What are the 10 Skills of a Highly Effective Financial Controller? | Abdul Khaliq posted on the topic | LinkedIn (2024)

Accounts Receivable ProcessCustomer Acquisition to Payment CollectionSales and revenue are great, but only once cash is collected.I have seen the sales team's excitement and celebration when acquiring new customers.I have also experienced teams pushing to get the credit approvals and customer agreements signed without performing adequate due diligence and credit checks. That sometimes leads to cash flow issues, payment collection delays, and bad debts.So sales are great, but timely cash collection is more significant. That's why every companymust have robust customer due diligence and accounts receivable processes, from the largest to the smallest.I have prepared a step-by-step process for you to replicate and adjust according to the type and size of your organization.You'll find details of these steps:1- Customer Acquisition2- Negotiating & Diligence3- Order Processing4- Invoicing 5- Monitoring & Follow-up6- Payment Due Reminders7- Payment Collection8- Reconciliation9- Record Transactions10. AR Reporting11- Delayed Payments12- Dispute ResolutionWhat else can you add?#MAKAlpha #TheFinanceMasterclass Coming Soon!------------------------------------------------------------- Follow Abdul Khaliq + 🔔 - Sharing the essence of 20+ years of journey.- I mentor and train finance and account professionals. DM for details.- You can download all my work in PDF format by visiting my profile.

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Accounting to ReportingYour journey from accounting to reporting does not start with transactions.It starts with designing a Chart of Accounts that is fit for purpose, not for existing needs, but that caters to the growth of your organization.Once you have designed your CoA in a certain way, redesigning it may take much work.Transactions are the second most crucial element of your entire accounting system. Your reporting will depend on the level of accuracy of your transactions.The third thing you want to focus on is mapping your trial balance and the medium you use for consolidation and reporting—any tool you have, whether Excel or some other software, can be used.I have designed the process keeping all of this in mind. What do you think?Please keep this in consideration when you design your processes:𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗔𝗖𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗧 (𝗖𝗢𝗔) A well-structured Chart of Accounts (COA) is the backbone of an organization's financial management and reporting.When designing a CoA, keep this in mind:• Scalability and GrowthA thoughtfully designed COA can accommodate future growth seamlessly. • Financial Analysis and ReportingA comprehensive COA allows for the customization of reports to meet these evolving demands, whether for internal management or external stakeholders.𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗦𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 Transactions are nothing but an accumulation of:• Accuracy• Reliability• Controls• Attention to Details• Adherence to Policies & Procedures and Delegation of Authority𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗔𝗟 𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 The Trial Balance is not your P&L or your Balance Sheet. It is a consolidated position of all transactions based on the Chart of Accounts totaling zero. However, its accuracy is crucial for your consolidation and reporting.𝗠𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗚 The accuracy of the mapping between the ERP system and the consolidation tool is the key. When mapping, ask yourself:• How and what do you want to see as an output, i.e., management or financial reporting?𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚Now, the quality of your reports depends on the consolidation and reporting tool you use or how brilliant you are in designing your Excel models. #MAKAlpha #TheFinanceMasterclass coming soon!----------------------------------------- FollowAbdul Khaliq+ 🔔 - Sharing the essence of 20+ years of journey.- I mentor and train finance and account professionals. DM for details.- You can download all my work in PDF format by visiting my profile.

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Financial Controller PathwayEducation | Technical Skills | Soft Skills | Leadership SkillsHaving a well-laid-out plan in front of you with every move meticulously planned is a half-battle won.The other half is executing the plan. This is where most of the struggle is. Execution!Here's your step-by-step pathway to becoming a Financial Controller. Every step is planned for you, starting from graduation to financial controller. Now, you have to customize this plan for your situation and execute it. Go for it!These steps are provided as overall guidance. Some steps can be completed before the others. For instance, you may prefer to complete your CA/CPA before you start the first job. Or begin focusing on your soft skills when you get your first job.What other steps can you think of, and how will you plan them?This is your pathway:1- Bachelor's DegreeObtain a bachelor's degree in finance and accounting or business.2- Entry-Level PositionObtain a bachelor's degree in finance and accounting or business.3- Technical SkillsAcquire technical accounting skills, including financial statement analysis and financial reporting. Focus on mastering accounting software and Excel.4- Professional CertificationPursue a professional certification such as CPA, CA, ACCA, CMA, or similar.5- Job RotationIt is time to look for job rotation opportunities if you have not already done so. 6- Accounting ProcessesBy now, you should have a better understanding of accounting processes. Proactively look to improve current processes.7- Acquire Soft SkillsIt is almost time to assess your soft skills and what you want to improve. Communication is a vital skill to have.8- Team ManagementDemonstrate that you have the skills to manage teams. 9- Progressive ExperienceNow, you have to look for opportunities within or outside of your organization to move up the career ladder to positions like senior accountant, financial manager, or finance manager.10- Technology ProficiencyBecome skilled in using financial software such as ERP systems. 11- Compliance & Risk MitigationFocus on strengthening your knowledge and expertise in internal controls, risk mitigation, regulatory compliance, and managing audits.12- NetworkingAttend finance and accounting conferences, join industry associations, and connect with peers and mentors. 13- Mentorship or CoachingIdentify a seasoned financial professional who can serve as your mentor. Alternatively, consider hiring a career coach.14- Prepare for LeadershipAttend leadership training programs, seek mentorship, and develop strategic thinking skills. 15- Pursue the FC PositionYou are ready now. Look for Financial Controller positions internally or externally.#MAKAlpha#TheFinanceMasterclassComing Soon!-------------------------------------------------------- FollowAbdul Khaliq+ 🔔 - Sharing the essence of 20+ years of journey.- You can download all my work in PDF format by visiting my profile.

