Community and charitable work, travel, outdoor activities, keeping fit, tennis, squash and padel
MAHOMED EBRAHIM ESSOF
Independent Legal Consultant
Lenasia,GP
Summary
With a law degree, post-graduate law degree, and accounting degree, I have gained extensive experience and exposure in the accounting and legal fields. My career history spans across various roles in the legal, commercial, and finance sectors, including public prosecutor, auditor, group internal auditor, national branch administrator, commercial manager, lawyer, and country manager in industries such as government, law, accounting, retail, pharmaceuticals, security, manufacturing, and telecommunications. I have achieved numerous accomplishments and held senior, managerial, and executive positions. I pride myself on being honest, professional, ambitious, responsible, determined, dynamic, energetic, innovative, and a strategic thinker. Passionate about excellence and growth, I am always striving for development and success.
Overview
40
40
years of professional experience
6
6
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Language
Work History
Independent Legal Consultant
Self Employed Services
04.2023 - Current
- Enhanced client satisfaction by providing timely and accurate legal advice on various matters, in particular commercial agreements and deceased estates.
- Counseled clients on potential outcomes of legal matters.
- Supported clients by reviewing relevant legislation and providing practical recommendations for compliance.
- Managed initiatives to implement corporate governance and best practices for client organizations.
- Advised clients on commercial agreements, ensuring risk mitigation and safeguarding interests.
Senior Group Legal Counsel and Country Manager: SA
Ericsson sub-Saharan Africa (Pty) Ltd
03.2007 - 01.2023
- Successfully built and managed the legal team and ensured a consistently high level of legal competence and awareness within Region sub-Saharan Africa (RSSA) ensuring the objectives of Ericsson Group are fulfilled.
- Managed all legal and contract management activities in the RSSA.
- Ensured the rights and obligations of Ericsson, the Customer and Vendors are met in accordance with the appropriate contracts.
- Performed proper and timely reviews and drafts of all legal and contractual activities within RSSA in accordance with Ericsson model contract package, RSSA guidelines and the guidelines from Ericsson's Corporate Legal Affairs and sourcing functions.
- Protected RSSA's interests, analyzed and avoided or managed risks and other contractual issue related.
- Assisted accounts in the Region with contractual issues and negotiation as required.
- Implemented and ensured compliance to SOX 404.
- Managed activities in accordance with approved procedures and the delegation of authority.
- Secured and developed competence, skill within Legal Affairs.
- Managed and ensured adequate people/resource for the timely discharge of legal affairs activities.
- Continually contributed, reviewed, revised and developed legal and contract management strategies.
- Remained abreast of legal developments and legislation and processed these against the business operation needs and requirements.
- Maintained and implemented efficient system of archiving of agreements and ensured adherence to policy and procedure with respect to the same.
- Pro-actively liaised with accounts within RSSA and sourcing organization to understand and review information of the customer and vendor operations, profile, trading conditions and history.
- Appointed, handled and managed external lawyers and coordinated assignments with other Ericsson in-house lawyers.
- Coordinated and handled legal disputes within the Region.
- Managed budget and legal team optimization and work allocation in RSSA (5 legal counsels).
- Called upon to take on Country Manager responsibilities in South Africa in June 2015, ensuring compliance with local laws, regulations, company policies and procedures.
- Successfully managed role as Country Manager, country ambassador for the company, responsible for the country leadership team. Interacted with senior government officials and authorities, managed day to day operation of the office and company.
- Remained and successfully discharged responsibilities as director in three South African companies for several years.
- Promoted to position of Group Legal Counsel - 1 September 2007, Senior Group Legal Counsel - 1 January 2010, Head: Legal RSSA - 15 May 2011.
- Remained and re-appointed as Country Manager: South Africa for several years.
- Initiated and implemented a comprehensive database of legal entities for the market area Middle East and Africa.
- Successfully integrated the market area Africa and Middle East legal teams following the major global restructure in 2018.
- Initiated comprehensive tender process for evaluation, selection and appointment of external counsels across Africa and Middle East.
- Managed end to end process of relocation and opening of new office under COVID lockdown restrictions.
- Achieved the highest BBBEE rating.
- Successfully managed, mitigated and closed the company's critical risk exposure on being served summons to attend before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on SMME’s.
Commercial Manager
Marconi Communications South Africa (Pty) Ltd
12.2000 - 02.2007
- Directly reported to Commercial Director and CEO.
- Identified, analyzed and managed broader spectrum of risk and commercial risks for contracts, bids and projects undertaken.
