Ali Baldawi
Clarksburg
Summary
Highlights of my expertise include the following: Directing a range of Finance and compliance management tasks, including strategic grant management and administrative planning. Skilled in Finance, Operations and Compliance management professional with extensive knowledge, over 16 years of experiences, and solid management and supervisory skills, Experience includes lead finance team several USAID projects and supervisions Operations teams for large NGOs. With my experience in corporate Finance and compliance management direction activities, combined with my exceptional accounting and analytical skills, I am ready to provide outstanding service within your work targets. Talented professional proven successful in leading administrative team members in high-volume settings. Knowledgeable about regulations, managing files, and producing professional correspondence for diverse needs. Articulate communicator with strong attention to detail and superior work ethic.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Field Finance Coordinator
University Research Co. (URC)
Chevy Chase
02.2023 - Current
- Review monthly field finance report reconciliation for assigned countries/projects field finance reports and supporting documentation/vouchers, bank statement reconciliation to G/L, AR, AP, prepaid expense, tax and payroll liabilities, accrued expenses, travel advance and settlement
- Ensure compliance with company, donor, and government regulations
- Communicate the findings to the field office and follow up to clear those findings
- Review field financial reports for timely submission, proper recording of transactions and accurate utilization of the chart of accounts
- Review field office wire requests to ascertain the reasonableness of the request and the availability of approved documentation
- Relay any atypical request deviations to the Associate Director for Field Finance for further clarification as necessary
- Assist field offices with their monthly wire projections
- Actively participate in the creation and preparation of Field and HQ finance training sessions, especially Quick Books and Deltek CostPoint
- Maintain and coordinate proactive communications with field finance personnel and Project Coordinators (PC) to provide timely finance support
- As needed, perform field office reviews to ensure compliance with policies and procedures, in addition to identifying lessons learned for implementation in other field offices and applicable areas for improvement
- Business Development: Serve as on proposal teams as appropriate and assigned
- Roles may include proposal czar, technical lead, lead writer, section writer and/or reviewer, and others
- Additional duties may be assigned
Accounting and Grant STTA Specialist
Chemonics international
Washington
07.2018 - 01.2019
- Ensures the timely and accurate posting, balancing, and reconciliation of the general ledger for each entity
- Prepares work papers, financial statements, and various reports for internal accounting and auditing
- Researches and analyzes fluctuations between current financial results compared to prior year, prior month, and budgeted amounts
- Prepares insurance department quarterly and annual statements including the conversion from
- Recommends changes in accounting systems and procedures
- Assists business partners with budget activity, proper expenditure coding, document preparation, and other accounting-related activities
- Reviews the work completed by the bookkeepers, bank reconcilers, and accounts payable clerks to ensure accurate financial transactions
- Maintains contact with grantees in order to determine implementation strategies utilized by grantees
- Identifies possible compliance and logistical issues, for grants payments and technical assistance needs
- Reviews grant applications and work statements received from grantees
- Collects and analyzes data, provides information and advice, and prepares reports on designated program operations and grantee activities, issues and accomplishments
- Evaluates the progress of designated program operations especially those dealing with grant services
- Prepares grants analysis reports, and other types of written responses to supervisors of significant issues of grant concern if needed
- Work closely with Director of Programs /Procurement/ and Director of Finance/ operation to ensure having the update upcoming events related to grant activities
- Develops, implements and monitors the Grants office external and internal vetting
- Creates online interactive surveys and captures the results in spreadsheet format
Temporary Accounting Associate
Chemonics international
Washington DC
03.2017 - 01.2019
- Review and completes monthly reconciliation of home office and field office project accounts, and recommends resolutions for un-reconciled amounts like local Tax authorities and Social security etc...
