Michael Erzah
Winnipeg,Manitoba
Summary
Experienced accountant/financial analyst with extensive experience in financial and management accounting, who helps businesses with various tasks such as financial reporting, comprehensive and high-level analysis of financial information, accounts reconciliation, and ensuring compliance with both internal controls and external requirements. Performed the commodity tax reconciliation project for more than 400 Loblaws Pharmaprix stores in Canada, with a starting risk exposure of CAD 51.00M, which was reduced to CAD 19.1M [ a significant reduction of 63% as at June 2026] for transfer to operations. Payroll expert with extensive experience in payroll administration, helping businesses to identify opportunities to automate payroll and accounting processes, streamline workflows, and improve the overall efficiency of payroll operations. Extensive working knowledge of SAP financial management modules: FI, CO, HCM, and PS. Specifically, I developed a financial worksheet that contributed to Goldfields Ghana Limited's decision to change its business model from contract to owner mining fleet maintenance.
Led the payroll team [West Africa] on the SuccessFactors Employee Central & SAP HR/Payroll Module implementation project for the successful synchronization of SAP data with SuccessFactors, which made Goldfields West Africa the first in the Goldfields international group to successfully implement the project. Supervised the payment of more than 1,000 employees’ salaries, bonuses, and other entitlements that contributed to the motivation of employees to achieve annual production targets. I developed all the Excel worksheets and financial models for the payroll monthly calculations, annual bonuses, and other mathematical write-ups for SAP configurations. Extensive experience in implementing and developing financial and mathematical write-ups for calculations in SAP ERP configuration for comprehensive internal and external reporting.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Business Development Advisor – Part Time
Tuakaw
10.2025 - Current
- Currently providing financial and technical advice for a project, an emerging first AI corporate spend management and travel platform that would help businesses gain real-time visibility and control over company spending.
- Developing and maintaining engineering project control systems and processes, ensuring accurate tracking, reporting, and management of project performance to support project success and decision-making.
Financial Analyst
Loblaw Companies Limited
Winnipeg, MB
01.2025 - 06.2026
- Performed the reconciliation of commodity taxes for all Loblaws Pharmaprix stores in Quebec and assisted with SDM stores across Canada to ensure a comprehensive balance for the GST and QST general ledger accounts. A starting risk exposure of CAD 51.00M was reduced by 63% to CAD 19.1M.
- Monitored the reconciliation project to document findings clearly in Excel using functions such as VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP, pivot tables, and other project management tools.
- Prepared and reviewed journal entries to correct incorrect entries booked from 2022 to date, ensuring appropriate postings to relevant general ledgers in SAP and comprehensive interstore transfers of remittance, payments, and refunds.
- Investigated and resolved account discrepancies that significantly reduced the risk exposure of the tax liabilities of more than 400 Loblaws Pharmaprix stores in Quebec, Canada.
- Independently assumed ownership of the reconciliation project, using my discretion and demonstrated self-motivation and initiative that contributed to improved procedures for the commodity tax reconciliation project.
- Coordinated with the tax manager to continuously plan project deliverables, ensuring an improved procedure for the reconciliation project and adherence to the project timelines.
- Developed, documented, and implemented the project standard operating procedures for both the onshore team in Canada and the offshore team in India.
- Provided technical advice relating to relevant risk exposure of the project, recommending mitigation measures, and continuously evaluating risks.
- Conducted weekly meetings with the financial managers to provide a weekly project progress and status reports of the reconciliation project to ensure that all tasks, milestones, and deliverables are accurately tracked and updated.
- Hays Specialist Recruitment
Financial Analyst – Project Systems
Loblaw Companies Limited
Winnipeg, MB
08.2024 - 09.2024
- Added new and flipped SDM stores across Canada to budgeted projects for the year 2024 to facilitate comprehensive budget allocation and reporting for SDM store projects in 2024.
- Closed and returned budgets (variance analysis) on completed projects to ensure that additional costs and commitments are not posted to completed projects.
- Used customized Power BI to assign WBS elements to projects for SDM stores across Canada to facilitate invoice processing and prompt payment of vendors/suppliers.
- Assessed project costs and expenditures, thereby contributing to the alignment of approved budgets and comprehensive identification of any variances.
- Performed other responsibilities assigned by senior financial analysts and the financial manager that contributed significantly to the objectives of the department.
- Co-op
Accounting & Administrative Manager
Micdom Ventures
Tarkwa
01.2013 - 12.2024
- Managed the administration of new customer setups, credit, vendor setups, bank deposits, and payments that contributed to a significant improvement in the customer base by 15%.
