Ramona Harms

Founded and managed my own beverage start-up. Researched and developed a range of 7 variants of coconut milk based ready-to-drink dairy-free beverages.

Created all company branding and packaging development for all variants launched. Within 3 months of launching, our products were on the shelves of South Africa's largest grocery retailer.

Successful recipient of feasibility study grant funding from the government. Application and approval into a government trade-free zone (Special economic zone). Successful stakeholder engagement and management.

Market feasibility studies and Product focus group testing, Kosher and halal certifications for whole range of products. Required quality assessment standards met for public consumption beverages.

Investigation and contract negotiation relating to sourcing for raw materials; contract-manufacturer; logistics and warehousing suppliers.

Developed a comprehensive set of policies and implemented all policies, processes, and controls to ensure effective operations.

Prepared all regulatory reporting requirements and tax return filings including bimonthly VAT returns.

Responsible for all functions from Finance Function including financial planning and analysis, strategic planning, annual budgets, and forecasting, to logistics, sales, marketing & advertising.

Responsible for Finance Function including financial planning and analysis, strategic planning, annual budgets, and forecasting, SEC reporting, revenue recognition, financial reporting compliant with US GAAP, cost accounting, month-end, and quarter-end closes, and managing the year-end and quarterly corporate audits. Partnered with Finance Controllership in financial close process. Lead monthly and quarterly financial reporting process that enabled business decision making.

Lead the Capital Projects team for the Africa zone, responsible for the management and control of the Africa zone Capital Expenditure Portfolio of U$681 million (2018). My scope included activities to identify, design, lead and monitor projects intended to create efficiency and effectiveness, standardize business practices, drive process improvements, design and implement effective internal controls aligned with Sarbanes Oxley, and deliver high impact analysis for decision making.

Formulated the overall zone's capacity requirement that links with the forward-looking growth strategies and volume requirements of the zone to deploy capacity footprint. Translating the group strategy and business goals into operational and financial plans, leading the end-to-end planning process, which included modeling.

Served as the business partner interface between the business and corporate planning, investments prioritization and resource analysis.

Developed metrics and dashboards to monitor and forecast business results for the Africa Zone.

Determined correct portfolio spend split across all functional areas within the zone. Built predictability and confidence in the revenue forecasting process. Drove financial forecasting process, reported, and worked closely with corporate teams for on time submissions.

Accountable for the financial management of the Cap-ex portfolio for the Africa zone which spanned 11 countries on the continent and report on progress to the Board of Directors for AB-InBev Africa.

Business partnering with operations including supply directors, operations leadership, and coordination with capacity, Innovation, and marketing.

Interact with all levels (from process engineers, analyst to VP's) and functional departments (finance groups, IT, facilities, procurement, logistics, tax, legal, corporate affairs, etc.). I was the trusted and strategic finance partner to General Managers and Operations Leaders of all business areas and Finance team on business and financial decisions.

Spearheaded a cost optimization project responsible for consolidating all 11 countries into a single source of tracking and monitoring of all cap-ex spend, with real time reporting on every project within the zone with standardized reporting and monitoring which lead to the right sizing of 50+ FTE's.

Provide strategic direction of the business by providing key financial insights to support all decisions and proposals for spending on Capital Projects.

Develop and implement policies and procedures aligned with US GAAP.

Developed 5 Year business plans for major projects with responsible functional managers

Responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the department that include the MIS and Financial reporting as well as developing and leading the Cap-ex management team. Ensure internal controls aligned with SOX requirements and guidelines.

Responsible for translating financial acumen into business insight, quickly and on-demand.

Experience with P&L with a significant depth of financial background, including capital management and revenue models.

Managed, aligned, and balanced the demands and expectations of the business and corporate requirements through close collaborations with various stakeholders.

Lead the Capital Projects team for the South Africa business unit responsible for the management and control of the Capital Expenditure Portfolio of South Africa. My scope included activities to identify, design, lead and monitor projects intended to create efficiency and effectiveness, standardize business practices, drive process improvements, design and implement effective internal controls aligned with Sarbanes Oxley, and deliver high impact analysis for decision making.

Formulated the overall zone's capacity requirement that links with the forward-looking growth strategies and volume requirements of the zone to deploy capacity footprint. Translating the group strategy and business goals into operational and financial plans, leading the end-to-end planning process, which included modeling.

Served as the business partner interface between the business and corporate planning, investments prioritization and resource analysis.

Developed metrics and dashboards to monitor and forecast business results for South Africa.

Determined correct portfolio spend split across all functional areas within the zone. Built predictability and confidence in the revenue forecasting process. Drove financial forecasting process, reported, and worked closely with corporate teams for on time submissions.

