Suhaila Abdul Ghani

1. Results-driven finance professional with over 22 years of experience in strategic planning, financial operations, budgeting & forecasting, corporate finance, and financial analysis across various industries. 
2. Offering expertise in short-term and long-term planning, productivity metrics analysis, cost controls, team management, written and verbal communication, accounting, cross-functional collaboration, reporting, and stakeholder engagement. 
3. Proven track record of successfully managing multi-faceted projects, exceeding goals and deadlines in fast-paced, dynamic environments. 

Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Berhad 

Jan 2019 – Present 

Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia 

Senior Manager, Manufacturing Finance 

[Lead Section: Manufacturing Finance Team] 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Provide timely and accurate financial statements, accounting advice, and finance operation functions to meet internal and external reporting obligations.
• Drive operating controllership business growth and analytics by reviewing processes, procedures, and policies for improvement.
• Oversee finance and accounting division, ensuring thorough analysis of profitability, pricing, and costs for decision-making.
• Evaluate long-range planning, new programs/strategies, and regulatory impact.
• Establish credibility for the finance group by providing timely and accurate analysis of budgets, financial reports, and financial trends to assist the CEO, Board of Directors, and senior management in their responsibilities.
• Recommend solutions to improve manufacturing and engine processes and identify cost-saving initiatives.
• Identify potential solutions to improve manufacturing process flow and engine process flow, initiate cost-saving initiatives, and establish Cross-Functional Teams (CFT) or Happy Operating Entities (HOE) in collaboration with the Manufacturing and Powertrain Teams.
• Provide coaching and leadership to team members.

Emery Oleochemical (M) Sdn Bhd a subsidiary of Sime Plantation Berhad 

Nov 2011 – Dec 2018 

Teluk Panglima Garang, Banting, Selangor. 

Global Business Finance Manager 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Perform detailed financial analysis on monthly actuals, comparing them with forecasts/plans to ensure accurate reporting within designated deadlines.
• Finalize changes to the forecasting process, ensuring accountability and buy-in from all involved parties and departments, and obtaining final sign-off from the business. Develop a process for reviewing forecasting accuracy.
• Act as a business partner, providing financial input and leadership in strategic and tactical business decisions, supporting marketing operations, administration, and special projects with data and analysis.
• Responsible for global business reports (Specialties & Basics) to enhance result transparency, focusing on business drivers and forward sustainability in Europe, USA, and Asia Pacific.
• Continuously improve monthly reporting and conduct detailed analysis on products, including manufacturing and sales analysis using SAP, Advanced Excel, BW web reports, and Anaplan dashboards.
• Evaluate financial provisions for regional projects and business opportunities, such as new plant acquisitions, process upgrades, and strategic operational excellence initiatives aligned with corporate objectives.
• Establish and implement short-term and long-term strategic goals, objectives, policies, and operating procedures, monitoring, and evaluating operational effectiveness.
• Drive the business plan in collaboration with various departments, including the development of the overall income statement and support for all required reporting tools.
• Enhance transparency of business results and provide explanations focusing on business drivers and the company's future performance.
• Lead the annual budget process and required schedules, collaborating with other functional departments to consolidate the annual budget.
• Responsible for cost reduction across the value chain, including Bill of Materials (BOM) and non-BOM items, collaborating directly with the manufacturing team to implement the company's cost control plan and provide data support for cost reduction initiatives.
• Drive cost reduction initiatives and manage transfer pricing.

