Built systems and policies for timely revenue recognition.
• Worked with CFO on finance process and IT improvements.
• Prepared budgets, reports, and cash flow projections.
• Delivered region-wise financial insights for P&L analysis.
• Handled complex sales incentive calculations and queries.
• Supported audits and maintained internal controls.
• Developing new systems to boost sales and revenue tracking.
• Scaled finance department from 3 to 32 personnel via strategic workload allocation and alignment with company expectations.

Assistant Manager Finance at United Snacks Private Limited (FMCG) (2016-04 – 2019-08)

• Supported Sales & Marketing in strategy, budgeting, and financial reporting.
• Assisted IT in developing Sales & Marketing MIS and updating policies.
• Conducted audits for the accounts department.
• Prepared weekly/monthly budgets, cash flows, and P&L reports.
• Managed receivables, payables, and vendor/customer payments.
• Processed sales team salaries, incentives, promotions, and claims.
• Reconciled ledgers, bank statements, and resolved discrepancies.
• Provided supply chain analysis to the CFO.
• Analyzed sales data to deliver insights for executive reporting.

Regional Accountant at Montgomery Watson Harza (MWH) (2015-03 – 2015-08)

• Intercompany monthly reconciliation for 15 regions on Microsoft share point.
• Timesheet Management to record hours worked by resources to be billed to client.
• Direct Time percentage and cost reporting
• Preparing monthly, quarterly cash flow and budgeting forecasts.
• Balance sheet reconciliation
• Vendor, GL and bank reconciliations.
• Reporting directly to regional financial controller.

Accounts Executive at Kansai Paints (2014-02 – 2015-02)

• Monthly Accrual (marketing, sales promotion, media Cost, plant Accruals, transport - S&D Accruals)
• Prepaid (Rent, health/life insurance, other prepayments)
• Daily cash position report to CFO
• Monthly Cash flow details (Finance manager)
• Coordination with banks(monthly statements/rate confirmation for foreign payments)
• Processing Foreign debit notes
• Preparation of the detail of vendors' withholding tax and E Filing on FBR portal.

BSc (Hons) in Applied Accounting – Oxford Brookes University UK (2014 – 2017)

ACCA in Accounting – Association of Chartered Certified Accountant (2008 – 2014)

CAT in Certified Accounting Technician – UK (2005 – 2007)

A Levels – Private (2009 – 2009)

O Levels – Keymian Institute of Management & Sciences (2003 – 2005)