Larry Arries

· Operational duties ensuring that the vision for Global Outdoor Systems / Provantage (Pty) Ltd were translated into financial targets, implementing and maintaining systems, policies and procedures

· Accounting and training duties provided for accounting teams within the subsidiaries of the group.

· Ensure compliance with all statutory requirements relating to financial control, financial management and accounting.

• Optimized cash flow management strategies, ensuring sufficient funds were available for daily operations while maximizing returns on idle cash balances.
• Prepared comprehensive financial statements for executive review, aiding in effective decision-making processes regarding growth opportunities and resource allocation.
• Enhanced financial reporting accuracy through regular audits and reconciliations, leading to improved decision-making capabilities.
• Analyzed budgets, financial reports, and projections for accurate reporting of financial standing.
• Forecasted operating costs for scheduled projects by strategizing with other departments.
• Identified and investigated variances to optimize financial plans and forecasts.
• Increased financial efficiency by streamlining budget processes and implementing cost-saving measures.
• Developed and transformed finance and operations team from transactional to analytical to provide enhanced business support.
• Created and implemented effective accounting systems, best practices, and policies.
• Managed team of 4 finance and operations professionals, with day-to-day responsibility for contracting, order processing, forecasting, budgeting, reporting and analysis.
• Delivered timely internal reports to various stakeholders detailing key aspects of the company''s financial health, ensuring transparency and clear communication.
• Developed reporting for executive financial reviews.

· Performed Monthly Processing up to Trial Balance for subsidiaries including:

· Reviewing of all of monthly General Ledger accounts prepared by country accountants located at Head office.

· Reviewing of Bank reconciliations, Debtors and Creditors reconciliations, and other balance sheet recons.

· Preparing and updating monthly loan accounts for Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and Ivory Coast for all transactions with Head office.

· Assisting Financial Managers within group and country accountants in the updating of monthly reporting.

· Preparing all monthly management reports required by CEO and Group Financial Director for monthly financial review process.

· Collating and updating of adjustments requested by CEO and Group Financial Director as it relates to monthly reporting.

· Month-end processing for subsidiaries included:

· Accurate compiling of monthly Management Accounts.

· Preparing for Monthly Shareholders' reports which includes updating of all management reports, printing of reporting pack and updating and printing of all schedules relating to the Management Accounts.

· Year-end processing for subsidiaries included:

· Working closely with Statutory auditors in compiling of detailed audit file

· Liaison with auditors and banks in foreign countries to obtain all relevant information relating to annual audit.

· Updating of Audit packs from different countries within the group.

· Processing and updating of all audit adjustments proposed and agreed to by Management

· Collating of all audit adjustments for group audits and presenting to management for approval

· Assisting group subsidiaries with their local financial year-end reconciliations.

· Assisting Group Financial Director in collating and reconciling all schedules required for updating and completing Annual Financial Statements

· Requirements for Financial Management duties required:

· Extreme accuracy

· Deadline orientated

· Meticulous Planning

· Team work and communication are essential as aligning of processing of local subsidiaries to that of Head office are extremely important.

· Understanding and careful dealings with various cultures and languages from different countries.

• Managed accounting-team data using:

Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2016

OutTrack3 Asset Management

Finnivo Consolidation Suite

OANDA – Forex Trading and Exchange Rates Services

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Banking:

Standard bank - busonline.standardbank.com/bol

Emirates NBD Business Online

• Accurate compiling of monthly Management Accounts for Group of companies used for Shareholders' meetings through effective planning and coordination with local and foreign team.
• Completion of work before monthly deadline and providing comments on variances of budgeted amounts vs. actual amounts.
• Completion of Management pack that includes updating of all schedules to agree to Consolidations.
• Performed general bookkeeping for various companies in the group which included processing of transactions in terms of company systems; reconciliation of the general ledger accounts', debtors and creditors' reconciliation, bank reconciliations, inventory for all companies in the group as well as other general accounting procedures.
• Liaison with auditors in respect of the annual auditing of group of companies and this included the creation of an audit file to ensure that audit process will run smoothly and without time delays.
• Global Outdoor Systems an Outdoor Advertising Media Owner with its business activities focused mainly in Africa in countries such as Tanzania, Kenya, DRC, Congo, etc. thus meaning liaising with in country accountants in respect of aligning processing of transactions on their side to that of Head office are vital.
• Liaison with Banks in foreign countries relating to obtaining of bank statements and queries relating to those statements.
• The compiling and submission of VAT201 returns for our South African entity.
• Established budgetary benchmarks and formulated financial management strategies by researching operating and historical financial records.
• Generated financial and operational reports to assist management with business strategy.
• Gathered financial information, prepared documents, and closed books.
• Maintained integrity of general ledger and chart of accounts.
• Trained new employees on accounting principles and company procedures.
• Cooperated with senior leaders to create operating budgets and initiate financial planning.
• Reviewed accounts, resolved coding areas, and tracked recurring expenses for accrual entry.
• Prepared working papers, reports and supporting documentation for audit findings.
• Evaluated and improved financial records to make important business decisions.
• Reconciled accounts and reviewed expense data, net worth, and assets.
• Input financial data and produced reports using:

Sage Accpac 200 ERP (Version 5.5A)

SmartX – Compiling of Management Accounts

ODEXv3 Asset Management program

OANDA – Forex Trading and Exchange Rates Services

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

• Reported financial data and updated financial records in ledgers and journals.
• Tracked business revenue and expenditures and reconciled accounts to maintain high accuracy.
• Mitigated impacts on financial accounting and business operations by working proactively to identify and resolve strategic concerns.
• Reviewed documents and data to give accurate presentations and forecasts to upper management.
• Supported financial director with special projects and additional job duties.

