MANEESH MANIHAR

C FA , AC C A , AC A , C S , I C WA , B . C
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

OM

. HONS

Telephone: +971 55 234 7788; +971 55 404 4065

maneesh_manihar@rediffmail.com

Email:

VICE PRESIDENT / GENERAL MANAGER FINANCE

Experience spans engineering, construction, manufacturing, consultancy and wholesale & retail industries
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Highly accomplished executive leader offering over 16 years (including 10 years of UAE) of experience in
Financial & Business Analysis, Accounting, Taxation, ERP Implementation and IT; Instrumental in strategic
reorganization, efficiency improvement, automation and financial strategies designed to yield streamlined
business operations that drive growth and improve profitability; Having proven track record of contribution
crystallized into improved financial performance, enhanced internal controls and automated business & financial
systems.
LEADERSHIP EXPERTISE
Strategic Planning
IFRS & Accounting

Corporate Finance
Tax Management

Treasury Management
Hedging

Budgeting & Forecasting

Process Re-engineering

Internal Control

Due-Diligence

System Development

Team Development

LEADERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS

Devised strategy of consolidation and cost built up in procurement which resultant into 10% reduction in
procurement cost.

Introduced the strategy of re-intermediation by introducing the agents for transportation of shipments
resultant into 2% reduction in landed cost.

Initiated the structuring of loans and negotiation with bankers, generated reduction of around 40 bps in
overall financing cost and 3% in overall guarantee cost respectively.

Conceptualized & created cheaper fund thru synthetic 3M EIBOR based loan from 1M EIBOR based Loan.

Spearheaded strategic arrangement with the suppliers for supplying thru different locations generated
substantial saving in VAT.

Devised system, enabling monthly closure of books within a weeks time, and ensuring year end external audit
to commence 2-3 months earlier.

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

Selected as one of Super 8 Managers of the EROS Group (award is provided to eight senior managers of the
core management team), consecutively for the year 2010 & 2011 for Bringing high level of commitment, new
and fresh thinking in finance, understanding of the new ERP, and adopting the problem solving approach.

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS

Secured 10th rank in India, 1st rank in North Zone of India, and awarded with Gold Medal in ICWA.

Secured 2nd rank in the University and 1st rank in College in B. Com. Hons. Final.

Secured 45th rank in the State of Rajasthan in Senior Secondary.

EXPERIENCE SUMMARY ~ PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

Head of Treasury National Marine Dredging Company, Abu Dhabi, UAE Since 7/2012

Deputy Head of Finance & Shipping EROS Group, Dubai, UAE 7/2006 to 7/2012

Senior Executive (Corporate Planning) Pantaloon Retail India Limited, India 8/2005 to 7/2006

Manager Commerce Bentonite India Private Limited, India 4/2002 to 7/2005

Maneesh Manihar | Page 1 |Confidential

Senior Assistant Mehta N. & Associates, India 1/2001 to 3/2002

Audit Assistant P. Singhvi & Associates, India 8/1997 to 8/2000

NATIONAL MARINE DREDGING COMPANY, ABU DHABI, UAE
7/2012Present

Head of Treasury
Reporting to: Chief Financial Officer
Company: Abu Dhabi based ADX listed public company with USD 850+ turnover, and leader in dredging & reclamation.
Summary: Taking lead role in the companys planning and budgeting process, heading treasury function, advising CFO in the
future business plan, improving operational efficiency, optimizing tax, reviewing contracts, participating in policy & decision
making, and preparing adhoc reports and corporate presentations.

STRATEGIC PLANNING

Developing Strategic Business Plan for diversification and Joint Venture. Appraised proposals for M&A,
JVs and strategic alliance.

Performed fundamental and relative valuation of potential acquisition proposal for the Board.

Led & guided the performance of Market Scanning and SWOT Analysis for the Company.

Developing financial models and evaluating Investment, Financing and Dividend Distribution proposals
via NPV, IRR, Break Even Analysis, Sensitivity Analysis and Scenario Analysis.

Evaluating various and advised management for decisions.

Developed plan for unlocking of the share price of the Company and Employee Stock Option Plan.

FORECASTING, PLANNING & ACCOUNTS FUNCTIONS

Developed Macro level budget from Top Down and Bottom up Approach, Break Even Budgeting and
performed GAP Analysis.

Ensuring adherence to IFRS for complex transactions like Construction Contracts, Leases, Currency
Hedge, Interest Rate Swap, Consolidation of Joint Ventures, Foreign Branches & Subsidiaries etc.

Effectively managing the working capital; devised a plan for supplier financing and a plan for early
payment to suppliers.

Monitoring and controlling General Ledger, Inventory and Accounts Payable.

TREASURY FUNCTIONS

Developed and implemented strategies relating to treasury including financing, banking, cash
management, hedging.

Developed relations with most of the leading banks; liaising, negotiating and ensuring the availability of
adequate bank facilities to meet the business requirements.

Arranged structured banking products to arrange foreign currency at cheaper rate and to reduce supplier
financing cost, and restructured existing loans to reduce funding cost.

Assisted client in India to meet its funding requirement by routing fund from overseas in compliance
with rules & regulations and taxation.

Arranged credit insurance from London in accordance with risk management profile.

Instrumental in acquisition of strategic equipment of 62M from the Netherland and AUD 30M from
Australia.

