Ayoola Lawal

Ayoola Lawal (ACA, FRM) London, United Kingdom |-| + - | LinkedIn Ayoola is a chartered accountant and certified Financial Risk Manager with seven (7) years of experience leading several finance operations and controls transformation projects including controls design, testing and implementations for numerous NYSE and FSTE100 banks, insurance firms, FinTechs, and FMCG. He has accumulated valuable accounting and reporting experience working with finance functions across various industries with strong experience in large finance transformation projects, implementation of financial systems, finance processes and controls, as well as financial planning and analysis and financial reporting. Ayoola also possesses a practical understanding of relevant frameworks such as the COSO ERM and COSO internal control frameworks. Education Wolrldquant University • MSc. Financial Engineering University of East London • Master of Business Administration Obafemi Awolowo University • Bachelor of Science in Accounting • Beneficiary, Mic-Com Golf Foundation Scholarship Awards Louisiana, USA 2022 – 2024 London, UK 2023 - 2024 Ile-Ife, Nigeria- Work Experience Deloitte London, UK Manager, Accounting & Controls Advisory Jun 2022 – present. • Led the delivery of a Global Record to Report (RTR) finance project for a large FTSE 100 client. I was responsible for leading the design and standardization of all RTR process while engaging with global stakeholders including Compliance, Tax, Data and Software implementation partners for design support. I was also responsible for arranging and leading 20+ workshops for the validation and assessment of future state finance processes. • Supported a NYSE listed FMCG company on a finance transformation and Accounts Receivables (A/R) reconciliation process to identify the root causes and address the issue of increasing overdue AR balances following transition from Oracle to SAP S/4HANA; supported the Finance team to resolve identified root causes, recover $75m overdue A/R balances and arrive at accurate A/R position. • Managed the delivery of multiple finance operations and finance close process review for numerous FTSE 100 banks and insurance clients, reviewing internal controls over financial reporting, key controls over CoA design, journals, GLs, reconciliations, reporting and ITGCs (user access rights, data backup and disaster recovery for the accounting ERP), to identify gaps, inefficiencies, and areas for improvement. • Strong experience in performing assessment of account reconciliations against best practice ways of workings across the entire balance sheet. This includes the design and implementation of finance processes and controls around the month end close process and design of robust account reconciliation policies. For example, I supported a global insurance client on Balance sheet and bank reconciliation remediation project, covering accounts receivables and payables processes, investigation and clearing of over £400m unreconciled bank items. • Led assessment of processes and controls around the reporting of key financial statement line items for a global bank and its asset management subsidiary during an SOX readiness review. The review included an assessment of key controls around the valuation of financial instruments. • Over a six-month period, I worked with a Fintech company to test the controls over production of benchmark indices. My responsibilities included review of design and operating effectiveness of controls, reporting gaps and inefficiencies and recommendations to management to ensure compliance with UK Benchmark Regulations. • Extensive experience in working with UK banks and insurance clients on risk and control projects including conducting walkthroughs and documenting processes in form of process narratives and Visio flow, developing risk and control matrices (RCMs), testing control design and operating effectiveness. AfyACare Lagos, Nigeria Head, Internal Control Oct 2021 – May 2022 • As the head of internal control function of an investment firm and its six (6) subsidiaries (healthcare, technology, health insurance), I led and drove various meetings with the Group Chief Executive Officer and the Board Audit & Risk Committee on key financial statement areas. • • • • Owned the monthly, quarterly, and annual closes for the group, implementing and maintaining adequate mechanisms for reviews, decision making and escalations with finance partners and management. Drove standardization and continuous improvement of processes and controls to obtain the highest integrity of financial reporting (IFRS, and management reporting)—including partnering with senior stakeholders, for a successful end-to-end approach to reporting. Delivered functional projects on a cross-country level, such as developing and implementing internal control governance documents including internal control framework, manual and charter. Supported internal and external audit processes, including preparing risk-based annual Internal control plan for the group covering information systems and financial areas of the business. Deloitte Lagos, Nigeria Consultant - Governance, Regulatory & Risk Jun 2019 – Oct 2021 • Fronted high-profile financial, regulatory compliance and internal controls assessment projects for leading industry players including those in the Banking, Insurance, Technology, Oil & Energy, Health, Asset Management and Real Estate sectors, which resulted in improved business processes and controls. • Performed business process review for clients, reported on the design adequacy, operating effectiveness of internal controls, reliability of book-keeping and financial reporting processes, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations using COSO Internal Control Framework and SOX methodologies. • Performed Enterprise-wide Risk Assessment, designed risk registers and risk dashboard indicating Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) for clients, using COSO ERM Framework • Led a team of consultants that performed Value for Money Audit and In-depth Fiduciary assessment for World Bank donor funds to the National Malaria Eradication Program • Conducted due diligence review on governance, regulations, and risk aspects of a target entity for a potential business combination between two leading Pension Fund Administrators in Nigeria • Authored and reviewed audit work programs, work papers, risk and control matrices utilized during internal audits and risk assessment projects. Index Managers Lagos, Nigeria Senior Associate, Audit & Assurance Apr 2016 – May 2019 • Worked with several CFOs in preparation of management accounts/reports in line with IFRS. • Performed standard accountancy functions; prepared financial statements, performed budget analysis, cash flow projections, bank reconciliations and financial analysis to meet business and regulatory requirements. • Implemented effective tax planning for clients’ personal and corporate tax matters resulting in more than $500K savings in tax liabilities. • Performed analysis of unit cost of production for the largest staple food production factory in Nigeria. • Coordinated routine checks/investigations of books and records of 14 Medium Scale Enterprises to identify irregularities, conducted tests on established controls and provided recommendations to business managers. • Introduced eight (8) new clients to the firm, increased firm’s revenue by 17% Professional Certifications and Trainings • Bloomberg Terminal • Financial Risk Manager Certification • Associate |Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ACA) • Member | Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) Skills/Core Competence • Project Management • Client relationship • Admirable leadership skills • Research skills • Critical thinking and problem solving • • • • • • • Apr 2024 Jan 2023 Apr 2016 Jun 2013 Financial accounting & reporting, IFRS Python, SQL, PowerBI. Bloomberg Terminal SOX compliance reviews, COSO Internal Control Framework Finance process and control Finance automation & optimization, finance transformation Controls implementation & business process review