Full accounting process · for the Resolution Holdings Group of companies that included administration services provided to Resolution Medical Scheme.

Assisting the Financial Manager

• in the compiling of management accounts for the group.
• The compiling and submission of monthly and annual statutory returns- VAT201, EMP 201, COID, IRP6 and IT14.
• Fixed asset controller with functions including bar-coding

of assets for control purposes, updating of asset master list and the proper insuring of fixed assets.

• Controlling of asset and staff movements within the group of companies.
• Assisting bookkeepers with queries from SARS, Trade creditors, Auditors.etc.
• Updating of insurance profile, claims for stolen assets, damage and loss.
• Monthly electronic payments. Liaison with auditors in respect of the annual auditing of group of companies.
• Documented cash, credit, fixed assets, accrued expenses, and line of credit transactions.
• Reconciled accounts and reviewed expense data, net worth, and assets.
• Gathered financial information, prepared documents, and closed books.
• Detected and corrected mistakes early on and implemented systems to avoid recurring issues.
• Partnered with auditors to track errors and add contributions to maintain accuracy.
• Provided journal entries and performed accounting on accrual basis.
• Prepared working papers, reports and supporting documentation for audit findings.
• Tracked funds, prepared deposits and reconciled accounts.
• Collected and reported monthly expense variances and explanations.
• Maintained integrity of general ledger and chart of accounts.

Computer packages used:

Pastel Accounting System, D-bit fixed asset program, Microsoft office and ABSA Cashfocus.

• Tracked expenses and income for businesses while organizing and maintaining bank statements for checking accounts.
• Reviewed and filed financial documents, coded accounting entries for data processing, and posted daily receipts and payments in accordance with all corporate protocols.
• Reported financial data and updated financial records in ledgers and journals.
• Completed payroll for employees and maintained detailed records of procedures.
• Maintained and processed invoices, deposits, and money logs.
• Reconciled and corrected issues with financial records.
• Posted daily receipts and payments in accordance with corporate protocols.
• Completed tax forms in compliance with legal regulations.
• Reduced financial discrepancies through transaction monitoring and management.
• Identified accounting errors when cross-referencing documents and database information.
• Streamlined bookkeeping procedures to increase efficiency and productivity.
• Reconciled company bank, credit card and line of credit accounts, investigating, and resolving discrepancies to keep accounts audit-ready.
• Reduced financial discrepancies, effectively reconciling bank accounts and organizing information into accounting software.
• Implemented new accounting processes to decrease spending and work flow downtime.
• Inspected account books and recorded transactions.
• Strengthened financial operations by conducting bank reconciliations and financial reporting.
• Handled day-to-day accounting processes to drive financial accuracy.
• Generated invoices upon receipt of billing information and tracked collection progress.
• Maintained account accuracy by reviewing and reconciling checks monthly.
• Effectively communicated with clients about payment needs and kept updated, detailed and accurate ledgers.
• Developed monthly, quarterly and annual profit and loss statements and balance sheets.

Bookkeeping until balance sheet of Various Businesses which included:

• VAT, UIF, COID, Regional Services Council, PAYE,
• Skills Development Levy, Industrial Council, Creditors, Cashbooks, etc.
• Dealing with Auditors, Issuing of IRP'5s and IT3's.
• Dealing with clients, Completion of provisional and
• Income Tax for Close Corporations and their Members as well as for individuals.

Other responsibilities also included:

• Calculation of Bonuses and Leave Pay for employees affiliated to the Metal and Engineering Industries.
• Dealing with SARS on queries ranging from VAT, PAYE to Income tax, Provisional tax and taxation for close corporations.
• Applying for tax directives, registrations for VAT,PAYE, UIF, COID, Skills Development Levy, etc
• Input financial data and produced reports using Brilliant Accounting System,Pastel Accounting Version 6 and Lotus SmartSuite.

• Managed sensitive customer data securely, adhering to strict privacy guidelines and protecting client information from potential breaches.
• Achieved high levels of accuracy and consistency in claims processing through diligent attention to detail and a commitment to continuous improvement.
• Enhanced claims processing efficiency by streamlining workflows and implementing organizational systems.

Claims Processing Clerk - (February – July)

· Dealing with customers i.e. sorting of issues connection with their contributions and matters that can delay payments of their claims.

· Dealing with General Queries

· Dealing with different companies concerning - Employment records, housing loans, revenue from “D” for employees retiring from the industry.

· Dealing with Banks & Financial Institutions

· Dealing with Housing loans.

· Dealing with the SARS concerning Tax Directives.

Payment Clerk: (Aug – October'99)

· Physical payment of contributions to the Various clients:

Members

Financial Institutions - Housing Loans

SARS – Tax & IT88

Companies – Housing Loans