Ensuring the optimum utilization of funds by early settlement of loans and placing deposits to reduce the
idle fund.

Developing strategies for optimization of tax for Indian Operation and advising on tax framework of
other GCC countries.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FUNCTIONS

Maneesh Manihar | Page 2 |Confidential

Implemented process flow for consolidation of subsidiary in Oracle; Designed and developed various
Oracle Reports.

Periodically interaction with IT for financial system requirements and enhancements, and driving new
functionalities.

Developed advanced financial models to evaluate Investment and Financing decisions.

OTHER FUNCTIONS

Liaising with tax consultants and lawyers for India and GCC operations.

Reviewing Financial and Tax aspects of contracts & sub contracts.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

Devised an unconventional plan for depreciation based on utilization of assets which are of fungible
nature eg. Pipelines and those with irregular pattern of use.

Managing funded & non funded facilities of AED 3.2 billion at competitive price.

Effectively hedged exposure to interest rate risk on $ 76 million loan and exposure to currency risk on 65
million.

Instrumental in securing USD 366 million guarantees & counter guarantees from various banks at
competitive rates for the Suez Canal Project on behalf of Consortium of four international partners, and
managed to reduce overall cost by modifying the conventional non funding products.

Devised strategy to convert & repatriate Egyptian Pound back to UAE in USD in the time when Egypt
market dried up with USD.
EROS GROUP, DUBAI, UAE
7/20067/2012

Deputy Head of Finance & Shipping

Reported to: CEO & Dy. CEO
Company: Dubai based Group with USD 800M+ turnover, the leader in trading, distribution & re-export of Samsung, Hitachi,
TCL, Benq, Candy, Taurus, Aiphone, Lennox brand electronics goods.
Summary: Repeatedly promoted to spearhead accounting, financial reporting, controlling, treasury, internal audit, cost
control, system development functions and advising CEO & Dy. CEO about financial aspects of the group during the time of
financial crisis of 2009.

FORECASTING, PLANNING & ACCOUNTS FUNCTIONS

Orchestrated budget process with all departments. Directed all financial reporting/forecasting functions,
including cash flows, budgeting, revenue, and expense analysis.

Ensured accurate and timely recording and reporting of all financial transactions in adherence to IFRS
and thorough oversight of key financial functions. Ensured the timely closing of the books in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles.

Implemented system to ensure the accuracy of more than 400 projects in terms of their financial recording
in adherence to IFRS and raising red flag on timely basis.

Remotely supervised accounting system of subsidiary in UAE and Tanzania.

Conceptualized periodic Desktop Audit; ensured the successful periodic audits.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FUNCTIONS

Implemented various controls within the Oracle. Ensured all financial records were accurately
maintained and tallied with operating module in the Oracle.

Developed & customized IT solution for costing, marketing support modules and gift voucher issuance,
redemption & tracking in the Oracle.

INTERNAL AUDIT FUNCTIONS

Spearheaded the development and implementation of Control System and its improvisation.
Maneesh Manihar | Page 3 |Confidential

Successfully planned & managed yearend inventory take of 30 show rooms, 7 service centres and 6
warehouses for continuously five years.

OTHER FUNCTIONS

Implemented a Finance & Internal Audit structure to support the companys future plan and developed
career plan for the team.

Recruited & trained staff, Invigorated Staff performance and developed highly motivated & result
oriented team of Finance, Shipping and Internal Audit.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

Played key role in implementation of Oracle E-Business Suite.

Entered into strategic arrangement with Sharjah customs for preferential duty on import shipment.

Strategically routing the shipments near to point of customers, resultant into reduction in delivery time.

Successfully led the Finance & Accounts Division, and made it no.1 division in the company with zero
attrition rate.
PANTALOON RETAIL INDIA LIMITED, MUMBAI, INDIA
8/20057/2006

Senior Executive Value Engineering (Corporate Planning)

Reported to: GM Corporate Planning
Company: Mumbai, India based BSE/NSE listed Group with USD 1B turnover, leading retail chain having brands of Big
Bazar, Food Bazar, Pantaloon, Central etc.
Summary: Devising & executing value engineering, and advising on taxation, corporate law & IFRS.

Implemented value engineering system which comprised cost reduction & control across the company for
consumables like carry bags, garment tags, stationery, vehicle hiring, etc. Assisted Senior Manager in company
law & company account related matters; Implemented tax planning for Sales Tax, Octroi, etc. by entering in
arrangement with suppliers; Demonstrated saving in procurement cost, and at the same time shielded from
increase in cost by entering into agreement with suppliers.
TECHNOLOGY SUMMARY

Oracle Financials (ERP), Tally, Busy

Advanced Excel (including macro and VBA programming), Advanced PowerPoint

EDUCATION AND CREDENTIALS

CFA, CFA Institute, USA - 2013

ACCA, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, UK - 2012

ACA, Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, INDIA - 2004

CS, Institute of Company Secretaries of India, INDIA - 2006

ICWA, Cost & Works Accountants of India, INDIA - 2002

B.Com. Hons., Jai Narayan Vyas University, INDIA - 1999

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Part time CFA Faculty, Zabeel Institute, Sharjah, India

Part time FRM Faculty, EduPristine, India

Business Process Flow Mapping in Oracle, Tally, Busy accounting software

Maneesh Manihar | Page 4 |Confidential