Accountable for the financial management of the Cap-ex portfolio and report on progress to the Board of Directors for SAB South Africa.

Business partner with Functional Heads Sales & Distribution (both direct distribution and Distributors) functions of the business to develop the rolling multi-year Capital Expenditure plan, to ensure that the Cap-ex plan is aligned to business strategy and constraints.

Presentation of total annual Capital Expenditure plan to Executive committee of the Board of Directors for approval. Compile business cases for projects more than U$5million for submission and approval BOD.

Provide integral decision support to project teams by overseeing individual project optimization, executing detailed business case review as well as value engineering on capital projects exceeding R 5 million.

Interface with the Commercial Cap-ex team to optimize capital spend options.

Oversee post project reviews with Project Managers and distribute learning's across SAB.

New Business Development (Downstream fuels) (Estimated Project cap-ex U$5 - U$10 billion)

Deliver business development programs that achieve New Business Development (NBD) business objectives in allocated region and ensure integration with upstream exploration initiatives.

Mergers & Acquisitions, Legal, Tax, Financing, Business Operations and HR.

Lead and manage a multi-disciplinary team to deliver Screening and Pre-feasibility studies of new business opportunities for the NBD Group (Gas-To-Liquids/Chemicals opportunities and upstream acquisitions) in allocated region.

Accountable for the business track deliverables of the Screening studies and Pre- Feasibility Studies in accordance with the Business Development & Implementation model and other group governance structures.

Scope the deliverables of functional tracks, i.e., Investment Analysis, Technical, Capital Estimation, Operations Management, Marketing, Supply Chain, Tax, and Financing, project manage and provide appropriate support and direction.

Develop an integrated stakeholder engagement framework. This would require support from functions such as corporate finance, legal, audit, risk, SHE etc.

Develop the principles of terms and conditions of various business agreements (including NDAs, LOIs, MOUs with the partners, feedstock supply agreements and business services for the development of the business opportunity) and participate in and support the negotiations of these agreements.

Develop a risk mitigation framework for the business opportunity and manage the risk mitigation process. Develop and manage knowledge database for NBD in allocated region.

Develop a detailed Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) for Sasol GTL/chemicals offerings for use in stakeholder engagements.

India Coal-to-liquids (Estimated Project value: U$ 12 billion)

Analyzed and reported on strategic relevance and profitability of new opportunities/capital projects that can be explored and developed within India. Provided strategic, financial, and business analyses to shape and inform the views of the Sasol appointed Directors to the JV Board.

Provided guidance to the Project Executive team in ensuring consistency of messaging, quality output, professional and aligned internal/external communications and engagements with JV partners, Government, and community stakeholders. Formulated and implemented internal controls for the JV business to ensure compliance to good corporate governance practice.

Liaised with legal advisors, state government officials and partner's legal and commercial counterparts to ensure legal and regulatory compliance.

Responsible for Joint Venture compliance with the contractually agreed standards aligned with Sasol's Group Policy and procedures aligned with US GAAP standards and regulations.

Responsible for managing compliance with Indian Companies and Tax Acts ensuring that JV business activity were in-line with the Indian regulatory and legislative environment.

Obtained reserve bank approvals and established country presence in Qatar.

Setup the Sasol representative office in line with group financial policies and procedures. Identified and implemented.

Developed framework for internal controls, compliance with accounting procedures and monitoring of statutory requirements aligned with US GAAP and Sarbanes Oxley.

Prepared and presented short-term budget for Qatar representative office to Sasol Synfuels International Executive Committee for approval.

Provided financial input to the Sasol / Qatar Petroleum Joint Venture to ensure that the current practices were in accordance with contracts between SSI and Qatar Joint Venture.

Managed relationship between the JV and SSI regarding discrepancies between the partners pertaining to service level agreements. Established a framework for continued support within the existing operations between the two companies' financial departments.

Created and established yearly financial objectives that align with the company's plan for growth and expansion.

Assessed and evaluated the financial performance of the organization with regard to short-term and long-term operational goals, budgets, and forecasts.

Communicated, engaged, and interacted with the Board of Directors and Executive Team.

Implement financial policies, procedures, and processes as deemed appropriate by the Executive Team

Developed and maintain monthly operating budget and annual company operating budget.

Financial business partner to Commercial and Investment Analysis functions to integrate the operations between the functions.

Developed a logistics model used for the optimal placement of a Coal-to-Liquids facility in relation to major capital drivers.

Aligned the Commercial and Investment analysis function compliance requirements aligned to US GAAP policies and procedures for capital budgeting purposes compliant with Sarbanes Oxley requirements.