- Conducts start-up field assignments for training new field-based accountants in ABACUS and provides training on USAID and Chemonics policies, procedures and regulations
- Works with field office projects in optimizing financial and cash flow management
- Assists with audits conducted by Finance Compliance Review Unit, provide required information related to projects within one’s portfolio of projects
- Review the field office local package and create general journals correction if need
- Reviews on a monthly basis expenses incurred by overseas (field office) project offices
- Completes monthly reconciliation of home office and field office project accounts, and recommends resolutions for un-reconciled amounts like local Tax authorities and Social security etc...
- Reconciles field office trial balances and bank statement balances to home office trial balances on a monthly basis
- Support field office administration, including travel coordination, visa processing, create vendor, payment requests, invoicing, approvals, and updating of project-related trackers
- Conducts grant budgets plan as needed as required to be the FO- HO payments before CFO approval
- Review and approve FO grants funds request through Re-Logic
- Review and approve the International grants wire transfer forms for the worldwide project and make sure booked under the correct chart of account
- Prepare daily grants payment request for FO worldwide project
- Coordinates the work of other office support staff assisting with grant related projects
- Give the guidance for the booking grant cost the field office expenses to suitable chart of account
Finance Manager
Chemonics international
08.2016 - 08.2017
- Review transactions entered into ABACUS for proper allocation of billable expenses; proper booking of labor to the relevant labor categories; and the inclusion of PINs where required
- Supervise, trains and manages multiple staff involved in the AP, AR process which handles high volume disbursements in multiple entities
- Prepares expenditure analysis for overall program and field offices; Maintains accurate and timely financial information; Administers payroll/taxes and security insurance for field office staff
- Prepares cash projections for the programs; prepares fund requests for programs and operations; Review and approve all vouchers prepared by the accountant (disbursement, receipt and general journal vouchers) for expenditures and ensure that expenses are reasonable, allowable, supported and allocable to the project
- Prepare the draft annual financial work and follow up with COA to get the final certified report
- Schedule monthly visit to company registration office, make sure the update instruction is followed
- Work with lawyers on certified DOEs POAs, from the notaries
- Oversees distribution of payroll for more than 190 local staff and related their trip expenses for lodging, per-diems’ calculation and travel costs
- Review vouchers for cash disbursements, with secondary approval from the Compliance and Operations Director and/or Chief of Party, related to procurement of goods and services; monthly payroll; employee benefits; and taxes, ensuring all necessary back-up documentation is verified, collected, and filed according to established operating principles and procedures
- Review monthly financial reports to the Home Office
- Manage and prepare the monthly Tax income payroll deduction, monthly submitted to Tax authorities
- Manage and prepare the monthly social insurance payroll deduction, monthly submitted to Tax authorities
- Ensure that USAID regulation and Chemonics HO/FO followed
- Ensure the GAAP standards terms are appropriately updated and followed
Accountant
Chemonics international
06.2014 - 08.2016
- Led negotiations with vendors to reduce cash-based transactions; Strengthened payment processes in security-restricted areas to reduce risk
- Train, supervise and oversee the work of the finance staff including project accountants, bookkeepers and cashiers, etc
- To ensure efficient performance
- Review and evaluate staff performance on a regular basis
- This may include travel to GSP regional project offices in Hilla, Erbil, and south region
- Review project staff timesheets for approvals and allocation of billable hours, holidays, leave, payroll taxes and withholdings
- Prepare monthly financial reports to the Home Office with the assistance of the finance staff
- Monitor weekly reconciliation of petty cash
- Establish a financial filing system and regularly review the maintenance of this system by project finance staff
- Assist the Compliance Operation Director with monthly forecasting of operating costs and track projects costs as needed
Book Keeper
Chemonics international
02.2013 - 07.2015
- Assist with the processing of payments and procurements including ensuring that all back-up documentation is verified, collected, and filed according to established operating principles and procedures