- Managed all commercial issues relating to tenders, proposals, agreements and other business transactions.
- Reviewed preparation, review and submission of all quotes.
- Reviewed, established risk implications and obtained approval of legal/contractual sections of tenders.
- Researched business and legal risk in Africa.
- Reviewed, accepted and obtained approval for all commercial related and legal terms and conditions.
- Drafted, reviewed contracts and where necessary outsourced the same.
- Liaised and negotiated with clients, client commercial / legal departments and attorneys.
- Remained abreast, implemented and monitored compliance to commercial policies and procedures.
- Monitored adherence to commercial terms and conditions, payment terms and invoicing.
- Managed authorizations to tenders.
- Ensured compliance with Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
- Provided input to various projects or business proposals where necessary.
- Implemented and improved upon various workflows and internal procedures and controls.
- Directly managed and supervised commercial department in absence of Commercial Director, and had a dotted line responsibility on all other occasions (direct reports being Proposal Coordinator).
- Provided regular reports and bond forecasts and claims to group office.
- Concluded major and significantly lucrative contracts with major telecommunication companies, eg. Telkom SA Limited, MTN Uganda Limited, Transtel, Safaricom, Telecom Namibia, Vodacom, Telecom Lesotho, North West University, Plessey, amongst others.
- Facilitated in setting up systems and involved in ISO accreditation.
- Actively supported with re-defining company mission and objectives.
National Branch Administrator
Chubb Security S.A (Pty Ltd
08.1998 - 11.2000
- Managed responsibility for all administration and internal controls (network of 18 branches) in all Chubb Electronic Security branches and divisions, ie. general administration, housekeeping, authorizations and processing, including staff structure, rationalization and recruitments.
- Managed all administrative staff countrywide - thirty direct reports and twenty dotted line reports.
- Monitored all internal controls, policies and procedures, revisions and document evaluation and implementation.
- Developed policies and procedures, and conducted internal audits at all Chubb Electronic Security branches including Head Office.
- Managed direct responsibility for countrywide cash and banking.
- Responsibility for the total management of the debtor’s book, ie. review, collections, staff management and recruitment, and authorization of all debtor journals, adjustments, write-offs, and target settings, (Debtor’s book of +/- R 38 million).
- Managed setting of collection targets and authorization for payment of bonuses to Administration Managers, credit supervisors and credit controllers.
- Reviewed and conducted performance appraisals for all administration staff and recommendations for increases.
- Performed due diligence for new acquisitions and integration of administrative departments and restructure of administration functions and of company acquisitions.
- Liaised and communicated with senior and middle management on all aspects of branch administration, debtor management, internal controls and new and revised policies and procedures.
- Handled all legal and insurance issues for the company including all liaison with attorneys.
- Reviewed and evaluated all contracts and lease’s the company entered into as well as all standard terms and conditions.
- Uncovered six major and minor frauds as Group Internal Auditor in areas of director capital authorization, fleet management, branch management, warehouse stock, accounts receivable and petty cash.
- Monitored and reported major shortcomings in new impact system implementation to senior management.
- Was promoted and appointed as National Branch Administrator for Chubb Electronic Security in August 1998 as opposed to the retrenchment process on the de-listing of Chubb Holdings Limited.
- Stabilized and improved the inherited debtor's book (inherited debtor's book with 60% in over 90 day category, improved to 40%).
- Stabilized administration staff turnover rate.
- Devised and implemented branch risk audit approach.
Group Internal Auditor
Chubb Security S.A (Pty Ltd
03.1996 - 07.1998
- Responsible for all divisions in the group and full spectrum and scope as Group Internal Auditor.
- Managed and coordinated risk evaluation, planning and executing full scope of audit responsibility.
- Monitored and recommended improvements to internal control systems and procedures in all group companies and divisions.
- Conducted special investigations on behalf of senior management.
- Liaised and coordinated with Chubb Holdings Corporate Internal Auditors and external auditors.
- Performed various audits, systems audit, special investigations covering all group companies and divisions and reported findings and recommendations to middle and senior management, Corporate Auditor and external auditors.
- Ensured compliance to King Report on Corporate Governance and to report to the Audit Committee and the Group Audit Committee at least twice per annum.
- Followed up and ensured that all internal and external audit recommendations are implemented and confirmed to senior management.
- Monitored compliance and adherence to Chubb corporate and local policies and reviewed the adequacy of the same.
- Maintained and updated audit files, permanent audit files and audit programs.
