Senior Partner, Global Finance Practice Leader
IBM
Seasoned Finance Executive with extensive experience as CFO, Controller, Risk Management, Financial Planning, taxes, Auditing and start-up investment cases.
Worked and lived in USA, Singapore, South Africa and Kenya performing multi-country regional roles of increasing responsibilities
CFO – IBM Africa
Sep 2011 – Present
• Operationalize and execute IBM’s Africa Strategy to achieve significant market share gains and position IBM for long-term success and sustained growth. Specifically lead on overcoming matrix and organizational challenges and ensure strategic intent is appropriately translated into financial objectives
• Emphasize the role of Finance as a partner by assisting Business management with analysis, alternatives and recommendations. Create an environment that encourages taking initiative and delivering innovation, particularly in the area of developing Business Analytics within Finance
• Maintain strong business controls and audit results as evidenced by corporate audits and continuous self-assessments. Specifically focus on achievement of a sustainable satisfactory posture and enable African expansion in a controlled manner.
• Provide leadership and facilitate the process of setting up IBM operations in new countries within Africa and help capture the available growth opportunities. This would include building solid business cases and seamless infra-structure set-up. Establish appropriate Finance
organizations and build an effective management system in these countries • Identify, analyze and document the risks associated with a business operations in the new countries , as well as monitor the effectiveness of risk management processes and implement needed change
• Ensure correct statutory / local / tax reporting and filing, defend company position with tax authorities, and support corporate initiatives to achieve tax savings
CFO – IBM Sub Sahara Africa
Aug 2009 – Aug 2011
• Drive and support a competitive financial model focused on key market share growth and more than balanced PTI growth within the investment model
• Maintain satisfactory business controls posture and audit results, and drive corrective actions. Special focus on new Africa countries
• Report financial results with integrity and provide accurate assessment headlights
• Defend company position with tax authorities and execute tax-saving initiatives. Support all regular tax processes
• Build succession plan for each leadership position and bench for future leaders. Increase vitality of Finance teams through hiring of top talent from the market
Internal Audit Manager – AP (ASEAN,Australia, NZ India/SA)
Dec 2007 – July 2009
• Develop and execute the region audit plan ensuring adequate coverage for the high risk areas
• Perform risk based audit, reflecting changes in the business and address enterprise wide view of risk
• Analyze business transactions, internal reports and financial information for potential fraud risks
• Maintain reports of significant risks and recommendations including working with the business on implementing corrective actions
• Work across organizational boundaries to improve communication, share information and best practices
Financial Services Manager – Disney Account, IBM GTS US
Dec 2005 – Nov 2007
• Developed accurate monthly financial forecasts and roadmaps that bridge to the targeted financial objectives
• Developed solutions and drove cost take out actions to improve profit performance
• Performed timely contract performance analysis that provide business insights into the trends and headlights
• Provided senior management contract scorecard highlighting areas of major deviation from delivery solution
• Facilitated weekly financial reviews with the Disney Finance team that focuses on resolving billing issues thereby driving timely AR collection
• Evaluated controls posture and highlighted exposures.
Financial Services Manager – ITS Worldwide, IBM GTS WW
Nov 2004 – Dec 2005
• Led and drove the financial transition of PCD Warranty following the PC company Sale to Lenovo
• Rolled out the implementation of Sarbanes Oxley Key ITS Financial Controls in 14 countries. Ensured consistent WW controls testing process
• Drove and managed ITS WW quarterly executive financial certifications
• Acted as the WW ITS Finance liaison for the automation of Signings and backlog. Worked closely with accounting to ensure the Gross vs Net Revenue recognition rules were accurately reflected
• Managed the ITS WW Parts Inventory that resulted in 3% YTY improvement
Financial Services Manager – AT&T Account, IBM GTS US
Aug 2003 – Nov 2004
• Tightly managed the AT&T contract financials which delivered Revenue at 9% above target and Gross Profit at 36% above target
• Performed contract analysis that ensured a balanced geographic resource thereby exceeding the contractual obligations
• Maintained an excellent controls posture that resulted in a satisfactory audit rating with no findings
• Provided financial guidance and counsel on the multi-million re-negotiations for increased scope
Financial Analyst – Measurement Coordinator, IBM GTS LA
May 2002 – Jul 2003
• Provided accurate and timely high level reporting and analysis of financial performance of 11 Latin American countries
• Highlighted solutions to mitigate Revenue decline driven by stressed economic conditions
• Aggressively drove the team to execute on cost initiates that led to remarkable 68% YTY profit improvement
• Developed a forecast template that captured key indicators and metrics critical to achievement of financial objectives
Financial Analyst – Measurement Coordinator, IBM ITS US
Jan 2001 – May 2002
• Responsible for providing financial leadership and coordination of ITS Services and Maintenance business unit.
• Ensured a completed and through end to end Spring and Fall Plan process linkage with the senior financial and operations management teams • Played a key role on the design and enhancement of the ITS
Measurements Database to include all modules of the ITS business • Performed the ITS Balance Sheet forecast and reconciliation
Financial Analyst –Managed Service Solutions, IBM ITS US
Apr 2000 – Jan 2001
• Responsible for Revenue and Gross profit planning for IBM Multi-vendor Maintenance Business
• Analyzed contract performance and provided financial advice to marketing and sales executives
Financial Analyst –Parts Sales IBM GTS ITS US
Nov 1998 – Mar 2000
• Team lead for the global parts pricing team. Ensured consistent WW parts pricing methodologies
• Initiated and drove re-write of the Global Parts Pricing system which led to improved turnaround of pricing requests
• Analyzed customer behavior of Parts purchasing pattern, and as a result implemented a change of the US pricing uplifts thereby yielding 2 pts improvement of the unit’s gross profit margin
Financial Analyst –Parts Distribution Planning, IBM GTS ITS US
Jul 1996 – Nov 1998
• Team lead and coordinator for ITS US Service Parts solutions planning including measurements and plan
• Provided analysis and recommendations regarding process modifications/implementation to ensure cost effectiveness
• Analyzed performance trends to predict full year performance that lead to improved forecast accuracy by 5%
• Held key role in gathering and analyzing financial data for the Worldwide Distribution Logistics project
Business Analyst –Food Distributors International, Ltd
Jan 1994 – Jun 1996
• Analyzed company performance and delivered reports highlighting key focus area
• Developed business plans and advised senior management on related strategic planning issues and their long term implications
Special Assistant to Director of Special Programs Howard University
Aug 1995 – May 1996
• Researched the impact of formation of teams on student performance
• Implemented activities designed to prepare students for the business environment
EDUCATION
Howard University, Washington, DC: Master of Business Administration, Finance, 1996
St. Thomas University, Miami Florida : Bachelor of Arts: Computer Science, 1993