Professional Expertise
My professional journey has made me excel in roles such as Director of Finance, Tax Consultant, and Accountant, allowing me to develop a deep understanding of the financial landscape. My expertise covers various areas, including management accounting, financial analysis, taxation, audit and assurance services. In addition, I am highly skilled in using advanced financial platforms such as Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks, and several tailor-made solutions, ensuring seamless integration of financial systems for enhanced reporting and decision-making.
One of my key strengths lies in business advisory and tax planning, where I leverage my in-depth knowledge to provide actionable insights that help businesses optimise their tax positions and achieve long-term financial stability. My work in financial analysis and management reporting has enabled numerous organisations to better understand their financial health and make informed decisions to drive growth and profitability.
Career Milestones
Recent Experience and Key Contributions
Accountant (Jan 2025 to Date)
Finex Chartered Certified Accountants
Providing business advisory and Accounting & taxation services. -www.finexaccounting.co.nz
I am responsible for preparing periodic and ad hoc financial reports, including Income Statements, Balance Sheets, Cash Flow Statements, and accompanying notes, in compliance with agreed accounting standards. I present the final set of financial statements, obtain management approvals, and document meeting minutes to track any changes for future reference, while ensuring accuracy and compliance to reassure client management.
I also oversee GST and income tax compliance by reviewing client income, expenses, payroll, and other operating costs, preparing and submitting PAYE, GST, and income tax returns on time, and representing clients in IRD audits or investigations by preparing and submitting appropriate responses within stipulated timelines.
In addition, I provide advisory services, guiding clients on business structure, tax planning, compliance procedures, and accounting systems, as well as creating compliance calendars to help them avoid penalties and interest by adhering to IRD and Companies Office standards.
My role further involves designing effective internal control systems to maintain a clear audit trail and ensure retention of sufficient audit evidence. I also manage client relationships and oversee team operations by supervising day-to-day tasks, training staff on accounting systems, Excel, and other relevant tools, while fostering a collaborative and high-performance work environment.
Finally, I contribute to budgeting and planning by preparing and presenting detailed budgets in collaboration with Finex management and team members, establishing clear Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and performance metrics to effectively track progress and support business goals.
During my tenure, I have completed financial due diligence, funding negotiations, and enterprise system integration for a New Zealand business acquisition, enabling profitability within 06 months and strengthening long-term scalability.
Accountant (Oct 2020- December 2024 – Part-time/ Remote working)
Winbiz Accountants, Melbourne, Australia
Providing business advisory and Accounting & taxation services.
I prepare financial statements and income tax returns in compliance with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) standards, ensuring accuracy and timeliness in all lodgements.
A critical part of my work involves the bookkeeping and meticulous preparation of GST, PAYG, and superannuation reconciliations, allowing clients to maintain compliance with BAS (Business Activity Statement) and annual reporting requirements. My expertise in tax-related matters also extends to offering strategic advice on tax-efficient structures and planning, empowering clients to minimise tax liabilities and align their tax practices with broader business goals.
I assist clients in establishing new business entities, including companies and trusts, facilitating the smooth registration of businesses and GST/TFN (Tax File Number) requirements. I also provide support with ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission) form lodgments, managing updates to business details and ensuring that all regulatory changes are accurately and promptly documented.
In addition to these advisory and compliance services, I am responsible for the complete accounts receivable process for a client in 3PL (Third-Party Logistics) warehousing and transport. This end-to-end management includes overseeing invoicing, monitoring outstanding payments, and optimizing the receivables process to ensure cash flow consistency and improve financial reporting accuracy. Through this hands-on approach, I help clients streamline financial operations, improve operational efficiencies, and focus on sustainable growth.
Throughout my career, I streamlined payment processing by connecting various online payment platforms to the Winbiz system, resulting in a 50% reduction in debtor days.
Director of Finance (December 2017 to March 2024)
Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism And Hotel Management (SLITHM)
Providing Training & Development in the Hospitality and Tourism Sector.
I played a critical role in optimizing financial operations by developing and implementing streamlined financial policies and processes, achieving a significant 30% reduction in processing times. These improvements not only increased efficiency but also set a strong foundation for long-term financial stability. I ensured stringent compliance checks across all payment activities, safeguarding the organization against regulatory risks and improving the overall reliability of financial transactions.
In my role, I oversaw the preparation of Financial statements as per stipulated guidelines and coordination of annual audits, diligently addressing auditor inquiries to facilitate a smooth auditing process. My responsibilities also included the verification of assets and inventory on an annual basis, which reinforced accountability and transparency within the organization. By implementing and monitoring robust internal controls, I maintained a strong governance framework, further protecting the organization’s financial integrity.
I developed comprehensive annual budgets, procurement plans, and activity schedules, equipping the organization with a clear roadmap for financial and operational objectives. I regularly disseminated financial performance data to relevant stakeholders, ensuring that all levels of the organization were informed of financial trends and performance metrics.
As part of my extensive duties, I expertly managed accounts payable by maintaining positive cash flow for the organization and minimizing the cost of funds. I proactively monitored overdue invoices and collaborated with relevant departments to ensure prompt follow-ups, minimizing outstanding balances and enhancing the organization’s credit standing.
In addition, I handled payroll processing and adhered to all taxation requirements, ensuring accurate and compliant salary disbursements and tax filings. My attention to detail in preparing monthly and annual financial statements led to a 15% improvement in accuracy, providing leadership with reliable, data-driven insights for strategic planning.
My ability to liaise effectively with stakeholders on various financial matters underscored my role as a trusted advisor, ensuring that leadership and key departments were aligned with the organization’s financial goals and strategies. My contributions have been instrumental in strengthening financial processes and enhancing the overall financial health of the organization.
Throughout my career, I have taken on key leadership roles, contributing to the success of both private and public sector organizations. During my tenure as Director of Finance at the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (SLITHM), I delivered a technology-enabled store management platform at SLITHM, achieving 99% reporting accuracy, reducing labour costs by 50%, minimising the wastage and inventory holding cost and enabling data-driven decision-making.
Further, I cleared a four-year compliance backlog within one year through strategic process redesign and technology-supported reporting, restoring full statutory alignment for SLITHM.
Foundational Roles and Career Development
Tax & Financial Consultant, (March 2016 to December 2017)
Leighton Contractors Malaysia SDN. BHD. (Sri Lanka Branch), Leighton Contractors Lanka (Pvt) Ltd., Sri Lanka
Construction and Property Development Sector
Chief Financial Officer, (June 2015 to March 2016)
Revlon Lanka, Sri Lanka
Manufacturing beauty products, Well-known brand in the industry
Accountant, (June 2011 to July 2015)
Leighton Contractors Malaysia SDN. BHD. (Sri Lanka Branch), Leighton Contractors Lanka (Pvt) Ltd., Sri Lanka
Construction and Property Development Sector
Owner- Director, (July 2010 to July 2011)
Integrated Management Consultants & Secretaries (Pvt) Ltd., Sri Lanka.
Providing business advisory and Accounting & taxation services
Finance Manager, (July 2007 to July 2010)
Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, Sri Lanka
Providing community support and community development
Tax Executive, (July 2005 to July 2007)
Ceylinco Tax & Financial Consultants (Pvt) Ltd., Sri Lanka
Providing business advisory and Accounting & taxation services
Assistant Accountant, (February 2001 to June 2005)
Koolair Group of Companies, Sri Lanka
Specialist in Airconditioning and power generation