Susan Kisamwa

As a key decision maker and influencer, I oversee end to end Finance function, including governance, budgeting, reporting, tax and treasury

Key Achievements

• Managed Kenya and Uganda Finance function set-up and decentralization from Dubai Shared Service Center, with 0 delays in reporting timelines
• Managed day-to-day operations within 10-person finance department for organization.
• Established and enforced controls on revenue and expenses to protect company assets, leading to 10% cost savings.
• Rolled out data-based performance management system- Objectives and Key Results (OKRs), thus increasing employee engagement and motivation
• Managed aged accounts receivable, thus recovering $50,000 within 2 months of joining company
• Identified partnership opportunities and established favorable business connections with banks leading to USD 1.8million debt financing

Started in 2013, as part of Google Project Link, CSquared has since transitioned to an independent Company present in 5 countries, building metro fiber and Wi-Fi networks to increase internet access

Key Achievements

• Managed cross-functional team of 20 in 4 locations (Accra, Liberia, Uganda, and Kenya), ranging from entry-level to experienced finance managers, FPA analysts and closely collaborated with business development, data analysis, operations, and marketing teams
• Led transition to new banking partner by implementing faster, safer, and more accurate electronic banking system, reduced payments processing time by 30%
• Spearheaded Transfer Pricing Analysis, US GAAP and IFRS Compliance within the Group; designed 4 accounting policies; Revenue Recognition, Fixed Assets, Tax and Cash
• Implemented month end period close process; reduced reporting timelines by 50% while still maintaining reporting quality
• Restructured Finance Shared Service Center (FSSC), realizing 30% ($200K) cost savings. This was done by transitioning FSSC from Mauritius to Kenya, with whole process done remotely, while at same time managing 3 teams spread across 6 countries (Mauritius, Kenya, Uganda, DRC, Ghana and Liberia) to deliver seamless transition with no impact on reporting timelines.

Achievements

• Set-up CSquared Treasury function within 2 months of joining the company, by engaging stakeholders, including Bank, Senior Management, and Board to obtain approvals
• Streamlined Procure to Pay Process by creating process to manage accruals, reducing accrual timelines by 50%, from 4 days to 2 days
• Championed for proper governance structures; collaborated in developing monthly finance journals, highlighting finance policies and implications to business unit owners
• Coordinated Mauritius and Kenya audits, with zero audit adjustments in FY 2018, 2019 and 2020
• Pioneered Group Budgeting and Forecasting template 2 months post hiring; templates are key control tools for the company

Achievements

• Managed end to end finance processes in Accounts Payable, Accounts receivable, tax, treasury, and reporting
• Supported deal close and transition process by ensuring 100% accurate data take-on and processes rollover
• Reviewed documentation and identified financial discrepancies where applicable
• Monitored budget and revenue trends, compiling reports for company leadership to inform decision-making
• Created organizational structures to improve accounting and finance functions

Founded in 1908, Baker Hughes is one of the world’s largest private-sector oil and gas services Company, a leading voice in advocating sustainable mining and advancing reservoir performance

Responsibilities

• Evaluated, tracked all Daily Sales Outstanding (DSO) and lapse days
• Supervised regional billing and collections (7 countries)
• Controlled high-level contracts and accounts and communicated with customers
• Streamlined tax compliance by ensuring adherence to VAT & Withholding Tax regulations across the 7 countries
• Instituted Credit Analysis and bad debt provisions for over 30 customers, with correct set-up in SAP
• Performed monthly and annual Revenue Assurance analysis and verified recorded revenue against recognition criteria

Achievements

• Improved profitability through collecting $20M from over-aged customer account balances
• Created efficient Accounts Receivable team in a newly created Geo market comprising 7 countries
• Recognized for leading most efficient team of 8 in Africa

Designed & implemented systems & procedures for the monthly preparation & maintenance of statutory books of accounts, reconciliation statements, and financial statements as per IFRS and USGAAP

Achievements

• Systemized all activities to define on annual basis 5-year CAPEX Business Plan
• Organized all activities/areas required to evaluate, justify, support, and get approval for projects
• Devised Capex tracking chart, thus ensuring 100% Capex budget implementation Q3 2013
• Automated fixed assets register into SAGE Line 500 ERP thus reducing the depreciation computation period by 67% from 3 days to 1 day
• Executed proper tax planning, achieved over 95% on annual tax compliance and averted non- compliance and risks
• Influenced Finance department in achieving monthly Internal Controls Objectives, control weaknesses identification and timely closure of actions emanating from the weaknesses identified
• Led monthly accounting closing processes and facilitated seamless adherence by finance staff to all period close requirements

• Completed filings and upheld strict compliance with regulatory agencies and supervisors.
• Reduced process discrepancies through measured implementation of performance reporting and data systems, improved costs by 10%
• Enhanced internal control systems and procedures to mitigate risk and support opportunities.
• Prepared monthly reconciliation of bank accounts and took corrective actions on deviations leading to 20% reduction in unidentified funds.
• Analyzed financial statements against forecasts to prepare high-level variance analysis.

• Facilitated month-end and year-end closing processed to support accuracy and completeness of financial reports for 50 gas stations
• Provided journal entries and performed accounting on accrual basis by Workday 1
• Tracked funds, prepared deposits and reconciled accounts within 1 day timeline
• Partnered with auditors to track errors and add contributions to maintain accuracy 100% accurate bank reconciliations