EUGENIA SYARRA

• Set up and improved accounting systems and processes to meet business needs and maximize operational success.
• Reviewed documents and accounts for discrepancies and resolved variances.
• Wrote financial statements and consolidations after reconciling general ledger accounts.
• Reconciled balance sheets and streamlined best practices for balance sheet processes.
• Completed biweekly payroll and maintained employee records.
• Handled month-end and year-end end finances by managing and reporting fixed assets and other data.
• Analyzed financial audit information and made recommendations to improve efficiencies.
• Reviewed budgets and communicated discrepancies to senior management.
• Reviewed business operations and obligations to help organization function at acceptable level.
• Expedited payroll and invoicing by streamlining billing systems.
• Prepared monthly journal entries and reconciliations.
• Calculated tax owed, prepared and submitted returns and upheld compliance with all applicable laws.
• Prepared accounts for industry audits and supported audit process.
• Leveraged finance knowledge to strengthen controls and improve transparency.
• Partnered with auditors to track errors and add contributions to maintain accuracy.
• Partner and support the Operations Manager by consistently providing updates on business strategy execution and profitability assessments of each line of business.
• Be the primary Finance contact to the non-executive directors, regulators, and promptly report to the board of directors.
• Manage the audit process with both external and internal auditors
• Establish and supervise the implementation of regulations and procedures of financial management, cost management, budget management, accounting supervision, and audit.
• Embed the use of key performance metrics within the company to drive actions and improve performance within my team.
• Deliver well-supported budgets, plans, and forecasts in line with the company’s timelines, along with regular progress updates and action recommendations.
• Ensure proper tax planning, computation, and accounting and remittance of all applicable taxes (PAYE, VAT, and WHT).
• Coordinate the procurement of goods/services for smooth operations and management of the stock.

Business Partnership and Leadership

• Engage with executive management as a strategic partner to influence the direction of the company and ensure sustainable growth in the company.
• Instill a financial approach and mindset throughout the organization as a catalyst to help other parts of the business perform better.
• Consistently design the finance department by implementing change to its processes and systems to meet the reporting obligations.

Control Environment and Framework

• Provide a preventive financial control environment aligned to company and legislative requirements.
• Ensure operating systems that impact financial performance are in full operation.
• Remediate and resolve material weaknesses and significant deficiencies identified through audits within agreed timelines.
• Manage timely reconciliations and collection of premiums/commissions.

Team Management and Development

• Lead, mentor, and professionally develop the subordinates, making the best and highest use of talent, managing succession plans, fostering a culture of collaboration in line with the company’s vision, mission, and objectives.
• Ensure the finance department works in collaboration with other departments to achieve the vision and mission of the company.

Achievements

• I designed and implemented a satisfactory system of internal controls in the company– i.e., updated the books of accounts, minimized wastage through prudent investment, maintained adequate liquidity to facilitate prompt claims service, and ensured compliance with stipulated regulations.
• I successfully aligned the finance department structure, processes, and systems with the stipulated reporting obligations.
• I established and implemented regulations and procedures of financial management, cost management, budget management, accounting, and audit.

• Produced detailed reports to track trends and keep senior management informed.
• Managed team petty cash, purchase orders and account transactions.
• Managed daily payment processing and drafted related financial documents.
• Aided colleagues, managers and customers through regular communication and assistance.
• Established workflow processes, monitored daily productivity and implemented modifications to improve overall performance of personnel.
• Processed purchase orders, service contracts and financial reports.
• Drafted and distributed invoices for outstanding payments.
• Administered yearly budget to manage office requirements such as service contracts, postage costs and supply replenishment.
• Managed payroll, transactions, invoicing and budgeting to decrease financial inconsistencies.
• Leveraged bookkeeping software and automated processes to reduce errors.
• Maintained personnel records and updated internal databases to support document management.
• Manage and reconcile bank accounts, petty cash, MPESA, and disbursements.
• Prepare the payroll for approval by management before making the payments
• Maintain and reconcile creditor (payable) and debtor (receivable) invoices on a monthly basis.
• Ensure all payments have the relevant support documents: requisition, quotation, LPO, Delivery Note, invoice, acceptance of goods/services note.

• Reviewed figures, postings and documents for correct entry, completeness and accuracy.
• Organized data into multiple spreadsheets to streamline data.
• Processed payments and documents such as invoices, journal vouchers, employee reimbursements and statements.
• Used accounting software to prepare weekly and monthly financial reports.
• Prepare monthly bank reconciliations by monitoring daily bank balances and reporting the same for use by the management.
• Assist the Finance Manager in preparation for end month and quarterly reports.
• Ensure proper disbursement of petty cash.
• Receipt monies from clients and electronically allocate them to the correct invoices.
• Prepare payments to creditors and receiving payments from debtors
• Prepare statutory payroll payments for PAYE, NSSF, and NHIF contributions and ensure submission on time.
• Maintain the asset register by undertaking physical asset counts and reconciling physical asset counts with General Ledger.
• Prepared itemized statements, bills or invoices and recorded amounts due for items purchased or services rendered.
• Maintained clean and organized files by keeping accounts payable records up-to-date.
• Assisted management with annual expense plans to strategically track income or revenue.