Senior Finance Professional with 20 years of proven expertise
Udaya Kosala Sandirigama FFA,MFC
Flat 2, Building #1068, Road #1119,
East Riff (911), Kingdom of Bahrain.
Mobile: +973-39-186189 (Bahrain)
Mobile : +94-714778151 (Sri Lanka)
kosalasandirigama@gmail.com (Alternate)
Career Summary & Objectives
Result driven, multi-faceted Senior Finance Professional with 20 years of proven expertise. Outstanding accomplishments in business startup, turnaround, project and financial/operational management across diverse industries. Delivered strong and sustainable revenue/income gains with equal expertise in capturing cost reductions through process redesign and performance management.
While being Fellow members of the Institute of Financial Accountants(IFA)-UK and also American/International Academy of Financial Management (AAFM/IAFM)-USA, I have pursued professional studies up to the final stage of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants(CIMA)-UK. Additionally, I have satisfied the examination requirements of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) while undergone training courses in Project Management according to the PMI Methodology (PMI-USA) and Marketing & Management offered by the CBI-an agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Netherlands.
With these extensive professional studies and wide experience, I look forward to join a progressive organization in the Middle East that has the need for services of a Finance Professional (Financial Controller, Financial/Accounts Manager or like position) and offers career advancement while dedicatedly working towards organizational & individual benefits.
Core Competencies
- Forecasting, Report Writing & Analysis
- Strategic Planning, Execution & Management.
- Project accounting management.
- Revenue, Profit & Market Share Growth
- Banking/Finance Liaison/Negotiation
- Product Profitability Analysis, Costing and Product Pricing
- Analytical Skills, Accuracy, Meeting targets.
- Corporate Finance Policies & Control
- Budgeting ,Cash Flow Optimization & Presentations
- Staff Management & Performance Building
- Accounting System Design & Execution
- Financial Reporting in accordance with Standards
- Liaison with External Auditors for year-end audits
- Trustworthiness, Integrity & Reliability.
Last Employment with Accomplishments
Since January 2006 until Sept. 2009 .
Crown Prince Court/Crown Prince’s International Scholarship Program (CPISP) in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Position : Senior Internal Auditor & Financial Controller.
The CPISP is in the Education sector and since it’s inception as a separate entity I have been responsible for looking after all financial and accounting functions. The program is patronage by the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Bahrain and many leading business establishments including banks. To this extent the program has a greater responsibility in ensuring transparency and accountability in terms of financial management and control. The program has a director and consultants from USA and UK with whom I am dealing with for day-to-day operational matters and also responsible for reporting to a Financial Committee consisting of directors from the board. The accomplishments include the following :
- Computerization of all financial/accounting and student record systems. This covers initial vendor evaluation & selection, setting-up of a comprehensive and complete accounting system, designing all financial reports for periodic financial reporting and other management reports (MIS).
- Proficiently developed budgeting and cash flow forecasting systems for the first time enabling lucrative investments. The budgeting involves with preparing forecasts for students expenses and other operational expenses. Budgets/Cash flow statements are prepared in MS-Power Point and are presented to the Financial Committee for prior approval before they are presented to the Board of Directors.
- Developed a comprehensive manual for the program’s financial policies & procedures including internal and financial controls. Also, involve in the management of the program’s fixed assets.
- Collection of revenue from donors, meeting commitments to creditors, daily banking matters, creating all accounting records including journal entries, month-end bank reconciliations and generating periodic computer accounting reports. Also, liaising with external auditors (BDO Jawad Habib) and taking the entire responsibility for finalizing annual audits.
Previous Employment with Accomplishment
Since May to December 2005.
Joslin Diabetes Center in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Position : Financial Controller
The Joslin Diabetes Center is in the Healthcare sector and while working in the above position I reported to the
General Manager and then to the Board of Directors. My accomplishments included responsibilities for finance,
accounting and MIS in addition to dealing with banks, auditors (KPMG), customers, creditors and so forth.
Recognized for effectively updating the backlog financial database for year-end financial audits & engaged in
two critical annual financial audits and for formulating financial policies & procedures.
Left due to restructuring of the organization (down sizing) as a result of unfavorable business climate.
Since September 2004 to May 2005.
Gulf Equipment Technology(GET) in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Position : Financial Controller
The GET is in the Retail business sector and while working in the above position I reported to the Managing Director.
I was in charge of all financial and accounting matters of the GET and a couple of sister companies in the group.