Malaysia Airlines Berhad 

Nov 2007 - Nov 2011 

Subang Jaya, Selangor 

Senior Accountant 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Supervise the Fixed Asset & Inventory Section for Malaysia Airlines Worldwide.
• Manage and control the Expenditure Accounting (Fixed Asset and Inventory) Section to ensure proper accounting and accurate reporting of the company's assets and inventory in the balance sheet.
• Prepare and review monthly fixed asset and inventory schedules and reconciliations for financial reporting purposes, ensuring accuracy and timely submission.
• Monitor fixed asset and inventory account balances, ensuring timely asset creation, performing reconciliations, and clearing accounts.
• Coordinate the implementation of internal and external audit recommendations.
• Resolve issues related to fixed asset financial systems and ensure compliance with fixed asset policies and procedures, following up with non-compliant business units.
• Participate actively in annual fixed asset verification, quarterly stock take, and the smooth implementation of revised systems, policies, and procedures.
• Directly involved in aircraft project cost monitoring, including aircraft cost calculation and analysis of engineering spares related to aircraft, ensuring accurate expenditure within budget.
• Monitor real-time market price dynamics for aircraft cost and other aircraft-related components, offering price adjustments, as necessary.
• Represent Finance in the Tender Committee for open and closed tenders for MAS.
• Prepare and review schedules and reconciliations for write-off of assets and inventory, presenting them to the Board of Directors during the Write-Off Committee monthly meeting.
• Liaise directly with government bodies, such as MIDA, MITI, Jabatan Audit Negara, LHDN, Jabatan Perangkaan Negara, and DCA Audit, regarding the financial position of MAS.

Malaysia Airlines Berhad 

Nov 2006 - Nov 2007 

Subang Jaya, Selangor 

Accountant 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Process payments for US Technical Costs below RM250,000, ensuring compliance with the company's policy and corporate governance.
• Monitor and review cost production data, review processes, and collect expenditure expense reports to ensure budget compliance.
• Ensure timely payments within credit terms and limits.
• Respond to internal and external customer queries within prescribed deadlines.
• Provide on-the-job training to staff to keep them updated on the latest changes in invoice processing policies and procedures.
• Ensure timely payments as per contracts/agreements.
• Review section procedures to ensure adequate internal control and maximize productivity.
• Participate in formulating and supervising the implementation of the company's cost control plan, providing comprehensive analysis while aligning with the company's goals.

Sime Darby Industrial Power Sdn Bhd a subsidiary of Tractors Malaysia 

Jul 2004 - Nov 2006 

Shah Alam, Selangor 

Finance Executive 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Responsible for day-to-day accounting tasks, including collection, recording, consolidation, and reconciliation of accounts receivables.
• Maintain fixed assets register, monitor inventory movement, and update and monitor warranty claims from Perkins.
• Perform monthly closing activities, including journal voucher entries, receiving vouchers, adjustment journals, debit notes, credit notes, and invoices.
• Prepare sales bonus claims for salespeople and staff advances.
• Prepare monthly financial reports for Sime Darby Berhad.
• Prepare monthly reports on related party transactions, fixed asset movements, and analysis of other debtors and creditors for submission to Sime Darby Berhad.
• Maintain fixed asset registers for Otofin Sdn Bhd and Otofin Industries Sdn Bhd.
• Update monthly actual, forecast, and annual budget management accounts in Hyperion (Sime Darby Online Reporting System).
• Prepare manual quarterly and annual general fixed asset schedules for Sime Darby Berhad.
• Liaise with internal auditors (Tractors) and external auditors (PWC) for Otofin's annual audit FY2005.

Tricubes Berhad, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 

Sep 2001 - Jul 2004 

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 

Finance Executive 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Report directly to the Vice President of Finance & Administration for the Tricubes Group.
• Monitor accounts assistants to ensure accurate daily recording of all bank transactions in the general ledger and cash book.
• Perform reconciliations for intercompany and bank accounts, as well as accounts receivable and accounts payable.
• Coordinate the issuance of letters of credit, bank guarantees, and fixed deposit placements with the Pudu Trade Finance Officer.
• Maintain the full set of accounts and the accounting system for board of directors' meetings using Exact Software.
• Prepare weekly reports and cash flow statements for management meetings.
• Raise journal vouchers for fixed assets, petty cash, salaries, and other necessary transactions for Tricubes.

