Ahmed Basalim

Experience

• 

  Habib Bank Limited

  Dec 2008 - Mar 2009

  Internship

  I was attached to different departments as an intern including customer care, accounts and forex departments

• 

  PwC

  Oct 2010 - Mar 2013

  Senior Associate

  Involved in auditing key companies such as Barclays Bank, British American Investments Company, Kenya Shell Company Ltd, Colgate Palmolive Ltd, Cisco Kenya Ltd, East African Storage Company and Chai Trading Company Ltd. My responsibilities included:• Understanding the key engagement objectives .This entails planning to exceed clients’ expectations in understanding the client’s business, regulatory and industry environment, assessing the controls in place, identifying key business and other risks affecting the engagements then determine the approach to adopt and the extent of audit tests to be performed;• Staffing and scheduling of the various assignments;• Train and supervise lower level employees on audit practices and provide extensive support to them to ensure that the team’s objectives are well achieved;• Review work done by the junior team members ensuring that we deliver quality work within the set deadlines;• Identify control-related issues and assist client management to improve internal procedures through provision of solutions to close the gaps by clearly identifying the organisational objectives, related risks and prescribing the controls necessary to mitigate those risks;• Preparation and review of financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards;• Preparation and review of management letters to clients including discussion of audit findings and issues noted with client management;• Developing strong long-term operational relationships with clients through regular interaction and active participation in client meetings; Show less

• 

  Holcim

  Apr 2013 - Apr 2024

  Responsible for ensuring availability of good quality information to enable decision making, challenging all the business Industrial units on production efficiency, inventory management, controls and costs/expenditure to ensure continuous improvement and managing risks to provide assurance of a sound control environment. The role is the focal point on effectiveness of performance analysis, forecasting, budgeting, strategic planning (including Performance Development Plans) and ensuring alignment of each plant targets to the group vision and ambitions Show less My responsibilities include:1. Coordinating and spearheading a tailored approach to the Group’s performance management cycle and ensures that the group guidelines are consistently applied. This entails review of budget/ monthly & quarterly forecasts to ensure that the business objectives are reflected in the same. 2. Challenging and ensuring clear action plans are in place to ensure validity of the planning processes to deliver budget, Performance Improvement Plans & strategic plans for the Business unit(BU).3.Delivering timely and accurate reports required by the Plant and BU management that are compliant with financial accounting procedures and legal requirements. 4. Performing detailed analysis of plant performance reports to ensure consistency of information with other reports5. Monitoring the robustness of the plant control environment and drive any necessary corrective actions to ensure compliance with group policies and procedures6. Reviewing and challenging plant investment project requests to ensure financial viability, consistency with BU strategy and plant improvement plans and compliance with group rules.7. Initiating internal and external bench marking with plants within and outside the business unit in order to identify best practices for implementation at the plant8. Having an Oversight of Administration department.9. Maintaining Custody of stores and stocks items.10. Ensuring cost control and working capital management for the plant. Show less My Responsibilities Include1.Performing detailed analysis of plant performance highlighting variances to key performance indicators and undertake review of plant reports to ensure consistency of information with other reports.2.Undertaking root cause analysis to variances and presenting explanations of key performance indicators compared to plan while advising management on corrective actions to enable decision making.3.Providing input to the Plant and Group’s performance management cycle including budget/ monthly & quarterly forecasts to ensure that the business objectives are reflected in the same4.Delivering timely and accurate reports required by the Plant and BU management that are compliant with financial accounting procedures and legal requirements.5.Monitoring the robustness of the plant control environment and drive any necessary corrective actions to ensure compliance with group policies and procedures.6.Providing analysis to support decision making on plant investment project requests to ensure financial viability, consistency with BU strategy,plant improvement plans and compliance with group rules. 7 Initiating internal and external bench marking with plants within and outside the business unit in order to identify best practices for implementation at the plant.8. Undertaking roles to create awareness of safety within the control function at the plant Show less

  • Pricing and Commercial Controller-Bamburi Cement Ltd (Holcim Subsidiary)

    Jul 2023 - Apr 2024

  • Industrial Controller-Bamburi Cement Ltd (LafargeHolcim Subsidiary)

    Feb 2019 - Jul 2023

  • Plant Controller-Nairobi Grinding Plant

    Feb 2015 - Jan 2019

  • Operations Analyst

    Apr 2013 - Feb 2015
• 

  Baker Hughes

  Apr 2024 - now

  Senior Finance Manager-FP &A Operations (Sub Saharan Africa)

  Responsible for the accuracy and integrity of accounting records in SSA ensuring compliance with local generally accepted accounting principles and company policies. To identify and comprehend business issues; propose and carry out solutions. Teaming up with the executive team to develop the company's medium to the long-term financial and strategic plan.