Michel Bou-Jaoude Beirut, Lebanon
[email protected] • +961 3 554 703, +961 1 876 864
Finance & Accounting Professional
Financial Statements and Reporting / Accounts Management / Key Parameter Indicators (KPIs)
Ad hoc Analysis & Modeling / Cost Reduction and Avoidance / Alliance & Consolidation
Accomplished and results-oriented finance and accounting professional with 15+ years’ experience in the accounting and controllership realms, in local and regional roles and organisations. Experienced in financial planning and analysis, accounting principles, budget preparation, cash management, management of treasury operations, development of internal controls, and due diligence.
Proven track record to maximise business efficiencies and integrate finance functions. Maximised customer operational performance by detecting and resolving problems with new techniques introduced. Highly skilled in collaborating with members of the team to achieve set goals and targets. Possessed strong ability to build and maintain relationships.
Areas of Expertise:
• Account Reconciliation
• Account Receivables and Payables
• Profit & Loss (P&L) Accountability
• Internal and Compliance Audits
• Strategic Planning and Execution • Process Improvements
• Cost Variance Analysis
• Payroll Administration
• Leadership and Mentoring
• Problem Analysis and Resolution
Professional Experience
Obegi Group – Beirut & Dubai
Obegi Group has diverse business activities in banking (Banque Bemo), chemicals (Obegi Chemicals Group), fertilizers (Unifert), furniture (Obegi Home), detergents (Henkel), real estate and FMCG (Obegi Consumer Products), in the MENA region.
Financial Controller (2009 to Present)
Prepare financial reports including (Balance Sheet, Profit & Loss, and Cash Flow) and ensure that account receivables collected promptly and account payables paid in a timely manner. Report in case of any irregularities and damage stock and handle it in a professional manner. Perform financials audits in the MENA region to add credibility to the reported financial position and performance of a business and handle compliance audit missions and physical stock count to various subsidiaries as assigned. Accountable for the accounting, financial and audited figures for Obegi Group Holding standalone and its subsidiaries (VAT, Fiscal Reports, CNSS etc.). Supervise Ad hoc projects and special assignments as requested by the Group Financial Controller, top management and board of directors. Monthly accounting reporting and control of non-for-profit entity FYMO – Fondation Yordan et Marie Obegi, and yearly reporting.
Selected Contributions:
• Delivered assistance to the Group Financial Officer in reporting Key Parameter Indicators (KPI’s) on quarterly basis and analysed of all Obegi Group subsidiaries.
• Evaluated and examined the difference between budgeted cost and actual cost (cost variation) for/of work performed and measured the profit margins remained after all cost.
• Reviewed and prepared budgets reports, reported in case of major deviations/differences and assisted in the preparation of the Group Treasury and follow-up to mitigate financial and reputational risks.
• Cultivated productive and professional relations with the external auditors and interacted with the banks for trade finance, payroll systems and overdraft and provided financial reports as required on quarterly basis.
• Implemented daily financial operations related to Obegi Group SA – Luxembourg; accountable for the quarterly financial reporting; functioned with KPMG for VAT filing and with Deloitte for the yearly audit report.
• Compiled a record of the loans and financial operation between Obegi Group SA and its various entities, gathered documentation of shareholders transactions and accounts, and ensured that it compliance with the standards.
Obegi Home LLC. – Beirut & Dubai
Chief Accountant (2008 to 2009)
Confirmed that account receivables collected promptly for clients in Dubai and GCC countries and account payables paid for suppliers in Dubai, USA, EU, and MENA in a timely manner. Prepared reports on total sales, total discount and stock movement, measured profit margins remained after deducting all cost created reports on Gross Profit Margins by client, by product, by project, and by supplier on monthly basis. Compared quotations from different forwarders and shipping agencies on a regular basis.
Selected Contributions:
• Checked and confirmed the final status of the delivered order with regards to the physical count and condition, and followed up on missing or broken items.
• Assessed anticipated cash flow and budget and functioned closely with the operations and project teams in analysing margins, variances and cost analysis.
• Maintained accurate and up to date records of all financial transactions, involved in the reconciliation of the bank statement, and preserved record of fixed asset whilst identified the reasons of depreciation.
• Scheduled, maintained and followed up the shipping line for Estimated Time of Departure (ETD) and Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) in purchase order and calculated landed cost by shipments and by individual item.
• Performed month-end accounting activities such as credit card reconciliations and collection, prepared cash flow and treasury, and transferred the monthly salaries through waged protection system (WPS) to workforce.
Century Park Hotel – Beirut, Lebanon
Century Park was one of the top hotels in the suburban Keserwan Area.
Senior Accountant (2000 to 2008)
Established and monitored internal controls and procedures to ensure timely financial reporting and reported to the financial controller on any violation or deviation of internal controls and procedures. Analysed and ensured stock entries inventory whilst handled and coordinated corrections to stock items and variation. Managed and performed auditing of cash report, financial report, guest control account, room rate, and daily operations of all outlets – invoices and receipts, in order to ensure accuracy, completeness and distribution.
Selected Contributions:
• Supervised the profit and loss accountability (food cost & beverage cost) and reported in case of depreciation.
• Followed up all invoices issued on a credit basis and compliance with supporting vouchers and functions (price, room rate, food and beverage) up to settlement of invoice.
• Supervise and confirm the collection and preparation of all statistical data, financial report, cash reports, and management information reports as required by management.
• Accountable for preparing and calculating monthly income taxes for multiple properties, including third party and employee and involved in the presentation of calculation of value added tax.
• Calculated and entered data of monthly journal entries for utilities expense, including payments vouchers, receipt vouchers, sales vouchers, stock vouchers, deposit vouchers, and return vouchers and employee benefits allocation.
Moudabber Food Concept SAL – Beirut, Lebanon
One of the leading fast food franchisers/franchisees in Lebanon.
Senior Accountant (2000 to 2008)
Prepared presentation of value-added tax (VAT) and income tax, controlled and reconciled account payables both local and overseas suppliers, and monitored credit card transactions and collection.
Selected Contributions:
• Supervised monthly physical inventory count and checked food and beverage cost on a monthly basis.
• Oversaw the preparation of profit and loss statement and balance sheet and preparation of provisions and closing entries on monthly and yearly basis.
• Cultivated productive and professional relationships with the outlet managers, purchasing and auditor and responded to the issues and complaints in a timely manner.

Education and Credentials
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) (Candidate starting March.20) • Morgan International– Beirut, Lebanon
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) (Passed Level I June.17) • Morgan International– Beirut, Lebanon
Certified Management Accountant (CMA) (Certificate # 37105) • Morgan International – Beirut, Lebanon
Bachelor of Business Administration (B.BA) • Haigazian University – Beirut, Lebanon
Earned Top-Performance Achievement Award (Senior Accountant) at Century Park Hotel
ESA: Corporate Valuation – Part 2 | PWC: Essentials of Consolidation | ESA: Corporate Valuation – Part 1 | ESA: Seminar on Financial Analysis | Deloitte: Training on selected IFRS topics | Taxperts: Seminar on the new Lebanese Taxation Law 44