- Assist in recording all local expenses reported by the field office for billing purposes
- Assist with the monitoring of field employee time sheets to ensure accuracy and timely submission
- Assist with the processing of travel advance requests and expense reports for project staff in a timely and efficient manner, in accordance with established operating principles and procedures, and USAID and Chemonics policies and procedures
- Assist with the maintenance of project financial records using ABACUS software
Accountant
Research Triangle Institute (RTI)
10.2012 - 07.2013
- Performing all payroll-related functions, duties, and requirements for the project
- The incumbent reports to the Finance Officer
- Assist employees in the related questions about payroll and payroll disbursements
- Assist employees in accessing their timesheets
- Prepare and process payroll-related entries and prepare monthly reconciliations
- Reconcile employer’s quarterly tax returns, state unemployment quarterly contributions report
- Assist with audits, workers compensation audits, year-end audits
- Oversee fiscal year-end payroll
- Preparing the training Advances for the regional offices and make sure that it is supported by all the required documentation and it does not violate any of project training regulation
- Follow up the advances in the Quick Books by preparing the AR account report on weekly
- Reconcile all the training advances for the regional offices and check all the supported documents for the training courses
- Check and verify the M&IE travels reports for each training course held by the project
- Attending the conferences physically and make sure that the project pays according to the approved budget bases
- Responsible for the accounting and financial transaction
- Responsible for the accounting cycle transaction; journal entries, ledger, adjustment, trial balance and other financial reports
- Organize and arrange expenses accounting documents
- Classifies accounting documents and makes accounting entries
- Working on Quick Books (Accounting Package System) program for entering the invoices (expenses and payment and cash reconciliation)
Accountant
SAJER for security CO
11.2012 - 02.2013
- A key member of the Finance team
- Performing all payroll-related functions, duties, and requirements for the project
- The incumbent reports to the Finance Officer
- Assist employees in the related questions about payroll and payroll disbursements
- Assist employees in accessing their timesheets
- Prepare and process payroll-related entries and prepare monthly reconciliations
- Reconcile employer’s quarterly tax returns, state unemployment quarterly contributions report
- Assist with audits, workers compensation audits, year-end audits
- Oversee fiscal year-end payroll
- Preparing the training Advances for the regional offices and make sure that it is supported by all the required documentation and it does not violate any of project training regulation
- Follow up the advances in the Quick Books by preparing the AR account report on weekly bases
- Reconcile all the training advances for the regional offices and check all the supported documents for the training courses
- Monthly Cash and Bank reconciliation and close out reporting
- Check and verify the M&E reports for each training course held by the project
- Attending the conferences physically and make sure that the project pays according to the approved budget
- Other duties as assigned by the Finance Officer and Director of finance and administration
Accountant
Chemonics international
05.2012 - 01.2013
- Process payments for all invoices related to procurement of goods and services; monthly payroll; employee benefits; and taxes (personnel, business, etc.) in a timely manner, ensuring all necessary back-up documentation is verified, collected, and filed according to established operating principles and procedures
- Review all local expenses reported by the field office for billing purposes
- Monitor field employee time sheets to ensure accuracy and timely submission
- Maintain the project bank account, including monitoring the account balance, outstanding checks and other transactions, and providing regular updates to the Finance Director regarding the status of the account
- Maintain the petty cash account, providing regular updates to the Finance Director regarding the status of the account
- Process and reconcile travel advance requests and expense reports for project staff in a timely and efficient manner, in accordance with established operating principles and procedures, and USAID and Chemonics policies and procedures
- Monitor personal use of project equipment, namely project telephones and mobile phones, etc., and following up with staff to reconcile expenses owed in a timely manner
