Muhammad Sohail AnwarFCCA
Financial Controller · Finance Manager · FP&A
Dubai, UAE · Relocating to New Zealand
I run finance functions that close on time, pass audit and give owners numbers they can act on. Twenty years across construction, food & hospitality, trading and government-contracted services in the Gulf and Pakistan.
Key achievements
- Removed cash-handling riskEPL · 4 sites
Set up bank collection counters inside company premises, so cash went straight into the company account. This removed cash-in-transit risk and cut insurance and staff costs.
- IPO-ready financial planWith KPMG
Converted a 17-outlet F&B chain’s 5-year business plan into a full financial plan (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow) to support valuation for a potential IPO.
- ERP implementationDynamics NAV
Led the Microsoft Dynamics NAV (Navision) implementation across a multi-entity F&B, HoReCa and trading group.
- Fraud detectionControls
Detected a material cash misappropriation, escalated it to management and strengthened cash controls.
- Product profitabilityHoReCa
Worked alongside operations to analyse product and channel margins, shifting focus to the most profitable lines.
Experience
- Finance Manager (Consultant)2024 – now
PCAT · Dubai
FP&A, financial models and dashboards, ERP projects, VAT and corporate tax, valuation and fraud investigation for SMEs.
- Financial Controller2016 – 2024
Etimad Private Limited · Pakistan
Full finance function for a visa-processing contractor to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Budgets, close, treasury, tax, and EY and PwC audits across 5 provinces, including the rollout of 24 additional outreach offices.
- Financial Controller2015 – 2016
Elevation Burger · Saudi Arabia & Bahrain
17-outlet fast-food chain: menu engineering, cost control, new-outlet expansion and 5-year IPO financials.
- Finance Manager2012 – 2014
French Bakery & La Marquise International · Dubai
FP&A and reporting across trading, hospitality and HoReCa divisions; Navision implementation.
- Senior / Chief Accountant2008 – 2012
Bu Haleeba Contracting · Dubai
BOQ-based project budgets and cost control, guarantees, fixed-asset controls, full accounting cycle.
- Islamic Banking Officer · Audit Trainee2004 – 2008 Meezan Bank · Moores Rowland International · Pakistan
Skills & qualifications
Finance
- Financial control & month-end close
- Budgeting, forecasting & FP&A
- IFRS reporting & audit
- VAT & corporate tax
- Internal controls & fraud investigation
- Business valuation
Systems
- Microsoft Dynamics NAV / Business Central
- Oracle · Odoo · Zoho · Xero
- Advanced Excel & financial modelling
- Power BI
Qualifications
- FCCA, ACCA (UK)
- CPA, ICPAP (Pakistan)
- ACA, ICAEW: in progress
- CIA: 3 exams passed
- B.Com, University of Karachi
Languages
- English (fluent)
- Urdu (native)
- Hindi (intermediate)
New Zealand Kia ora
I am relocating to New Zealand and looking for a senior finance role where I can own the numbers and work closely with the business.
- In Auckland
- 18 November – 4 December 2026, available to meet in person
- Target roles
- Financial Controller · Finance Manager · Senior / Management Accountant · FP&A · Finance Business Partner
- Locations
- Auckland preferred; open to other NZ cities
- Work rights
- Requires an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)