Was responsible for receivables, payables, general ledger, dealing with banks and external auditors, finalization of
accounts with auditors, overseeing the work of many subordinates and so forth. Left after streamlining/completing
all finance & accounts related functions and handing over to local staff due to localization.
Since October 2000 to September 2004.
Awal Plastics LLC (Sign making) in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Position : Manager-Finance, Accounting and Costing.
Awal Plastics LLC is a manufacturing organization. While reported to the Executive Directors and Advisor to the
Board, my major duties involved in costing and pricing of products, MIS, financial accounting and reporting
on periodic basis, setting-up of a computer based accounting system, capital expenditure proposals for the
acquisition of machinery etc. Also worked in the capacity of the Chief Accountant and compiled for the first
time comprehensive budgets and cash- flow forecasting statements facilitating accurate product pricing and
marketing decisions.
Since January 1996 to September 2000.
Ceylon Chocolates Ltd (Food & Beverage) in Sri Lanka.
Position : Manager-Finance, Accounting and Costing.
Ceylon Chocolates Ltd. is a manufacturing organization. While reported to the Plant Manager and then to the
Directors , I was responsible for all factory based accounting matters including budgeting, cash –flow planning,
performance evaluations, product costing & pricing, project management and justifications, payroll, banking,
capital expenditure proposals and computerization.
Was appreciated for developing an effective costing system for generating competitive product pricing having
a portfolio of more than 50 product varieties. This facilitated improving contribution & profitability margins of the
product range. Championed a business turnaround process covering the project evaluation through to project
implementation and enhanced revenue by 28% per annum facilitating a complete wipe-off of S.L.Rs.200 million
worth of corporate debts. Also enhanced the quality & productivity in many processes within the factory floor
thereby amplifying production cost savings on energy, raw/packing materials, waste & re-work while exercising
a major cost reduction program.
I also transformed poorly managed, inefficient and inaccurate financial management accounts with sporadic
analysis & reporting into a highly efficient system producing full management accounts within time including Key
Performance Indicators (KPIs) summary & the budget/actual variance analysis.
Since March 1988 to December 1995.
MAS Holdings Ltd./Everbest Garments Ltd./Marigold Garments Ltd.
Position : Accountant through to Acting General Manager.
All the three organizations are manufacturing organizations engaged in the manufacture & export of garments.
While reported to the directors in all concerns I started the career as an Accountant during the initial stages and
grew up to the position of Acting General Manager at the Marigold Garments Ltd. My responsibilities included
not only finance, accounting and costing but also almost every aspect of the business including administrative
work, import/export work and foreign marketing.
In 1992/93-Takanaka Corporation (A Japanese Construction Company).
I was working in a Japanese Construction company whose project cost amounted to 1.3 billion Japanese Yen, I was responsible for all controlling and accounting aspects including disbursement of funds to contractors and other creditors, dealing with banks, reporting of financial status to head offices including project status with costs-to-date and so forth.
Professional Qualifications & Technical Skills.
- Fellow Member-Institute of Financial Accountants(IFA)-U.K .
- Fellow Member-American/International Academy of Financial Management (AAFM/IAFM)- U.S.A.
- Chartered Institute of Management Accountants(CIMA)-U.K .-Pursued studies up to the final stage).
- Diploma in International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)-Satisfied the examination requirements.
- Project Management Institute (PMI)- U.S.A. – A training course according to the PMI methodology.
- Computer Applications-Accounting software packages (Sage Peachtree, Tally, Acc-Pac, GP) & MS Office etc.
Trainings Attended
Year 2007 – International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) – Ernst & Young training division, Bahrain.
Year 1999 – Export Marketing – Sri Lanka Export Development Board
Year 1999 – General Export Marketing & Management – A workshop conducted in Sri Lanka by CBI-The Netherland.
Membership
- Fellow Member of the Institute of Financial Accountants (IFA) – U.K.
- Member of the Bahrain rugby football club.
- Was a member of the Toastmasters International, Inc.-Sri Lanka Club in Bahrain.
Personal Details
Marital Status Married(having 2 school attending children)
Nationality Sri Lankan
Passport Details N1311558 – Sri Lanka-Valid driving licenses from Sri Lanka and Bahrain(M.E.)
Permanent Address # 8, Galagedara Lane, Katugastota, Kandy, Sri Lanka.
Personal Interests Sports & Music
References.
Will be submitted when requested.
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