Group Internal Auditor
Bristol-Myers Squibb
08.1994 - 10.1995
- Overall responsibility for all divisions in the group.
- Responsible for and managed risk evaluation, planning audits, compliance, executing audits to final completion, recommending improvements to internal control systems, policies and procedures.
- Conducted special assignments and investigations on behalf of senior management.
- Liaised with internal and group external auditors and assisted with interim and final year end audit.
- Stood in for finance department members in their absence.
- Followed up on internal and external audit recommendations and ensured the implementation of the same.
- Managed regular interaction with all departments in the group to assess deficiencies and inefficiencies.
- Uncovered petty cash and account receivable fraud.
Operations Audit Manager
O.K. Bazaars (1929) Limited
06.1991 - 07.1994
- Overall responsibility for all divisions in the Group.
- Conducted and managed full spectrum of operational audit assignments.
- Reviewed and evaluated issued company standards and provide recommendations for improvement.
- Conducted special projects on behalf of senior management.
- Evaluated risk, analyzed materiality, compiled audit plans, schedules and ensured adequacy of audit resources and finalized audit reports.
- Supervised and reviewed audits and provided on the job training and performance reviews.
- Communicated audit reports and finding to the Board of Directors.
Senior Accountant
Deloitte and Touche
11.1987 - 04.1991
- Involved in external audit assignments from initial planning to final completion and sign off.
- The above encompassed meetings and communication with clients, scope and planning of audit, risk analysis, variance analysis, budgeting, staff planning, preliminary reviews, analytical reviews, detailed audit work, systems and controls evaluation and reviews, tax computations, consolidations, audit reports, follow up's and management feedback.
Legal Officer (Public Prosecutor)
Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs
06.1985 - 07.1987
- Reviewed, sanctioned and approved civil and criminal cases
- Investigated, reviewed, evaluated and finalized case load and managed matters to finalization.
- Dealt with full spectrum and broad range of criminal matters and cases in Magistrate and Regional Courts.
- Remained abreast of updates/revisions in legislation, laws, regulations and procedures.
- Assisted Attorney General office with any issues and matters as required.
Education
Bachelor of Law - Law
University of Zimbabwe
Harare 04.1981 - 12.1983
Bachelor of Laws - Law
University of Zimbabwe
Harare 04.1984 - 12.1984
Bachelor of Accounting Science - Accounting
University of South Africa
Pretoria 04.1986 - 12.1988
Part Hons Bachelor of Accounting Science - Accounting
University of South Africa
Pretoria 04.1989 - 12.1989
Skills
Collaborative Team Member
Driven Professional
Leadership Abilities
Accountable Role
Dynamic Work Ethic
Creative Problem-Solving
Analytical Decision-Maker
Dedicated Professional
Legal Analysis and Writing
Legal research
Contract drafting
Litigation support
Corporate governance
Analyzing documentation
Legal advisory
Reviewing risk exposure
Case analysis
Legal research and review
Multitasking
Contract review and negotiation
Personal Information
- Date of Birth: 08/01/60
- Gender: Male
- Nationality: South African
- Driving License: EB
- Marital Status: Married
Custom Section - Recognition
Full Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment recognition in South Africa as an Indian male with a disability (right eye vision disability) recognition.
Interests
Timeline
Independent Legal Consultant
Self Employed Services
04.2023 - Current
Senior Group Legal Counsel and Country Manager: SA
Ericsson sub-Saharan Africa (Pty) Ltd
03.2007 - 01.2023
Commercial Manager
Marconi Communications South Africa (Pty) Ltd
12.2000 - 02.2007
National Branch Administrator
Chubb Security S.A (Pty Ltd
08.1998 - 11.2000
Group Internal Auditor
Chubb Security S.A (Pty Ltd
03.1996 - 07.1998
Group Internal Auditor
Bristol-Myers Squibb
08.1994 - 10.1995
Operations Audit Manager
O.K. Bazaars (1929) Limited
06.1991 - 07.1994
Part Hons Bachelor of Accounting Science - Accounting
University of South Africa
04.1989 - 12.1989
Senior Accountant
Deloitte and Touche
11.1987 - 04.1991
Bachelor of Accounting Science - Accounting
University of South Africa
04.1986 - 12.1988
Legal Officer (Public Prosecutor)
Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs
06.1985 - 07.1987
Bachelor of Laws - Law
University of Zimbabwe
04.1984 - 12.1984
Bachelor of Law - Law
University of Zimbabwe
04.1981 - 12.1983