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Income Statement - Revenue to Net Profit MovementWhat causes the change from the revenue to EBITDA to Net Profit?Observing the movement on the chart below will help you understand the cause of change. Below are the explanations and calculations for each step depicted on the chart:Revenue• Revenue, also known as sales or turnover, is the total amount of money a company generates from its primary business activities. COGS • COGS refers to the direct costs associated with producing or manufacturing the goods or services that a company sells. Gross Profit• Gross Profit is the amount of money a company has left after subtracting the direct costs of producing its goods or services (COGS) from its total revenue. • GP = Revenue – GOGSOPEX• OPEX are a company’s ongoing costs to operate its business. Include items such as rent, utilities, salaries, and marketing expenses. Other Income• Other Income refers to revenue generated by a company that is not directly related to its core business operations. This can include income from investments, interest, or other sources outside the company's primary activities. EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization)• EBITDA is a measure of a company's operating performance. It excludes interest, taxes, and non-cash expenses like depreciation and amortization.• EBITDA = GP – OPEX + Other IncomeEBIT (Earnings Before Interest & Taxes)• Depreciation and amortization are non-cash expenses that represent the allocation of the cost of tangible and intangible assets over time. • EBIT = EBITDA – DepreciationEBT (Earnings Before Taxes)• Interest expenses represent the cost of borrowed funds. Subtract interest from the Adjusted EBITDA.• EBT = EBIT – Interest ExpenseNet Profit• Subtract taxes from Earnings Before Taxes to arrive at Net Profit.• Net Profit = Earnings Before Taxes - Taxes#MAKAlpha#TheFinanceMasterclasscoming soon!------------------------------------------- FollowAbdul Khaliq+ 🔔 - Sharing the essence of 20+ years of journey.- You can download all my work in PDF format by visiting my profile.

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Accounts Payable ProcessReceiving Invoices to Releasing PaymentAccounts Payable is close to my heart. I started my finance and accounting career as an AP Accountant.Probably that's why the first course I developed was on "A Practical Approach to Managing Accounts Payable."Performing that role allowed me to acquire valuable knowledge and experience. The knowledge acquired at that time laid the groundwork for many years to come.If you are an accountant payables, always remember that your job is not merely accounting. You are the gatekeeper of every expense paid in the company. Your role is significant, from receiving and validating invoices to accurate expense coding to ensuring the correctness of every cent paid. - If you do not do three-way matching, never received items may be paid.- Your financial reporting will be inaccurate if you misallocate a GL code.- If you pay the incorrect amount, that's a potential loss to the company.Now you know how significant your role is.Broadly, this is what your role entails:1. Invoice Receipt• Accounts Payable (AP) accountants are responsible for receiving vendor invoices.2. The Digital Age• Embrace the digital age by implementing the process of document scanning and digitization of invoices. 3. Primary Responsibility• It is the primary responsibility of AP Accountants to validate invoices thoroughly. 4. Invoices Validation• Develop a keen eye for identifying discrepancies or errors in invoices. • It prevents financial discrepancies and potential disputes5. Three-Way Matching• The three-way matching is a best practice in AP. • Cross-referencing the invoice with the purchase order and receiving report.6. Understanding Coding• AP accountants must understand the intricacies of expense coding and account allocation.7. Expense Allocation• AP accountants must correctly assign expenses to the relevant departments or accounts within the organization.8. Organizational Priorities• Approval hierarchies involving various stakeholders, such as department heads, managers, and finance.9. Approval Workflow• Learn strategies for optimizing the approval workflow by setting deadlines and communicating efficiently with approvers.10. Payment Terms• Prepare payments based on the approved invoices and payment terms agreed with the vendor.11. Payment Methods• Payments can be made through various methods, such as checks, electronic funds transfers (EFT), or credit cards.12. Segregation of Duties• It is crucial to segregate the invoice and payment processing to avoid errors and fraud. What else can you add?💡 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 "𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘈𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘈𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘗𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦" 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦.#MAKAlpha#TheFinanceMasterclasscoming soon!------------------------------------------- FollowAbdul Khaliq+ 🔔 - Sharing the essence of 20+ years of journey.- You can download all my work in PDF format by visiting my profile.

