Farhan Zaheer - FCCA, ACA

Experience

• 

  Ernst & Young

  Apr 2008 - Aug 2011

  Audit Associate to Audit Supervisor

  4 years of rich work experience of accounting and audit in a BIG4 (E & Y) which includes:• Audit planning, risk assessments, development and execution of substantive and analytical audit procedures and review of financial statements in accordance with the International Standards on Auditing (ISAs), and regulatory filings in accordance with corporate laws and regulations especially the Companies Ordinance, 1984, Listing Regulations of The Karachi Stock Exchange (G) Limited and The Lahore Stock Exchange (G) Limited • Coordinating and leading engagement team discussions around the audit planning and execution of procedures • Training, supervision and mentoring individual team members on the audit process • Concluding audit and reporting of deliverables like audit report, management letters, etc.• Preparation & monitoring of budgeted hours throughout the course of the engagements to ensure the timely and efficient completion of all critical testing areas. • Interacting with key client management to gather information, resolve audit-related problems, and make recommendations for business and process improvements• Application of EY Global audit methodology (GAM).• I was seconded to Ernst & Young Saudi Arabia in 2010 for 4 months due to my excellent performance. I was involved in the audits of Financial sector at that secondment. i have also got the chance to involve in the audit assignment of one of the biggest bank in Middle East (National Commercial Bank). Show less

• 

  PwC Malta (Europe)

  Aug 2011 - Sept 2012

  Senior Auditor

  My responsibilities and key activities undertaken are as follows: •Engagement planning, identifying significant risk areas, participating and assisting engagement executives in initial audit meetings.•Engagement supervision, agreeing and monitoring the time deadlines.•Application of PwC Audit Methodology (Aura).•Determine the preliminary strategy for relying on controls and the selected perspective for understanding and evaluating the flow of transactions.•Obtain understanding of the flow of significant routine, non routine, and estimation transactions. For each flow of transactions, determine the errors that could occur for each significant assertion for each significant account. For each WCGW, determine controls to prevent or detect and correct potential errors of audit importance. Perform walkthroughs to confirm understanding of flows of transactions and related controls, preliminary evaluation of the effectiveness of the relevant controls.•Evaluating internal control systems, designing the tests of controls for specific areas in consultation with the engagement executives, identifying control weaknesses and making appropriate recommendations to the management.•Designing the substantive procedures in consultation with the engagement executives •Consider and evaluate the results of overall analytical procedures.•On-job training and professional development of staff.•Coordinating with professionals of various fields like legal, tax and IT experts for resolution of critical reportable matters•Preparation of other deliverables, such as, management letter identifying control weaknesses, its implications and recommendations;•Meetings with client for the resolution of various accounting or other issues/ matters identified during the assignment; Show less

• 

  Emirates - Transguard Group

  Sept 2012 - Feb 2014

  Assistant Manager - Internal Audit & Compliance

  • Reviewed Finance Business Process (operations) and identify scope for continuous improvement• Responsible to ensure the effectiveness of control design and operation• Undertake Finance projects for implementing Best Practices (operational audit) across the Group• Plan and execute internal audits, report findings and devise action plan to implement in light of such findings, to achieve above• Provide insightful information and expectations to senior executives to aid in long-term and short- term decision making and achieved best practice governance within Finance, and ensure Group's compliance with the finance policies, procedures, SOPs, guidelines, as well as upcoming requirements of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs/IASs) and other statutory requirements Show less

• 

  EY - UK & Ireland

  Feb 2014 - Jan 2017

  Audit Manager

  Leading and coordinating multinational audits in an Manager capacity, primarily in a commercial, industry and technology environment for US, UK and EMEA based multinationals. Main responsibilities included:• Organized and managed the audits of different multinational clients for group and statutoryaudit purposes which, involved audit of financial statements prepared under local (FRS), US, UKand other GAAP• Involved in planning, execution and conclusion of different other assignments including internal control, SoX 404, Agreed upon Procedures and Compliance Audits. • Responsible for detailed review of the audit work undertaken by each team, streamline any issue resolution process, coordinate the teams in place, ensure client deadlines are achieved and provide guidance to clients on any upcoming changes in accounting standards or company law which may impact their business.• Worked with analytical audit tools and drive the adoption across the Dublin office• Facilitate a number of training courses for a variety of levels from interns to qualified seniors• Department lead for operations aspect of business which includes monthly reporting to partnership on fees, billings and human resource matters such as performance appraisal • Projecting a professional image and ensuring all team members performed their work in a manner that was professional, comprehensive and accurate• Involved in operational audit activities on various clients to understand the operational processes, to document processes and performed audit procedures on operational processes• Keeping update with all IFRS, US GAAP, UK or local GAAPs pronouncements• Delivery of a value added service by the preparation of a management letter that outlined key deficiencies identified during audits Show less

• 

  Pfizer

  Jan 2017 - May 2020

  Manager Global Internal Audit

  - Managed multiple Pfizer audit engagements and supervised audit teams through diverse audit stages - Ensured that departmental metrics pertaining to audit deliverables achieved for all designated projects.- Identified key processes to assess current and future risks.- Enhanced the visibility of the Internal Audit (IA) function across the organization- Established, nurtured, and sustained relationships with key stakeholders in finance and business - Member of the Global Strategic Business Finance (SBF) team & participated in various ad-hoc projects- Automation (RPA), ELC, COSO, SOX, and KPMG relationship management activities- Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) compliance, revenue recognition (IFRS 15 & ASC 606) - Cultural audit, continuous liaison with KPMG, process reviews, and Quality Assurance Reviews Show less

• 

  Microsoft

  Jun 2020 - now

  Senior Manager Risk & Compliance - Finance (Lead for Belux & Ireland)

  - Promoting a robust culture of governance and compliance within Microsoft.- Cultivating relationships with subsidiary and compliance stakeholders.- Delivering comprehensive analysis on the results of internal control reviews to all affected entities.- Participating in the planning and execution of strategic, large-scale, and complex deals.- Overseeing multiple internal control reviews concurrently.- Accountability for Anti-Corruption, Sales Deal Execution, SOX, ERM/ FRM, and other internal controls.- Leading control optimization and transformation initiatives. Show less