Zeeshan Akram

Zeeshan Akram Address: Block D, Newcity Phase 2, Wah Cantt. Phone: - | Email:-Professional Summary Results-oriented Finance Director with 15+ years of international experience across strategic finance, operations, ERP implementations, and executive leadership. Proven ability to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and lead high-performing teams. Expert in GAAP, IFRS, and donor compliance. Known for successfully leading cross-functional initiatives and supporting enterprise-scale digital transformations. Core Competencies • Strategic Finance & Budgeting • ERP/Financial Systems Implementation (SAP, QuickBooks) • Audits & Compliance • Financial Planning & Analysis • Donor & Grant Reporting • Procurement & Cost Optimization • Stakeholder & Team Leadership Professional Experience Director of Finance American University Kurdistan (AUK), 04/2021 – Present • Led overall financial planning and management for a growing nonprofit university, overseeing $10M+ annual budget. • Implemented SAP Business One system, reducing manual work by 40% and saving $500,000 annually. • Managed external audits with Ernst & Young for 5 consecutive years with zero findings. • Reorganized finance department and trained 5 staff to align with 15% annual organizational growth. • Developed and deployed donor-specific budgets and financial compliance reports (e.g., USAID). • Created self-study financial report for NECHE accreditation process. Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Harekar Group, Iraq, 03/2018 – 04/2021 • Directed all financial operations for oil and gas firm; reduced overhead by $600K through strategic restructuring. • Led budget forecasting and planning across departments, improving reporting efficiency by 60%. • Introduced QuickBooks for finance operations, replacing outdated systems and reducing reconciliation time. • Enhanced vendor contract evaluations and approval workflows to align with internal controls. Finance Manager HRB Group, Iraq, 03/2016 – 03/2018 • Designed and led ERP system integration for sales, imports, HR, and finance – improving workflow by 80%. • Trained 290+ employees on ERP functionality to support long-term business continuity. • Managed P&L, import taxation (LC, TT), credit lines, and customer pricing strategy. Admin & Finance Manager Trident Group, Iraq, 01/2015 – 03/2016 • Managed project finance for oil & gas operations in compliance with ISO 9001 standards. • Established internal policies and procedures for cost control, tendering, and project accounting. • Handled QuickBooks accounting and led internal audit reviews. Finance Coordinator Blue Crescent Medical, Iraq, 01/2013 – 01/2015 • Coordinated donor reports, payroll reviews, and international fund transfers for field teams. • Reviewed budget allocations and supported audit readiness across humanitarian grants. Assistant Manager (Finance) Stock Exchange, London, UK, 08/2009 – 01/2013 • Managed trading tax calculations, broker reconciliations, and investment reporting. • Supported buy/sell order placements and trading risk compliance procedures. Financial Analyst Forex UK Ltd, Luton, UK, 03/2010 – 06/2011 • Performed cost analysis and variance tracking across international transactions. • Managed stockbroker relations and TT processing while contributing to financial forecasting. Key Projects • SAP Business One Implementation – Improved financial operations at AUK, saving $500K/year. • ERP Deployment – Led ERP rollout for HRB Group covering Finance, Sales, HR, and Imports. • Fixed Asset Policy Creation – Designed and enforced university-wide fixed asset policy and audit methodology. Education • MBA in Finance – Worcester University, London, UK -) • Level 7 Diploma – Chartered Management Institute, UK • Advanced Diploma – London School of Business & Computing • B.Com (Finance & Accounting) – University of Punjab, Pakistan Certifications • IELTS Band 6.5 – British High Commission, UK • Computer Skills – National Institute of Computer Technology, Pakistan • English Language Level 6 – Access Language Centre, Pakistan Technical Skills SAP Business One, QuickBooks, Calyx Point, The Mortgage Office, MS Excel (Advanced), Procurement Systems, Compliance Tools