EDUCATION
Masters in commerce (Majors in Finance) – M.com 1997-2000
Hailey College of Commerce, University of The Punjab Lahore Pakistan.
Bachelor in commerce (Majors in Banking and Accounting) – B.com 1994-1997
Hailey College of Commerce, University of The Punjab Lahore Pakistan.
ICC Academy Singapore– The educational arm of the ICC 2020-2021
Certified Trade Finance Professional - CTFP
Diploma-ed Associates of Institute of Bankers in Pakistan- 1 9 9 8 - 2 0 0 1
Institute of Bankers Pakistan Karachi, Pakistan.
Certifications
“Risk Appetite “and “Scoring and Bureau of Credit Risk” - Standard Chartered Bank Plc Dubai.
“Role of Senior Manager for team development in a multicultural environment” - Standard Chartered Bank Plc Dubai
“Emerging Leaders” - Barclays Bank Plc Dubai
“Advanced Working Capital Management” - ICC Academy Singapore
“Advanced Supply Chain Management” - ICC Academy Singapore
“Export Finance” - ICC Academy Singapore
“Digital Trade Finance and Fin-techs” - ICC Academy Singapore
“Advanced Guarantees” - ICC Academy Singapore
“Advanced Commodity Finance” - ICC Academy Singapore
“Advanced Working Capital Finance” - ICC Academy Singapore
“Managing Trade Sales” - ICC Academy Singapore
“Managing Trade Products” - ICC Academy Singapore
“Corporate Finance” - CFI, New York, USA.
“Foreign Exchange Essentials” - CFI, New York, USA.
“Fundamentals of Credit” - CFI, New York, USA.
“Accounting Fundamentals” - CFI, New York, USA.
“Forms of Business Structure” - CFI, New York, USA.
“Banking Products and Services” - CFI, New York, USA.
“Reading Financial Statements” - CFI, New York, USA.
“MS Word for Business” - CFI, New York, USA.
“SWIFT” - American Express Bank, Pakistan.
Export Finance, Refinance and Export Finance Guarantee Scheme - IBP, State Bank of Pakistan.
“Learning from experience: cases in foreign trade.” - IBP, State Bank of Pakistan.
Relationship Manager Development Program - UBL, Bank, Pakistan.
“Bill of Exchange” & “ UCP-500” - Askari Commercial Bank, Pakistan.
“Champion Supervisors” - OCTARA, Pakistan.
Academics and Personal Achievements.
Lecture Given on “Capital budgeting” & Overview of the financial products sectors - LUMS, University, Lahore.
Prepared a Restructuring plan for 3 years of a public sector financial institution. - LUMS, University, Lahore.
Participated and made a collection in a charity campaign. - Noor School, Special Children Dubai.
Delivered lecture on Fraud and forgeries Documentary Credit in International Trade. - MCB, Bank Learning Center, Pakistan.
Won 1st Prize to get 30 days of free ice cream. - Baskin & Robbins, DHA, Lahore.
Core Competencies
• Leadership and Management
Successfully Lead large teams and launched Lending & Trade Products in Pakistan, UAE. Leadership Roles and management skills utilized with 9 branches, 150 team members and in 7 States of UAE in Standard Chartered Bank UAE, 33 branches and 40 staff members in UBL, Pakistan, 151 branched and 450 team members in PPCBL Pakistan.
• Trade Finance and Corporate Finance Business.
Developed business from scratch and achieved revenue, sales, and transactional targets with UBL, SCB, and PPCBL. Trade Finance and Corporate customers headcount added with increasing overall market share.
• Strategy and Planning
Defining, monitoring, and reporting key performance metrics to key stakeholders for growth and optimization. Supporting and collaborating with senior leadership and across departments to identify and deliver growth initiatives.
• Consumer Insights & Behavior
Identifying, tracking, measuring, and reporting key insights on customer profiles, customer behavior, customer habits, and patterns for strategic direction, optimization, and driving growth.
• Brand and Marketing
Lead integrated and digital marketing campaigns for increased brand awareness and stimulating sales. Utilizing SEM and social media marketing techniques to leverage the sales funnel. Analyzing the performance of campaigns for optimization of budgets and identifying growth.
• Digital Product Development and Growth
R&D, conceptualization, execution, and development of digital products. Communicating across teams for a smooth roll-out. Coordination with relevant departments for bug fixes and successful implementation of the final product. Implementation of new initiatives for product growth. Deployment or upgrade of new features or functionalities.
• Retail, SME, and Commercial Business Development.
Proposing and initiating proposals and offering credit solutions to customers. Successfully structured facility of a client backed by 100% deposit in PKR and US$ worth Pkr.2.6(B). Identifying and initiating projects for enhanced brand and corporate communication.
• Working Capital Supply Chain Management.
Adopted best available practices to develop, propose, and approve solutions addressing, Invoice Financing, Bill Discounting, Guarantee Back working capital facilities, and supply chain management tools for Trading companies.
• Credit Risk, Financial Risk, and Portfolio Management.
Worked as a Credit Manager with Barclays Corporate Bank UAE, restructured and rescheduled relationships affected by the global economic recession.
• Cross Product, Cross segment, and Cross geography sales.
To boast sales and business development, initiated a cross-product, cross-segment, and cross-geography sales concept. Earned revenue from a mix of revenue streams including markup income, low-cost deposits, treasury and insurance products, and investments in wealth management.
