Sarika Ramsewak
Finance Manager
Queensburgh
Summary
Results-driven Finance Manager experienced in the design, setup, review and change-management of finance teams, structures and process flows. Forward-thinking team leader skilled at setting up and producing reports, evaluating department operations and handling month- and year-end closings. Meticulous, conscientious and methodical in approach. Highly collaborative individual with a track record of effectively training and coaching staff members. Offering confidence, team contribution and decision making skills.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
10
10
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Finance Manager
SaveAct Trust
Pietermaritzburg
02.2021 - Current
- Strengthened financial management process flow through design, setup, implementation and monitoring of finance systems, internal controls and policy, tools and reporting frameworks.
- Monitoring and evaluation of financial management and operational systems and process flows.
- Created organizational structures to improve accounting and finance functions.
- Continually grow and develop strong management and finance interaction process.
- Researched and facilitated software integration to streamline accounting and financial processes.
- Compiling of reports for organizational leadership to inform decision-making, to board level.
- Fixed assets and wealth management.
- Completed filings and upheld strict compliance with regulatory bodies.
- Payroll management.
- Budget development for organization and individual projects.
- Budget implementation and tracking across all projects/donors, and organization.
- Ensure all payments are allocated against correct project budgets.
- Manage regular finance tracking for numerous projects and organizational expenses.
- Prepared monthly reconciliation of bank accounts and took corrective actions on deviations.
- Donor contracts. Financial management and compliance with terms of contract. Monitor cash flow to ensure consistently positive cash position.
- Review documentation to identified financial discrepancies where applicable.
- Annual statutory audit and periodic donor audits.
- Executed vendor setup and payment, administration of bank accounts and account reconciliations.
- Support activity and operations management to ensure overall financial health.
- Training staff members in various financial procedures to prepare for and maintain job requirements.
Financial Advisor
Liberty Life
Umhlanga
07.2012 - 08.2021
- Assisted clients with preparing financial plans and conducting investment research, to assess and meet financial goals.
- Advised clients on investments, retirement and estate planning.
- Helped individuals and families build and execute wealth management strategies based on unique goals and objectives.
- Met with clients to discuss assets, expenses, and long-term and short-term investment goals to devise personalized financial plans.
- Developed comprehensive retirement planning strategies to help clients maximize retirement savings.
- Assisted clients with estate planning to organize distribution of assets based on client wishes.
- Provided specialized financial planning support for clients with diverse portfolios and individual needs.
- Updated clients on changes in tax laws and other regulations affecting investments.
- Implemented exit strategies for clients to transition out of investments.
- Monitored and updated financial plans to comply with client goals.
- Developed personal rapport with each client to maintain customer loyalty and establish long-term accounts.
- Cultivated and strengthened relationships with new clients and educated clients on importance of financial planning.
Consulting Snr Manager: Finance, HR and Operations
PACSA
Pietermariztburg
02.2020 - 12.2020
- Internal auditing for policies, financial systems and structure, projects, donor contracts, allocation of human resources and use of project funds.
- Recommended changes to policies, working structures and process flows.
- Implemented and monitored changes approved by board.
- Implemented project and donor reports to track budgets and actual spend.
- Implemented business plans and appraisal system to align with job profiles and overall strategy.
- Review of accounting ledgers, reconciliations, management packs and reports to board.
- Fixed assets wealth management.
- Payroll and pension fund management.
- Management and training of personnel to align with job requirements.
- Maximized performance by monitoring daily activities and mentoring team members.
- Created and maintained an interactive management team.
- Reconciliation of project funds to donor contracts, and reported on discrepancies.
- Developed and maintained relationships with contractors and suppliers through account development.
- Maintained professional, organized, and safe environment for employees and beneficiaries.
- Resolved staff member conflicts, actively listening to concerns and finding appropriate middle ground.
- Accomplished multiple tasks within established timeframes.
- Communicated clearly with employees, suppliers and stakeholders to keep everyone on same page and working toward established organizational goals.
- Monitored and analyzed organizational performance to identify areas of improvement and make necessary recommendations.
- Adapted quickly to changing project and organizational priorities and job specifications with analytical thinking and task prioritization skills.
- Implemented processes and procedures to improve overall efficiency in operations.
Finance and Operations Manager
Diakonia Council Of Churches
Durban
03.2014 - 09.2019
- Managed finance and operations for NGO and business divisions.
- Established and implemented policies and procedures for investments and reserves, financial management, procurement, and business operations.
- Designed and implemented functioning finance and operations teams to mitigate identified risks and strengthen working relationships.
- Monitored finance and operations to promote productivity and efficiency which were key drivers for operational and strategic growth.
- Increased revenue and profits for the business division, through identifying and eliminating loopholes and threats, encouraging growth and development, cost analysis, relationships and conflict resolution, goal setting, effectively managing change and expectations between staff and other stakeholders, building on relationships with tenants and contractors, monitoring & evaluating strategic plans against performance, budgets and spend.
- Built cash reserve funds for identified purposes and projects.
