Dipesh Harkison

Experience

• 

  Ernst & Young South Africa

  Jan 2002 - Dec 2004

  Trainee Accountant

  My main responsibilities included - planning the audit, maintaining the budget, assisting the audit team on complex issues, managing client relations, drafting the audit committee document as well as other documents that are delivered to the client, and various other tasks that are expected of a Trainee Accountant

• 

  Air Products South Africa (Pty) Ltd

  Jun 2005 - now

  ● Growth Path - Financial Accounting & Systems Manager (March 2016 – Present) - Financial Accounts Manager (Feb 2009 – Feb 2016) - Financial Accounting Supervisor (Jul 2007 – Jan 2009) - Accountant (Jul 2005 – Jun 2007)● Streamlined monthly financial reporting to an 8-person executive team, reducing reporting time by 50% and cutting costs by replacing paper reports with digital reports.● Successfully managed audit functions for 6 companies, leading to a flawless external audit with no major findings or material weaknesses.● Improved budgeting and forecasting accuracy by increasing the frequency to 4 times a year for a group of 6 companies.● Developed and implemented a cash forecasting model that reduced cash flow uncertainty by 50% and ensured adequate cash reserves.● Conducted financial analysis and modelling of 30 material projects, resulting in optimized revenue collection and streamlined costs.● Led the implementation of a Business Intelligence (BI) tool, reducing reporting time by 50% and streamlining report generation time by 75% for new reports.● Implemented enhanced financial controls that decreased losses due to fraud and financial irregularities by 25%.● Played a critical role in the successful upgrade of the company's ERP software, resulting in a 50% improvement in system functionality and efficiency.● Provided financial guidance and recommendations to an 8-person executive team, resulting in streamlining of costs and optimized revenue collection.● Reduced costs by 10% through streamlining of business processes in 6 months, financial & operations.● Streamlined the annual Financial Statements closure process, decreasing the timeline from three weeks to one week.● Optimized the consolidation by 40% through streamlined data collection, increasing efficiency.● Managed a 13-person accounting team, overseeing all aspects of the company's accounting function. Show less

  • Financial Accounting and Systems manager CA(SA)

    Mar 2016 - now

  • Financial Accounts Manager CA(SA)

    Feb 2009 - Feb 2016

  • Financial Accounting Supervisor

    Jul 2007 - Jan 2009

  • Accountant

    Jun 2005 - Jun 2007