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Payroll Processing - SOD between Finance and HRPayroll can be a political tug-of-war between finance and HR.I have seen that happen in my professional career. Twice!I have experienced two scenarios.Scenario OneThe company was rapidly growing. Both finance and HR needed more resources and were overwhelmed with work. They were fighting that payroll is the other team's responsibility.Scenario TwoRestructuring was taking place. Jobs were being evaluated. The team with the most responsibilities gets to retain more team members, and some can even get their jobs evaluated higher (hint: that's promotion).Guess what?This time, both teams were fighting to retain payroll processing. Nevertheless, I have end-to-end payroll processing with HR in most cases. Finance is the reviewer and disburser of funds. Based on that, I have presented this distinction of roles.Well, I know. A lot depends on the organization's size, industry, management preference, policies, and procedures. One thing is certain: the less people have access to and knowledge of payroll details, the better it is for confidentiality. That being said, it makes sense that payroll processing sits with HR, and Finance only reviews it for accuracy and compliance without having access to specific employee details. This is the overview of the process:Human Resource- New Hires and Terminations- Employee Data Management- Benefit Administration- Payroll Queries- Compliance- Payroll ProcessingFinance- Payroll Review- Tax Compliance- Payment Distribution- Accounting Entries- Payroll Reporting- Audit Support (Joint Responsibility)What is the process based on your experience?#MAKAlpha#TheFinanceMasterclassComing Soon!-------------------------------------------------------- FollowAbdul Khaliq+ 🔔 - Sharing the essence of 20+ years of journey.- I mentor and train finance and account professionals. DM for details.- You can download all my work in PDF format by visiting my profile.

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13 Solutions to Ensure Internal Controls EffectivenessProviding you with 13 Red Flags is not enough.Yesterday, I shared 13 Red Flags Indicating Internal Controls' Ineffectiveness.That is just half the battle won.The other half is solutions to those red flags.Make sure to review both the 13 red flags and the 13 solutions to have a comprehensive understanding of how to address them.Here are 13 Solutions to help you address those 13 Red Flags:1- Frequent Errors and Inaccuracies2- Lack of Segregation of Duties3- Inadequate Documentation4- Inconsistent Enforcement of Policies5- Missing or Ineffective Authorization Protocols6- Lack of Physical Controls7- Poor Access Controls8- Failure to Reconcile Accounts9- Inadequate IT Controls10- Undefined Code of Ethics11- Inadequate Whistleblower Protection12- Lack of Training and Awareness13- Failure to Investigate Red Flags#MAKAlpha#TheFinanceMasterclassComing Soon!-------------------------------------------------------- FollowAbdul Khaliq+ 🔔 - Sharing the essence of 20+ years of journey.- I mentor and train finance and account professionals. DM for details.- You can download all my work in PDF format by visiting my profile.

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13 Red Flags Indicating Ineffective Internal ControlsIt is perceived that maintaining internal controls is:1- A checkbox to be ticked2- An additional task that needs to be done3- An add-on which is nice to have4- We do them once, and we are set for life In those cases, we have to reverse engineer. Not emphasizing the importance of internal controls but highlighting the risk of inadequate internal controls. Sometimes, we have to turn off the lights to let people see clearly the absence of light.We achieve that by looking at the 13 Red Flags that indicate your internal controls are ineffective.And here they are:1- Frequent Errors and Inaccuracies2- Lack of Segregation of Duties3- Inadequate Documentation4- Inconsistent Enforcement of Policies5- Missing or Ineffective Authorization Protocols6- Lack of Physical Controls7- Poor Access Controls8- Failure to Reconcile Accounts9- Inadequate IT Controls10- Undefined Code of Ethics11- Inadequate Whistleblower Protection12- Lack of Training and Awareness13- Failure to Investigate Red Flags#MAKAlpha #TheFinanceMasterclass Coming Soon!-------------------------------------------------------- Follow Abdul Khaliq + 🔔 - Sharing the essence of 20+ years of journey.- I mentor and train finance and account professionals. DM for details.- You can download all my work in PDF format by visiting my profile.

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