- Tracked project cash balances to ensure a consistently positive cash flow.
- Implemented long- and short-term cash flow plan to inform decision-making.
- Asset and wealth management.
- Payroll and pension fund management.
- Donor reports and contract management.
- Developed and implemented budgets and tracking against actual spend.
- Reporting for leadership informed decision-making, at board level.
- Coordinated logistics for operations and public events.
- Personnel management, including performance against business plans and job requirements.
- Management of banking and cash.
- Financial systems management, including review of all accounting work.
- Ensured correct allocation of expenses to project budgets.
- Annual statutory audit and periodic donor/project audits.
- Ensured compliance with all regulatory bodies.
- Resolved problems, conflicts and improved operations through implementation of interactive working groups.
- Completed paperwork, recognizing discrepancies and promptly addressing for resolution.
- Demonstrated leadership skills in managing projects from concept to completion.
- Worked effectively in a fast-paced environment.
Financial Accountant
The Unlimited
Hillcrest
09.2007 - 05.2012
- Managed personnel for debtors, creditors, month end, cashbook, admin and travel.
- Books to balance sheet, including all month end and annual reconciliations.
- Input financial data and produced reports using Pastel Evolution.
- Reconciled account information and reported figures in general ledger by comparing to bank account statement each month.
- Tracked business revenue and expenditures and reconciled accounts to maintain high accuracy.
- Setup and coordinated monthly and annual deadlines.
- Authorized all journals, including annual journals.
- Applied proper codes to invoices, files, and receipts to keep records organized and easily searchable.
- Calculated monthly inter-department charge out of costs.
- Prepared monthly business score cards for 14 departments.
- Managed shareholders' and staff loan accounts.
- Managed monthly staff reimbursements for expenses and travel across 14 departments.
- Managed all reports and calculations for service providers and outsourced partners, in accordance with service level agreements.
- Managed monthly loyalty/rewards calculation and pay out to 15000 clients.
- Managed growth and development, performance, business plans and appraisals for 11 personnel.
- Managed the chairman's secondary interest which included a fuel station and B&B.
- Managed the annual statutory audit.
- Maintained Schedule of Authority (schedule of all employees authorized by Board of Directors to sign on behalf of the organization, at set limits).
- Ensure statutory compliance with all regulatory bodies.
- Development, implementation and rollout of budgets for 14 cost centres/departments.
- Liaison to shareholders, bankers, auditors, strategic and outsourced partners and 3 internal sales channels.
Assistant Accountant
Etlin International Trading (Pty) Ltd
Clairwood
10.2001 - 08.2007
- Books to trial balance.
- Managed debtors and creditors books.
- Reconciled staff loan accounts.
- Monthly salary recoveries for staff purchases.
- Assisted with inventory control.
Trainee Accountant
KPMG, JHB (IAS)
Johannesburg
03.2000 - 07.2001
- Completed books to trial balance for portfolio clients.
- Balanced and submitted financial reports for review and approval
- Reconciled and paid suppliers for portfolio of clients.
- Executed payroll for an international client.
- Performed administration tasks for portfolio of clients.
- Maintain timesheet for monthly billing to clients.
- Processed payroll by validating work hours and attendance of employees
- Developed technical knowledge through combination of workplace learning and formal study
- Gained knowledge of accounting principles and standards and general business practices to evaluate financial data and transactions
Education
Bachelor of Commerce - Financial Management
University of South Africa
Durban 01.2020 - 05.2023
Certified - RE05
Financial Planning Institute
Durban 07.2015 - 07.2015
NQF Level 5 - Wealth Management
PSG Konsult Ltd
Pretoria 07.2012 - 03.2014
High School Diploma -
Marklands Secondary School
Shallcross 01.1992 - 12.1996
Skills
Skilled in Pastel Partner, Evolution, Sage Online, Microsoft applications
Problem solving, query and conflict resolution
Performance management
Coaching and training
Human resources knowledge
Staff Management
Financial analysis and reporting
Relationship building and management
System design and setup
Process implementation
Budget forecasting
Written and interpersonal communication
Strategic and financial planning
Financial planning
Implementation, monitoring and evaluation
Timeline
Finance Manager
SaveAct Trust
02.2021 - Current
Consulting Snr Manager: Finance, HR and Operations
PACSA
02.2020 - 12.2020
Bachelor of Commerce - Financial Management
University of South Africa
01.2020 - 05.2023
Certified - RE05
Financial Planning Institute
07.2015 - 07.2015
Finance and Operations Manager
Diakonia Council Of Churches
03.2014 - 09.2019
Financial Advisor
Liberty Life
07.2012 - 08.2021
NQF Level 5 - Wealth Management
PSG Konsult Ltd
07.2012 - 03.2014
Financial Accountant
The Unlimited
09.2007 - 05.2012
Assistant Accountant
Etlin International Trading (Pty) Ltd
10.2001 - 08.2007
Trainee Accountant
KPMG, JHB (IAS)
03.2000 - 07.2001
High School Diploma -
Marklands Secondary School
01.1992 - 12.1996