• Export Finance, Re-Finance and Export Guarantees.
Improved and increased trade income through export negotiations, back-to-back Letter of credit opening for local procurement, and securing export realization through the implementation of export guarantee schemes.
Experience
PITB - (Punjab Information and Technology Board). Jan 2022 – Till Date
Senior Project Manager
• Responsible for managing resource utilization, project scope, time, budget, risks, and quality.
• Manage client expectations and client relations.
• Facilitate regular project status meetings with clients and teams.
• Escalate potential project issues promptly and develop a risk management plan.
• Completes project closure activities to formalize and communicate the project acceptance.
• Hands over documentation and ongoing activities to accountable teams
• Conducts a retrospective project review to identify areas of improvement.
• Applies and holds team accountable to the use of Sponsor standard project and functional practices, procedures, and use of tools.
• Oversees and supports the creation of the WBS (Work Breakdown Structure) for the project.
• Knowledge of Microsoft tools and project methodologies in implementing Dynamics 365 solutions, including Conference Room Pilot (CRP), Life Cycle Services (LCS), and Sure Step.
• Actively contributes to the expansion of the PM (Project Manager) discipline across the organization through various learning and development initiatives and guides other PMs
• Participates in the continuous employee review process by providing specific input regarding team member performance.
LGR Global, Fin-Tech Geneva Switzerland (Remote) Jul 2020 – Aug 2021
Trade Finance Strategist.
• Digital Strategist managing business architecture across 68 countries.
• Led the Launching project of a Fin-tech platform-based product (supply chain finance) in 68 countries: expedited implementation timeline by 12 months.
• Led end-to-end process of a new product launching by collaborating with 10+ cross-functional teams; conducted due diligence on operation process, trade finance ecosystem, and obtained internal approvals.
• Partnered with selected institutions to drive go-to-market sales activities and expansion of financial products.
• Identified fraudulent practices (merchants, borrowers, brokers) and implemented a risk assessment framework.
A&A Financial Consultants and Advisors. (Self-Employed) July 2016 – Aug 2020
Financial Consultant.
• Funded loan amounts from US$ 5,000 to US$ 250,000/- between 4-12 deals a month.
• Marketed clients by providing consultancy to identify beneficial profit margins and increase annual gross revenue by qualifying for short-term working capital loans.
• Analyzed merchant, and business bank statements and personal / business credit to qualify applicants.
• Maintain new and existing relationships with clients.
PPCBL Aug 2011 – July 2016
SVP/Group Head Business, Liabilities and Operations.
• Working in a leadership and management role by managing 151 branches and 450 staff members.
• Achieved given targets of deposits, lending, and others with a team of 9 Zonal / Divisional Chiefs.
• Support the CEO on all business development and operational projects. Member of MANCOM and ALCO.
• Product development, existing portfolio management, branch revamping, and dealing with the State Bank of Pakistan for matters about the bank.
Barclays Corporate Banking - Dubai UAE. Aug 2010 – February 2011
VP/Manager Corporate Credit (Risk)
• Responsible for collections of 9 branches with an account receivables base of US$ 30.0 (M).
• Instrumental role in restructuring and rescheduling business credit relationships in peak of economic recession.
• Monitored activities and progress of Third-party collection firms.
• Structuring facilities and preparing lending proposals for various Credit Committees, ensuring sufficient mitigation to identified risks.
Standard Chartered Bank Ltd, Dubai UAE. Feb 2008 – June 2010
Unit Head SME – Small Business Lending Solution & Express Trade Services.
• Utilized internal/external data to build a best-in-class SME-business framework which resulted in 25% incremental acquisitions and 10% higher incremental spending for the business.
• Developed Small Business portfolio with channels strategy resulting in 30% new accounts capturing US$ 100 M incremental business.
• Designed and revamped cross-sell incentives and channel optimization strategies, which along with improved targeting resulted in over 50% increase in acquisitions year over year.
• Mentor, manage, and develop new associates from hire through promotion.
• Led a team of 9 Relationship Managers and 150 Direct Sales representatives covering the 7 states of UAE, for SBLS and ETS.
UBL, Bank Regional Office, Lahore - East. Nov 2003 – Feb 2008
Regional Head.
• Skillfully worked to keep delinquency under control by booking quality portfolios & working in close liaison with the risk department.
• Ensured that the team covering 33 branches and regions of Lahore East developed quality credit and built a diversified portfolio.
• Asset book of the region incremented with Pkr.4.0(B) and awarded best relationship manager country-wide.
• Achieved an exponential growth rate of 165%.
Askari Bank Ltd. Oct 2000 – Nov 2003
Manager Trade & Trade Finance (Export Department).
• Managed a portfolio of domestic and international trade clients (Exporters and domestic traders) multiple commodity traders, manufacturers, livestock exporters, and perishable exporters.
• Structured cross-border debt financing, trade, and transactional banking solutions.
• Developed strategies on a client portfolio and industry basis to grow revenue and profitability.
• Mentored/coached staff in marketing, business execution, and client liaison.
Bank-Al-Habib Ltd. Feb 1998 – Oct 2000
Manager Trade Finance (Export Department).
• Product development and implementation of 5 new locally structured products in cooperation with the State Bank of Pakistan.
• Achieved a reduction of 40% in processing time and 70% in the number of reporting mistakes to the regulator.
• Authorization and endorse all export transactions to the banking system.
• Serviced and maintained good relationships with customers.