- Process payment of local and other subcontracts in a timely and efficient manner, in accordance with established operating principles and procedures, and USAID and Chemonics policies and procedures
- Maintain project financial records using ABACUS software, submit monthly reports to the Chemonics’ home office within the established timeline and respond to requests as needed
Financial Specialist
RTI International
01.2008 - 12.2010
- Provide the clients with financial advices in accounting and finance
- Preparing annual budget plan
- Tracking and maintaining the budget and producing monthly variance analysis
- Prepare financial presentations for the clients
- Prepare membership fees table with criteria
- Provide advisory services to the board of directors on the recommended fees and criteria of membership fees
- Implement policy on expansion of membership and present recommendations such an expansion
- Prepare the annual revenues report
- Membership administration
- Carrying out day-to-day activities of the membership activities
- Membership development
- Contribute in fundraising
- Coordinate and participate in providing logistics services for financial conferences and Workshops
Office and Grant Accountant
RTI International
02.2010 - 09.2010
- Coordination and communication with partners in Baghdad Governorate (BG), Baghdad Provisional Council (BPC) and Mayor’s office of Baghdad (Amanat) to install and use GAPTIS (Governorates Accounting and Project Tracking Information System) software program
- Coordinate with GAPTIS Baghdad headquarters team the installation process of GAPTIS in Baghdad Governorate, BPC and Amanat
- Follow up and provide technical support for GAPTIS usage
- Train GAPTIS users in BG, PC and Amanat
- Follow up on entering projects data performed by BG, BPC and Amanat
- Provide assistance in producing reports through GAPTIS system, and match the trial balance generated via GAPTIS with manual reports
- Provide financial information for the decision makers
- Visit Northern region provinces of Iraq, coordinate the installation and using of GAPTIS system and provide necessary training to the users and communicate with the Governorate and PC officials for using GAPTIS
- Provide logistic support during conferences and workshops
- Manage conference and workshop related logistics (arranging conference room, accommodation, catering, meals of participants, etc.)
Education
Accountant - Accounting Department
Baghdad University, College of Economics
Baghdad01.2008
B.C. - Accounting
Baghdad College of Economics
Baghdad01.2007
Course in Microsoft Office -
University of Baghdad, College of Administration and Economics
Baghdad01.2006
Skills
- Directing a range of Finance and compliance management tasks, including strategic grant management and administrative planning
- Financial reporting
- Budget management
- Grant compliance
- QuickBooks proficiency
- Deltek CostPoint usage
- Project finance
- Skilled in Finance, Operations and Compliance management professional with extensive knowledge, over 11 years of experiences, and solid management and supervisory skills
- Experience includes lead finance team several USAID projects and supervisions Operations teams for large NGOs
- Exceptional accounting and analytical skills
- General ledger reconciliation
- Grant administration
- Cost analysis
- Accounts payable
- GAAP
- General ledger entries
- Year-end close
- Microsoft office
Websites
Training
- Course in Microsoft Office, University of Baghdad, College of Administration and Economics, 2006
- Training in Central Bank of Iraq, Audit and Control Department, 2005
- CMA Course, 2019
Languages
- Arabic
- English
Technological Proficiencies
- MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook, Publisher)
- Internet Browser
Languages
English
Native/ Bilingual
Arabic
Native/ Bilingual
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Field Finance Coordinator
University Research Co. (URC)
02.2023 - Current
Accounting and Grant STTA Specialist
Chemonics international
07.2018 - 01.2019
Temporary Accounting Associate
Chemonics international
03.2017 - 01.2019
Finance Manager
Chemonics international
08.2016 - 08.2017
Accountant
Chemonics international
06.2014 - 08.2016
Book Keeper
Chemonics international
02.2013 - 07.2015
Accountant
SAJER for security CO
11.2012 - 02.2013
Accountant
Research Triangle Institute (RTI)
10.2012 - 07.2013
Accountant
Chemonics international
05.2012 - 01.2013
Office and Grant Accountant
RTI International
02.2010 - 09.2010
Financial Specialist
RTI International
01.2008 - 12.2010
Accountant - Accounting Department
Baghdad University, College of Economics
B.C. - Accounting
Baghdad College of Economics
Course in Microsoft Office -
University of Baghdad, College of Administration and Economics
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