Responsible for group consolidated reporting on a quarterly basis to the board of directors, operations committee and the executive committee, monthly basis to the committee of managing directors, monthly variance analysis report to the holding company Sasol Limited.

Managed budgeting, audit, tax, legal, accounting, purchasing and cash flow forecasting.

Provided leadership for compliance & reporting, continuous improvement processes & procedures, and computer application systems necessary to maintain proper records and to afford adequate accounting controls and services. Responsible for standard assessment and reporting of manager ranking based on budget standards and growth.

Appraised the organization's financial position and issues periodic reports on the organization's financial stability, liquidity, and growth.

Presented financial data, metrics, and processes with accuracy and in a manner acceptable to the audience.

Coordinated tax reporting programs and investor relations activities.

Analyzed, consolidated, and directed all cost accounting procedures together with other statistical, benchmarking, and routine reports.

Directed and analyzed studies of general economic, business, and financial conditions and their impact on the organization's policies and operations.

Analyzed operational issues affecting functional groups, compensation, and determined their financial impact.

Evaluated and recommended business partnering opportunities.

Capital budgets for International Capital Projects. Built financial models using advanced excel skills to evaluate capital projects.

Financial models are designed to correlate to the country specific economic data encompassing project financing for the economic environment.

Management of Annual budget and 10-year strategic plan. Local functions; International studies and International joint ventures.

Responsible for monthly profit variance analysis report for Functional areas and international studies.

Responsible for the monthly management reporting on the Nigerian JV and profit forecast. Year-end and half year-end reporting on Nigerian based Gas-to-liquid operation (US GAAP compliant).

Responsible for submitting the 5 Regional management report packs to the Board, including Balance Sheet, Income Statement and Head Count reporting.

Investigating cost saving opportunities and carrying out the feasibility studies on a company wide basis.

Designed the distributor business model for outsourcing elements of distribution.

Ensure optimized information flow to enable standardized value adding reporting.

Write policies and procedures in accordance with US GAAP for implementation in all business units.

Provide a coordinating / liaison role between the Business Units and Information Systems department with regards to finance systems.

Leverage the use of key finance systems initiatives within the business.

Investigate different options / solutions to de-clutter the Finance Departments systems and improve efficiency.

Annual Budget process management: formulating policies and procedures and setting divisional parameters compliant and aligned with US GAAP standards.

Responsible for the Capital expenditure process, implementing internal control procedures aligned with Sarbanes Oxley.

Provide tax advice: Capital Gains Tax implications; structured financing arrangements, and prepared reports for tax revenue services

Minor Subsidiary tax return and VAT returns.

Responsible for validity and accuracy of tax submissions

Implemented credit report standardization (Accounts receivable)

Implementation of enterprise-wide resource planning software Strategic Enterprise Management (SEM). Investigating, verifying, and rectifying Functional Requirements Specifications for the processes to be incorporated into SEM.

Utilizing business knowledge attained to add value to the systems development team.

Conducted comprehensive audits on 5 entities, including breweries and sales and distribution business units. Including identifying key risk areas, assessing internal controls in place, designing, and carrying out tests of control and substantive tests to determine level of risk.

Presentation Audit Committee and stakeholders, formulation and implementation of revised internal controls

Monitoring actual monthly spending against budget and profit forecast. Investigating large variances, establishing, and submitting variance explanation.

Co-ordinate the Capital Budgeting Process at Divisional level, trained Regional Financial Accountants to use Capital Budgeting Model, provided divisional reports from Capital Budgeting Model.

Preparation of Forecast, Year-end, and Budget presentations for Board submission.

Formulated and implemented various Group Accounting Policy and Procedures in-line with US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (US GAAP).

Preparation of monthly financial reports of income and expenses for the Enterprise Development Centre, by extracting reports from SAP R/3.

Creation, implementation, and management of an asset control system.

Tax invoice processing, customer receipts and statements processing credit memos for the enterprises at the Centre.

General Ledger posting of documents. Management and control of Incubator budget.

Draw up financial statements of prospective entrepreneurs to be included in their business plan i.e., cash flow, Income Statement, Balance Sheet.

Feasibility and Viability Studies are carried out for potential business ideas.

Trained the entrepreneurs in the Business Incubation Program to implement and maintain an administration system designed for their specific needs.

2013

Chartered Accountant

South African Institute of Chartered Accountants

2001-2002

Bachelor of Commerce (Honors)

University of KwaZulu Natal

Durban, South Africa

Accounting and Financial Accounting

1994-1998

Bachelor of Commerce

University of KwaZulu Natal

Durban, South Africa

Financial Accounting and Financial Management