Gabriel Salami

Proactive and results-driven chartered accountant with seven years of experience in external audit, bookkeeping, corporate finance, accounting, and taxation. Recognised for flexibility, resilience, and analytical skills in meeting tight deadlines and capacity to solve complex problems. Proficient in applying technical IFRSs including IFRS 9, 15, 16 and UK GAAP FRS 102, ensuring meticulous balance sheet control, and preparing accurate management accounts. Experienced in managing month-end and year-end processes and presenting complex financial data concisely using  Microsoft excel. Skilled in using multiple accounting systems, financial modelling, analysis, and corporate taxation. Led financial reporting system remediation, process improvement, and implementing best practices. Recognised among the top 1% student during my master's program, demonstrating a dedicated to continuous improvement to my technical knowledge of accountancy.

January 2023 - Present                 Accountant, Accounting Solutions Limited                                                 Nottingham, UK

• Prepares and provides valuable insights into the Profit or Loss (PorL) statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statements, enabling strategic planning and decision making.
• Manages month end and end year processes relating to accounts payable/receivable, general ledger, banking, fixed assets, inventory, accruals, and payroll.
• Manages the computation and submission of VAT returns for clients.
• Manages finance operation activities, including bookkepping.

January 2022 - November 2022          Senior Group Accountant, Shell Energy PLC/Daystar Power Group                 

• Financial Reporting: Reduced finance reporting cycle by 10% and achieved timely delivery of the group monthly consolidated financial statements and four subsidiaries’ management accounts. This includes PorL, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. Ensured compliance with IFRS. Mostly used accounting standards are IFRS 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, 11, 15, and 16 standards. 
• Financial Analysis: Identified area of revenue loss through trend and variance analysis of financial information. Subsequently, I implemented mitigating procedures and ensured detailed commentary on balance sheet and cash flow performance against budget and KPI’s are presented to the CFO and management for insights and decision making. In addition, I handled the rolling budget and cash flow forecast for liquidity management.
• Fixed Asset Management: Recovered 100% loss on damaged asset through insurance claim of the operating lease asset (IFRS 16) portfolio that worth over £100million, maintained a comprehensive asset register, ensured timely insurance coverage, and report on monthly fixed asset movement schedule. I also implemented a control process to optimise the synergy between finance, supply chain and project team.
• Financial Control: Tested internal controls, and reviewed accounting journals, bank reconciliations, GL reconciliations, intercompany transactions, and balance sheet ledgers across the group. Handled Balance sheet reconciliation, accruals, prepayments, amortization, and month end processes.
• Risk Management: Analysed liquidity variance, prepared net foreign currency position report, communicated monthly closing rates with the team for month end activities and ensured accurate hedging of derivates based on IFRS9 guidelines.
• Team leadership and mentorship: Led a team of eight financial professionals, providing training, coaching and guidance to improve performance and employee satisfaction. 
• Audit and Tax Responsibilities: Led the external statutory audit processes, and ensured timely filing of tax returns (VAT, WHT, CIT, and PAYE).

July 2019 - January 2022                Finance Business Partner, Northwest Petroleum and Gas Limited.

• Financial Planning: Developed and maintained financial models, cash forecast and rolling budget, and weekly reporting for trend analysis and performance tracking against budgets and forecasts.
• Business performance management: Monitored and analysed performance, identified areas for improvement and developed strategies to achieve a return on investment (ROI) of over 10% through cost savings and establishing a realistic reorder level. These efforts also contributed to the development of my business development experience and mitigated the risks of excessive cost drivers for the company.
• Financial Control: Ensured adherence to accounting policies, reviewed bank reconciliation statements, cash receipts, accounts payable and receivables reports. Increased finance systems efficiency through timely month-end and year-end closing processes.
• Financial Reporting: Prepared monthly Profit and Loss (P&L), balance sheet and cashflow statements, ensuring compliance with accounting regulations.
• Strategic Planning: Worked with a cross-functional teams and collaborated with the business unit to develop long-term strategic plans, providing financial analysis to support decision making processes.
• Business Partnering: Led financial management of lubricant business portfolio worth over 3 billion naira with 6 finance professionals under my mentoring, provided insights to the management on financial results, customer service and business drivers.

June 2018 – June 2019                  Management Accountant, Layer3 Limited

• Conducted balance sheet reconciliations resulting in significant cost savings for the company, including a 10% reduction in payroll expenses, a 98% decrease in VAT liability, and recommendations for balance sheet write-offs of up to $500k.
• Collaborated with unit leaders to develop five years strategic plans, annual budget, and evaluate investment opportunities using financial modelling. This analysis led to the recommendation and successful integration of a new business segment, resulting in a significant revenue increase of up to 20% and contributing to the success of the company.
• Prepared monthly and annual management accounts and conducted detailed trend analysis.
• Coordinated finance daily operations, including receivables, payables, payroll, stock, and fixed assets. Additionally, managed finance systems, oversaw the annual statutory financial audit, internal audit, and month end process.

May 2017 – June 2018                  Financial Accountant, VFD Group PLC

• Achieved 100% bank reconciliations, after reconciling backlog of transactions in two months.
• Coordinated IT system integration for the asset management subsidiary and setup controls.
• Prepared monthly reporting, trend analysis and coordinated annual audit.

May 2015 -May 2017                    External Audit Associate, Nexia International

• Developed and tested audit procedures to identify potential risk and weakness in internal control systems and performed substantive tests to ascertain the accuracy of records.
• Prepared financial statements for clients and their respective external audit reports.

Sep 2022 – Sep 2023                        Nottingham Trent University, UK. M.Sc. Finance (Distinction)

Jan 2011 – April 2015                      Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. B.Sc. Economics (2:1)