2010 - Re-Value Spares Draw Down Project [Malaysia Airlines Berhad]

Main Objective: The main objective of this project was to ensure the re-valuation of our engineering spares at Net Realizable Value (NRV) and find third-party buyers to prevent the obsolescence of aircraft spares.

Tasks:

• Monitored stock aging closely by collaborating with the Repair/Engineering Department to ensure timely clearance of suspense accounts.
• Managed the process of re-valuing spares and identifying potential buyers.

Achievement: The project was a success, resulting in cost savings of up to RM300 million.

2011 - Working Capital Management Project [Malaysia Airlines Berhad]

Main Objective: The primary objective of this project was to effectively manage working capital, as it directly impacted the company's cash flow.

Tasks:

• Monitored inventory levels and closely coordinated with Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Treasury, and Credit teams.
• Worked towards reducing inventory levels to optimize cash flow.

Achievement: Significant reductions in inventory were achieved, resulting in bottom-line savings.

2012 - T2 Plant for New HPW-Skincare Product [Emery Oleochemicals JV Sime Plantation Bhd]

Main Objective: This project aimed to establish and ensure the efficient operation of a new plant for manufacturing a new HPW-skincare product.

Tasks:

• Prepared a detailed cost-benefit analysis for top management to determine suitable margins and assess market demand trends at a product level.
• Obtained internal and customer approvals, including product life cycle planning.

Achievement: The plant now operates at over 60% utilization, producing at least 2,000 MT of HPW products per month.

2013 - Demand Planning for TPG Improvement [Emery Oleochemicals JV Sime Plantation Bhd]

Main Objective: The main objective of this project was to enhance demand planning and improve the understanding of palm oil/carbon chain types and infrastructure requirements.

Tasks:

• Conducted detailed product simulations and analysis to provide insights to top management.
• Evaluated manufacturing costs, sales volume, average selling price (ASP), and month-on-month (MoM) trends for developing effective business strategies.

Achievement: The plant achieved cost-effective production, maximizing profitability.

2019 - Operational OPEX Savings of RM46 million for CY2019 [Proton Berhad]

Main Objective: The primary goal of this project was to achieve significant savings in operational expenditure through budget control by cost center and division.

Tasks:

• Organized operational budget meetings with Heads of Departments, Directors, and Vice Presidents to ensure effective budget control activities.

Achievement: The company operated at a reduced cost while improving overall efficiency.

2019 - Implementation of Manufacturing Cost per Unit by Process by Plant [Proton Berhad]

Main Objective: This project aimed to optimize profit by understanding and maximizing the efficiency of processes, materials, and labor.

Tasks:

• Prepared detailed monthly tracking reports by cost center and shop, presenting the variances between actual and budgeted costs to top management.
• Ensured that the targets set by management were achieved.

Achievement: Operational costs were reduced, and the plant's cycle time improved.

2020 - Leadership of Finance Team in Establishing a New Setup Company for New Engine [Proton Berhad]

Main Objective: The main objective of this project was to ensure seamless accounting and costing operations in the new SAP system.

Tasks:

• Collaborated closely with IT, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing departments during the interface period to formalize processes and ensure accurate financial management.

Achievement: The project is still in progress, with a target completion date of June 2023.

2021 - Coordination of Cross-Functional Teams (CFT) and Happy Operating Entities (HOE) for Cost Savings Improvement in Shah Alam and Tanjung Malim Plants [Proton Berhad]

Main Objective: The primary objective of this project was to ensure consistent and effective cost reduction efforts across all divisions through the coordination of multiple cross-functional teams.

Tasks:

• Organized monthly meetings involving Manufacturing, Group Procurement, IT, Supply Chain, and Corporate Quality to provide progress updates on all CFT activities.

Achievement: The CFT and HOE initiatives were successful, resulting in cost savings of up to RM20 million