Rishabh

Rishabh 158, Benjamin Boulevard, Scarborough – M1K 3P5 Phone no. – +1 - Email –-LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/rishabhtoronto/ Finance Professional with 5+ years of experience in managing diverse portfolios in Public and Private Sector Consulting, previously worked at Grant Thornton. An enthusiastic, adaptive, innovative, goal oriented, impact driven and methodological professional who believes in delivering with highest quality and integrity. Experienced in fast-paced environment and working on multiple parallel engagements. CAREER RELATED SKILLS Project Finance, Business Planning & Strategy, Financial Modeling, Financial and Economic Analysis, Market Research and Data Analysis, Sensitivity Analysis, DPR and Business Plan Preparation, Credit Analysis and Appraisal, Operational and Financial Due Diligence. Advanced Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (MS-Excel, MS-Word, MS-PowerPoint, and others) CERTIFICATIONS Financial Modeling and Valuations, Certified by Grant Thornton Learning Academy PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Grant Thornton Bharat LLP* August 2018 – September 2020 Assistant Manager Deputy Engagement Leader for all the projects in Agribusiness and Agriculture Sector for Western Region (India). Entrusted with the responsibility to monitor and execute engagements. Monitoring of projects with timely internal reporting on budget, variances, AR & AP status, and business development leads to the Senior Leadership Team for Advisory BU. Entrusted with responsibility of business development through preparing presentations, client pitch books, RFP evaluation for bids, preparation of various techno-commercial proposals in response to the RFPs from various private sector clients, government department and ministries, which led to major project wins for the team. Worked as ‘Transaction Technical Agency - Coordinator’, Grant Thornton was appointed by Asian Development Bank as ‘Transaction Technical Agency’ for designing Maharashtra Agribusiness Network (MAGNET) Project in India funded by Asian Development Bank. MAGNET is USD 143 million-dollar project aimed to promote post-harvest infrastructure development and by promoting partnerships between Farmer Producer Group and Private Food Processing Companies. Involved in overall designing of the project for utilising of funds to promote export-oriented and supply chain infrastructure. Worked on various conceptualisation and strategy documents related to fund allocation and disbursement, sanction of projects, procurement policies, and cost-norms in discussion with ADB’s team and government departments. Participated in discussion with various stakeholders in the value chain to understand the infrastructure and compliance gaps leading to break in export market penetration and credit linkages. Conducted primary and secondary market research to conduct economic analysis of the potential project impacts to govern the utilisation of grants in effective way. Co-ordinated with various experts working in team to get their inputs on various deliverables, consolidated the inputs to prepare the various final reports as mandated by ADB and the government departments. Prepared Financial Models (as per GAAP) to project revenues, expenditure, cashflows along with detailed business plans of 16 greenfield and 4 brownfield projects (Pilot Projects) with cumulative investment of USD 25 million (through Grant Funds). Conducted various economic and sensitivity analysis as per ADB’s requirement for project funding. Represented the cases in ‘Project Sanction Committee’ which led to successful sanction of funds to the project. Worked as ‘Economist and Project Finance Consultant’, Grant Thornton was appointed by the state government as ‘Project Consultant’ to State of Maharashtra’s Agribusiness Rural Transformation (SMART) Project in India funded by The World Bank. SMART is USD 300 million project aimed at developing Productive Partnership (between agribusiness companies and Farmer Producer Companies), Market Access (through development of Export Infrastructure Facilities), Collateral Management (Development of specialised farmer credit products). The project funded capital grant for development of food processing industrial units. Involved in appraisal of applications from private sector for grant sanctions, viability gap funding, and specialised credits. Involved in overall conceptualizing, designing and development of bankable 37 pilot sub project plans (including forecasted financial models as per GAAP) under productive partnership (17), market access (8) and warehouse business investments/warehouse collateral management plans (12); with a total value of investment (project cost funded by the Project) worth USD 26 Million post detailed discussions with various stakeholders for techno-economic viability of the projects. Conducted economic and financial analysis of the sub-projects proposed, ensured the sub-project impacts are in line with the overall project goals. Finalised the mix of equity-debt-grant considering the repayment capacity of applicants. Participated in meetings with various private sector companies, exporters, and other stakeholders to understand the gap in value chain, and infrastructure requirement for developing the Project Concept Note (PCN). Participated in discussion with various banks for understanding lending issues in agribusiness sector. Conducted demand and supply analysis through consultation with big exporters to understand the issues pertaining to licensing, foreign countries import regulations, infrastructure gap etc. Reply to review queries of the World Bank on the Full Project Proposals and financial model prepared, also presented at ‘Approval Committee’ Meetings for final sanction of the projects. Worked as ‘Project Finance Consultant’ for more than 15 Private Sector Client for New/Expansion Industrial Projects in Food Processing/Agribusiness Sector for developing Cold Chain Logistics Network and Mega Industrial Park (cumulative investment of USD 82 million). Involved in designing the overall project components with support of technology experts, sector experts and civil engineering team. Ensuring the project is designed in holistic manner safeguarding all the business interests. Prepared the detailed financial model as per GAAP to ensure realistic debt-equity mix, projected revenue, expenditure, cashflow, working capital projections along with Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) post undertaking industry and market research. Represented the client’s business loan case in ‘Credit Approval Committee’ with various financial institutions for successful sanction of USD 15 million and at ‘Technical Committee/Inter-Ministerial Approval Committee’ meeting for capital grant sanction by Government of India. Successfully assisted 12 private sector clients to leverage 26 million USD through various government industrial development promotion flagship schemes. Worked as ‘Project Finance & Appraisal Consultant’, Grant Thornton was appointed as ‘Program Management Agency’ implementation of projects under the scheme of Cold Chain, Value Addition & Preservation Infrastructure of Government of India. The Government provides capital grant of up to USD 1.5 Million (per project) for development of Cold Chain Infrastructure in India. Detailed Evaluation and Appraisal of techno-feasibility reports and Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), along with master plan, building plan, deign documents, along with due Diligence of net worth, client profile, credit history, history of litigations/disputes/fraud charges, current companies’ performance etc. and give recommendation to MoFPI for sanction. Development & implementation for suitable Operational & Management Plans for sanctioned projects. Conducted Public Finance Management System training for vender management and bookkeeping. Conducted Financial Audits of sanctioned projects of the sanctioned projects to ensure fair utilisation of funds. Reported and escalated irregularities to the government. Prepared progress reports to aid Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) for grant disbursement. Updating the online dashboard monitoring system for monitoring the progress of assisted cold chain and mega food park projects. Other Assistance to MoFPI – Assisting the Ministry in getting the cold chain accredited to WDRA, conducting analysis of infrastructure gap and requirement across India. Conducted economic analysis for impact assessment. Grant Thornton Bharat LLP* May 2017 – July 2018 Senior Consultant Worked as ‘Support Consultant’, Grant Thornton was appointed as Agri-Business Promotion Facility (ABPF) in Maharashtra Agricultural Competitiveness Project (MACP) funded by The World Bank in Maharashtra. MACP was USD 300 million project aimed at increasing productivity, profitability, and market access of the farming community in India through development of Community Processing Centres. Prepared more than 50 business plans and financial models for individual entrepreneurs and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) involving establishment of post-harvest and processing infrastructure and facilities. Organized stakeholder forums and seminars and workshops, B2B meets, Bankers meets, Technology fairs involving hundreds of regional and national stakeholders. Trained representatives of Farmer Producer Organisations, individual Entrepreneurs and support system functionaries on business planning, different credit products, regulatory compliances, and business management. Worked as ‘Project Finance Consultant’ to M/s Empyrean Skyview Projects Private Limited for developing Patnitop Cable Car Project in India (USD 40 million project) under BOOT Model for 35 years (PPP) with Patnitop Development Authority (State Government Tourism Department) Assessed the Cable Car projects in India and their performance in terms of annual footfall, user charges, profitability, and conducting cost-benefit analysis. Conducted secondary research to understand the overall facility of the best Gondola Services in the World and the inclusions which can be done in the client’s project. Prepared the feasibility study to undertake key important decisions with client to finalise the components and strategizing revenue generating infrastructure (and price benchmarking for gondola ride and other amenities) that can be proposed along with the ropeway project for increasing the footfall and profitability. Prepared the Business Plan and Detailed Project Report along with detailed financial model (with different financing options, debt-equity mix). Co-ordinated and negotiated with Lenders during Credit Appraisal of the project and resolved queries of Lenders. Led to successful sanction of USD 21 million. Analysed the government policies for capital intensive infrastructure projects and pitched the Project under ‘Large Revenue Generating Project’ Scheme of Ministry of Tourism, Government of India for various tax waivers, incentives, and capital grant with thorough documentation. Project was approved for capital grant of USD 2 million by Government of India. Worked as ‘Project Finance Consultant’ to Saio Infra Ropeways for developing Cable Car proposed in India (USD 50 million project) under BOOT Model (PPP) with government tourism department. Assisted the client in legal documentation for getting special status of ‘Mega Project’ by the state government which led to single window statutory approvals for project commission. Prepared the feasibility study to undertake key important decisions with client to finalise the components and strategizing revenue generating infrastructure that can be proposed along with the ropeway project for increasing the footfall and profitability. Prepared Business Plan and Detailed Project Report along with detailed financial model for forecasting the revenues through the business model. Prepared the pitch decks for pitching the project to various VCs and financial institutions. Co-ordinated and negotiated with Lenders for Project Appraisal and resolving queries of Lenders. Analysed the government policies for capital intensive infrastructure projects and pitched the Project under ‘Large Revenue Generating Project’ Scheme of Ministry of Tourism, Government of India for various tax waivers, incentives, and capital grant. Grant Thornton Bharat LLP* May 2016 – April 2017 Senior Associate Involved in conducting, collating, and finalisation of primary and secondary research data for preparation of various Agriculture and Agribusiness sector publications and reports of Grant Thornton. Conducted financial and operational due diligence for flagship programmes of National Skill Development Corporation (India) and Ministry of Rural Development to ensure fair utilisation of project funds of 450 million USD allocated to various private sector companies to conduct employable skill development training for Below Poverty Line rural youth in India. Walker Chandiok & Co. (Audit firm of Grant Thornton Bharat LLP, India*) May 2015 – May 2016 Audit Analyst Statutory Audit team member - conducted audits of books of accounts of various listed companies, private limited and partnership entities. Conducted stock count, fixed asset valuation, and audited operational expenditures of the audit client. Ensured the SoPs are being followed diligently and recommending SoP changes for better control to the board of directors of audit client. PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS In 2018, awarded ‘Fast Track Growth’ post recommendation from Partner, Public Sector Advisory (heading Public Sector BU for India), which resulted in fast-track promotion to Assistant Manager. ‘Fast Track Growth’ is a leadership development program of Grant Thornton, where young professionals with excellent performance and leadership skills are awarded faster career progression than the regular growth cycle within the firm. EDUCATION Post Graduate Diploma in Banking and Finance May 2019 Ness Wadia College of Commerce, Pune University, India Bachelor’s in business administration, Finance May 2015 Ness Wadia College of Commerce, Pune University, India (Canadian Equivalency to a bachelor’s degree (three years) and post graduate diploma (1 year) as determined by World Education Services)