Tony Ohagwam

TONY OHAGWAM Lagos - Nigeria https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-ohagwam - - FINANCE BUSINESS PARTNER A Qualified Accountant (ACCA UK) and commercially focused, partners with senior managers to contribute to business growth. Engages in the decision making process by providing clear business analyses, financial forecasts, and KPI trends and fosters deeper insights into financial processes and operations. Draws upon 15+ years of accounting and business partnering roles at retail and service companies to shape business decisions with data insights. SKILLS: • Accounting (IFRS & U.S. GAAP)• Planning & Forecasting • Financial Analysis & Reporting• Business Communication • Risk Management & Controls• Liquidity Management • QuickBooks, Sage & MS Office• Team Leadership PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: 01/2015 – DateSavotec Nigeria Ltd., Lagos A technical support & management consultancy firm with $460K 2019 revenue. Interacting closely with business functions to capture the financial implications of their actions and feeding into the forecast model to ensure business success. Identifying KPI changes, generating insights, and energizing operations with decision insights. Directing strategic plans, analyzing risks, and guiding budgets and forecasts. Senior Finance Controller (10/2017 – 02/2020) Selected Contributions: Cut costs 24%, optimizing inventory levels to secure superior customer service and reduce costs. Empowered managers to work efficiently and purposefully by delivering insights into work-in-process calculations, service approaches, and billing & collection processes. Reviewed financial statements, improved operations, and supported audits. Finance Controller (01/2015 – 04/2017) Selected Contributions: Saved $270K travelling costs in 2 years: reviewing controls on projects’ overheads. Enriched cash flows $43K with improved procurement, billing, & collection processes. Fostered deeper insight into working capital by efficiently slashing the cash cycle from 90 to 30 days. 05/2017 – 09/2017Integrated Corporate Services Ltd., Lagos An Outsourcing firm with >10,000 staff, 8 offices nationwide, and >$145M 2017 revenue. Transformed Facilities Management division to financial profitability, operational efficiency, and customer service excellence in 5 months. Managed all AP and AR in Bill.com and QuickBooks Secured business value and financial information by complying with regulations and reduced Sage 50 backlog and service calls-out in 30 days. Business & Finance Controller (05/2017 – 09/2017) Selected Contributions: Optimized revenue recovery 95%, exposing financial and operational control weaknesses with audit of Parts Usage, Revenue, and Accounts Payable. Increased profits 36%, renegotiating with parts’ suppliers for best quality and prices. 02/2006 – 01/2015Elpina Associates Ltd., Lagos A Home Appliances group with 4 subsidiaries, 250 employees, and $6.25M 2014 revenue. Shaped strategies, working with the Finance Director to develop KPIs and deliver timely and accurate financial and business information. Led the AR, AP, Payroll, Pensions and Tax reporting, ensuring statutory compliance. Championed best practice in financial control systems to support business growth. Ensured compliance with GAAP and supported annual external audits. Senior Accounting Manager & Projects Coordinator (02/2008 – 01/2015) Selected Contributions: Coordinated >$5M projects, growing revenue by galvanizing insightful financial analyses and efficient accounting processes and operational efficiency and effectiveness. Enhanced profitability 22% and halved month-end reporting processes to 5 days. Saved $380K, reviewing controls at a subsidiary with the audit of Accounts Receivable. Accounting Manager (02/2006 – 02/2008) Selected Contributions: Reduced accounting errors by 30%, modifying the billing system, increasing debt collection, and migrating Pastel accounting to Sage Evolution. Recouped $2.5M in debts from Diamond Bank and other clients within 2 years; thus, promoted to Senior Accounting Manager & Projects Coordinator. EDUCATION: 02/2020Member-Scholar, Vancouver, WA. USA (A Professional Community for the development of CFOs) 12/2010Member #- Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, United Kingdom 01/2008 – 12/2010Post-Qualification Training (ACCA’s 3 Years’ Practical Experience Requirements) achieved @ Elpina Associates Ltd., Lagos 06/2005 – 02/2008ACCA Professional Qualification Studies (in Accounting, Business, and Finance) at Sage Professionals, Lagos + Self-study 04/2003 – 03/2004PGD in Credit and Financial Management @ Postgraduate School of Credit & Financial Management Studies 03/1999 – 02/2000NYSC - National Youth Service @ Port Harcourt, Rivers State 09/1993 – 09/1998HND in Accounting - Upper Credit @ Federal Polytechnic Nekede Owerri – Nigeria