Arif Ahmed
Finance Director | Financial Strategy, Compliance & Automation
Dubai, UAE · 26+ Years of Experience · SAP B1 • IFRS • UAE Corporate Tax • AML/CTF • AI in Finance
Professional Summary
A highly accomplished and strategic Finance Director with over 26 years of robust experience in steering financial operations, driving strategic growth, and ensuring regulatory compliance across diverse sectors. Proven expertise in financial planning, risk management, and the implementation of advanced financial systems like SAP B1. Dedicated to leveraging cutting-edge technologies, including AI, to optimize financial processes and deliver sustainable value.
Professional Summary
Finance Director with 26+ years leading financial strategy, multi-entity consolidation, audit remediation, and regulatory compliance across UAE-based groups. Partners closely with CEOs and CFOs to strengthen governance, optimize working capital, and deliver reliable reporting for investors and boards.
Known for driving performance, solving complex financial challenges, and building scalable systems using SAP B1, Power BI, and RPA tools.
Core Expertise
- Financial Strategy & FP&A
- Compliance & Governance
- SAP B1 & Digital Transformation
- Multi-Entity Consolidation
- Corporate Tax, VAT & IFRS
- Leadership & Team Development
Key Achievements
5-Day Close
Reduced month-end close cycle to 5 days across 10–20 entities.
Automated Reporting
Deployed SAP B1 + Dashboard Reports, improving accuracy and speed.
Compliance Strength
Strengthened VAT, Corporate Tax, AML/CTF, and IFRS compliance.
Audit Remediation
Led audit remediation and closed multi-year backlogs.
Current Role
Director of Finance — Al Fan Emirates
April 2023 – Present · Dubai, UAE
Leading financial strategy, tax compliance, inventory oversight, and procurement for a multi-branch garments and retail company operating across 5 Emirates.
Financial Planning
Vendor-wise budgets with purchase limits capped at 65% of projected sales; branch-wise forecasting and cost control.
Tax & Compliance
Full UAE corporate tax and VAT compliance; coordination with auditors and regulatory bodies.
Inventory & Procurement
Structured purchase allocations, vendor prioritization, and COGS integration for efficient inventory turnover.
System Automation
Integrated cash counter workflows with CCO and SAP ERP for real-time reconciliation and sales forecasting.
Career Timeline
1
Finance Manager — daytoday.uae
April 2018 – March 2023 · Dubai, UAE (5 years)
2
Finance Manager — Al Shaheen Est
February 2014 – March 2018 · Doha, Qatar (4 years 2 months)
3
Finance Administration Manager — INTER TAYM FZE
January 2008 – November 2013 · Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Qatar (5 years 11 months)
4
Executive Accountant — NUROL LLC
February 2003 – December 2007 · Dubai, UAE (4 years 11 months)
5
Accountant — Lahmeyer International India Pvt. Ltd
February 1999 – January 2003 · Abu Dhabi, UAE (4 years)
Education
Diploma in IFRS — ACCA
International Financial Reporting Standard · Sep 2023 – Jul 2024
Certified Finance Analyst — CFI
Accounting and Finance · Jan 2021 – Nov 2021
MBA, Finance — Indian Management School
Finance and Financial Management Services · 2014 – 2015
BA Economics — CSJM University
1996 – 1998
CHRP — Accademic College of London
Certified Human Resources Professional · 2007 – 2008
Certifications & Honors
Certifications
Artificial Intelligence in Personal Finance and Investments
Managing Groups and Individuals
Diploma in Fraud Management
Honors & Awards
Certificate of Appreciation
Certificate of Excellence
Publications
Financial Presentation
Revenue Analysis Dashboard Report
Top Skills
KPI Dashboards
Real-time performance tracking and visual reporting for executive decision-making.
Corporate Finance
Strategic financial planning, capital allocation, and investor-grade reporting.
Financial Management
End-to-end oversight of budgeting, forecasting, compliance, and cash flow.
Languages
100%
Malayalam
Native or Bilingual
100%
Hindi
Full Professional
100%
English
Full Professional
75%
Arabic
Professional Working
Get in Touch
Open to senior finance leadership opportunities across the UAE and GCC region.
📍 Location
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
📞 Mobile
+971 50 570 7679
✉️ Email
🔗 LinkedIn
linkedin.com/in/arif-ahmed-a0585426