Ashraf Suleman
Chief Financial Officer/Vice President Finance, Saudi Arabian Airlines
A highly skilled strategically minded Chartered Accountant with a phenomenal track record in the Aviation Environment heading up Key positions within the airline industry, with a focus on Accounting; Finance & Strategy.
Over the last 12 years my career has been largely within the airline industry; however the skills and experience I have acquired are applicable to a vast range of areas covering the facets of Corporate Finance; Marketing; Project Management; Human Resources & Contract Negotiation to name but a few.
Essentially a well balanced; practical and working knowledge of all aspects of Business.
Throughout my career I have been privileged to be on the forefront of new ideas, technology and infrastructure, working for the benefit of the various stakeholders and being able to see tangible results of that work
Ashraf Suleman's Professional details
Current Position(s)
Chief Financial Officer/Vice President Finance | Finance | Saudi Arabian Airlines
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | 2008 - present
Travel, Tourism and Hospitality
Current Roles and Responsibilities amongst others include:
o Lead annual budgeting process.
o Monitor the corporate performance and analyze and report variances
o Oversee the way in which airline management accounts are presented to the CEO and the Management Board
o Control and manage the overall risk level that the Mainline is exposed to.
o Responsible for the preparation of statutory accounts to ensure financial statements.
o Implement and continuously adjust the financial policies in accordance with the corporate strategy and legal requirements
o Advise and support the CEO in all decisions that have a financial impact
o Maintain close contacts to external legal bodies, such like government and tax offices and external auditors
Previous Position(s)
Acting Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer | Finance and Corporate Management | South African Airways Travel Centre
Johannesburg | 2006 - 2008
Travel, Tourism and Hospitality
Acting General Manager and board member of Travel Experience. (a joint venture between South African Airways Travel Centre and the Automobile Association)
Duties include overseeing the entire Financial, Procurement and Human Resource Departments within the organisation, and negotiations with preferred suppliers and franchisees. Responsible for Policy and procedure development and for drafting of the Delegation of Authority Matrix.
Position involves the following
Oversee accounting practices, co-ordination of budgets, financial reports, tax and audit functions
Generate relevant and reliable reports and statistics for the business, monitor the performance and advise on areas of focus to ensure the achievement of key financial goals.
Plan the financial strategy of the business including rollforward forecasts in conjunction with all stakeholders
Produce the monthly Board Packs.
Analyzes and reports on trends, identify and nurture opportunities for expansion and plan for future growth
Oversee and manage the allocation of resources in the Finance area development of personnel through cross functional training.
Oversee the execution of the HR Activities within the organisation in conjunction with SAA HR
Perform the role of senior representative with all internal and external stakeholders.
Ensure application of the SAA Group procedures
Control & Mitigate risks involved with transactions and contracts in conjunction with SAA Legal
Vice President - Support Operations | Finance | South African Airways (Pty) Ltd
Johannesburg | 2000 - 2006
Travel, Tourism and Hospitality
Responsible for overseeing the Commercial Services Division and providing Support to the Vice President and directors within the finance and business environments. Oversaw the following Operational areaS like Commercial Services,Procurement, Product, Flight Operations
and its Support and Fuel.
Contract Negotiation & Management, Producing Individual and Consolidated Financial Reports,Cost vs. Benefit and 'what if" (Scenario-based) Analysis, Support Implementation of SAP in Commercial services environment, Preparing and assisting with the Budgets in the various functional areas within the Operations sector of the airline, including a complete realignment of the budget process in line with strategy of division and industry best practice.
Overview of the Logistics and Supply Chain of the various facets of the business division and the contracts associated with that.
Audit Manager / Corporate Governance | Finance | Deloitte
Johannesburg | 1995 - 1998
Accounting, Banking and Finance
Consultant Corporate Governance Services division. Responsibilities included the supervision and education of clerks on the audit team and providing assistance in terms of client requests.
Clients included
Educational history
Secondary
Tongaat Secondary School , Durban (1989)
Tertiary
Johannesberg, South Africa | 1994 - 1995
Post Graduate Diploma in Accounting - Accountancy;Auditing;Taxation; Managerial Accounting
Durban | 1994 - 1994
Diplomo in Accountancy - Accountancy
Durban
Diplomo in Accountancy - Accountancy
Durban
Bachelor of Commerce - Accounting; Auditing; Taxatation; Managerial Accounting