- Prepared weekly, monthly accounts payable and receivable accounts, and related reports, which contributed to the effective monitoring of the budgets and cash flows of the business.
- Prepared weekly, monthly, and quarterly revenue projections and expenditure forecasts that ensured efficient working capital management and increased the cash position of the business.
- Hired and supervised the administrative function of the business and ensured excellent communication with a professional approach to customer service.
- Exceptionally organized work schedules and ensured collaboration with teams, and supervised all communication with all stakeholders.
- Developed the internal controls system with a focus on risk assessments and continual review of risk areas. Specifically, I developed a control system that significantly reduced theft in the company.
Senior Payroll Accountant
Goldfields Ghana Limited
Tarkwa
09.2020 - 09.2023
- Ensured accurate and timely processing of the Goldfields West Africa payrolls [for more than 900 employees] and related reconciliations of all payroll reports that contributed to motivating employees to the achievement of quarterly and annual production targets.
- Prepared payroll reports and processed monthly payroll journals to ensure that all labour costs are appropriately posted for comprehensive cost and management accounting reporting to the corporate office.
- Processed payroll liabilities and all third-party payments including tax returns, earnings, deductions, and garnishments, to appropriate regulators, thereby avoiding penalty payments.
- Continuously ensured the automation of payroll processes and recommended improvements to streamline operations. For example, I ensured the implementation and configuration of the statutory requirement of pension payments for expatriate employees. I also developed the mathematical write-up, configuration, and automation for annual bonus payments in SAP ERP.
- Processed and filed all applicable tax forms, returns, third-party disbursements, and documents for year-end payroll processing. Specifically, I performed annual tax return reconciliations with the tax authorities, saving the company from significant penalties with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
- Handled year end processes of the payroll department of Goldfields West Africa, reconciled all payroll-related reports and updates to employee files, which contributed to 100% SOX compliance achievement for more than 8 years and significant external audit achievements.
- Used MS Excel to design the EFT transfer template of Goldfields West Africa, which currently enables the treasury section to capture all invoice references for both local and international transfers.
- Supervised the reconciliation and analysis of over 50 general ledger accounts for a comprehensive monthly balance sheet and income statement.
Payroll Accountant
Goldfields Ghana Limited
Tarkwa
09.2010 - 09.2020
- Processed an average of 1045 employees’ salaries that contributed significantly to employees’ motivation to achieve production targets.
- Advised the Human Resources department on employees’ contracts of employment, resulting in a significant reduction of contract of employment ambiguities.
- Led the Payroll team on the ERP implementation project for the successful synchronization of SAP data with SuccessFactors for the HR/PAYROLL data.
- Administered the payment of employees’ retrenchment package on the same day using MS Excel, preventing the retrenched employees from demonstrating against the company.
- Maintained exhaustive personnel records for GFA (West Africa) employees, executing consistent and accurate information filing. Oversee file archiving and retrieval in alignment with GFA’s archival protocol.
National Service Person – Cost and Management Accounting
Goldfields Limited
Tarkwa
10.2009 - 09.2010
- Reconciled Goldfields Foundation bank accounts to ensure efficient cash management for the Foundation.
- Verified and processed suppliers’ invoices and reconciliation of vendor accounts, thereby maintaining comprehensive vendor accounts.
- Liaised with the projects department to ensure effective delivery of accounting services for capital projects that contributed significantly to achieving capital projects budget objectives.
- Assisted the Superintendent – Management Accounting to process month-end standard accruals for timely month-end reports.
Education
Post Degree - Advanced Business Management - undefined
The University of Winnipeg
09.2024
Master of Business Administration - Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Bachelor of Commerce - undefined
University of Cape Coast
Timeline
Business Development Advisor – Part Time
Tuakaw
10.2025 - Current
Financial Analyst
Loblaw Companies Limited
01.2025 - 06.2026
Financial Analyst – Project Systems
Loblaw Companies Limited
08.2024 - 09.2024
Senior Payroll Accountant
Goldfields Ghana Limited
09.2020 - 09.2023
Accounting & Administrative Manager
Micdom Ventures
01.2013 - 12.2024
Payroll Accountant
Goldfields Ghana Limited
09.2010 - 09.2020
National Service Person – Cost and Management Accounting
Goldfields Limited
10.2009 - 09.2010
Post Degree - Advanced Business Management - undefined
The University of Winnipeg
Master of Business Administration - Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Bachelor of Commerce - undefined
University of Cape Coast