VERLENE L ABDOL

The Senior Assistant Controller, is second-in-charge to the Country Controller and oversees all financial operations and controls which included:

Selected accomplishments:

• Achieves closing reporting timetables for all South African operating entities (up to 14 entities) which includes, overseeing and adhering to regulatory, statutory and tax reporting deadlines.
• Completes various management reports, includes drafting financial statements for South African entities in Caseware.
• Serves as a main contact for internal and external stakeholders, including tax authority (SARS), auditors, and tax advisors.
• Analyses budgets to actual results for variance reporting of monthly and quarterly flash accounts.
• Review of general ledger, trial balance and balance sheet reconciliations prepared by accounting operations staff.

As an assistant controller, was responsible for providing oversight for general accounting, financial reporting and financial systems for operating entities within Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

Selected accomplishments:

• Led and coordinated the financial statement audits of seven entities within three countries (Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe), simultaneously.
• Assisted country controller with internal control reviews for improvements to information timeliness, reduced effort, and greater accuracy.
• Oversaw all tax (Income Tax, VAT etc.) compliance for all entities within region.
• Developed and provided lead role on executing conversion of change in functional currency in Zimbabwean operating company.

Directly responsible for all aspects of statutory reporting of a number of entities within the Marsh Africa group, with a view to drive process improvement and ensure accurate financial reporting.

Selected Accomplishments

• Managed time efficiently in order to complete all reporting tasks for all reporting entities within deadlines.
• Established standardized tax reporting processes across regional operating entities through the introduction of excel templates utilised in tax computations.
• Cleared historical tax issues with tax authorities including, outstanding SARS VAT refunds dating back to 2013.

Preparation and review of monthly management accounting files and overseeing financial reporting staff (5 staff members).

• Assisted with variance analysis in monthly reporting.
• Led overall tax function including, income tax and VAT reporting, as well, as liaising with group tax manager.

Selected Key Accomplishments:

• Oversaw migration of data from reporting platform MPC to HFM (Oracle).
• Assisted financial manager with financial decisions for business unit.

Overall responsibility and leadership of audits which included the effective delegation and management of assigned work among team members (up to six staff members).

Selected Accomplishments:

• Directed, coordinated and led statutory local audit for Butterfield Bank (Guernsey) Limited. Technical skills: US GAAS and US GAAP (PCAOB).
• Directed, coordinated and led statutory local audit for Aberdeen Infrastructure Fund entities registered in Guernsey. Technical skills: audit of valuation reports on infrastructure properties.
• Coordinated successful completion of first year audit engagement of Channel Islands Securities Exchange Limited. Technical skills: value-added report produced on internal control weaknesses.
• Investment valuation testing performed for BB Biotech Ventures GP and its related Limited Partnership funds registered in Guernsey. Excellent client relationships were built for the firm, as result of work performed.

Seconded on a 6-month assignment to the Public Sector Assurance Division of Grant Thornton UK LLP. Main responsibilities included, executing public audits with appropriate consideration of audit risk issues and technical accounting matters in accordance with UK GAAP reporting standards.

Successfully completed the SAICA training programme within a professional services firm.

Selected Accomplishments:

• Planned audit assignments including, the allocation of work, setting timelines and supervision of audit teams (up to seven members).
• Presentation of audit findings to clients, including remediation and process improvement recommendations.