Sarah Kassim
Oshawa,Ontario
Summary
Results-driven and detail-oriented finance professional with over seven years of experience in finance, specializing in financial reporting, budgeting, and data analysis. Proficient in using advanced analytical tools like Excel, Power BI, and SQL to deliver strategic insights. Adept at process improvement, complex reconciliations, and supporting decision-making processes.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Financial Analyst
Access Bank Plc
09.2019 - 08.2022
- Designed and developed dashboards to monitor financial performance against targets for strategic business units and drive data-driven decisions
- Conducted detailed economic, market, and industry analyses to support growth strategies, leveraging Power BI and Excel
- Presentation of financial reports to leadership/management team
- Prepared and presented month-end, quarterly and annual financials
- Directed monthly financial close activities, including preparation of reconciliation reports, accrual entries, and variance analysis
- Preparation of journal entries and maintenance of accounting records
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to formulate medium-term business strategies informed by data insights
- Lead the development and design of financial reporting analytics for leadership consumption
- Spearheaded automation of monthly reconciliation processes for fixed investment, saving 30+ hours per month across the units
- Developed a model for foreign exchange forecast which improved the turnaround time for budgeting
- Improved accuracy of financial data by standardizing journal entry for income recognition and expenses workflows across the business unit
Financial Analyst
Access Bank Plc
02.2017 - 08.2019
- Presented actionable business insights using Power BI and Excel, aiding stakeholders in strategic planning
- Prepared and analyzed industry trends and consumer behaviour reports, enhancing customer satisfaction initiatives
- Led the creation of advanced KPIs and visualizations to support management decision-making
- Assisted in monthly financial close processes, ensuring timely preparation of accurate reporting packages
- Preparation of journal entries and maintenance of accounting records
- Created an automated dashboard for tracking departmental budgets, reducing manual report preparation time by 20%
- Identified key discrepancies in financial reporting, leading to a corrective strategy
Junior Financial Analyst
Access Bank Plc
03.2015 - 01.2017
- Reconciled financial accounts, prepared journal entries, and ensured compliance with internal controls
- Supported strategic planning by providing comprehensive data analysis and trend reports
- Developed financial models to identify discrepancies and optimize receivables/payables management
- Created and maintained dashboards to monitor membership trends and financial performance
- Initiated improvements in journal entry documentation, enhancing transparency and audit readiness & accuracy
- Supported the implementation of a new accounting system, including data migration and user training
Education
Chartered Professional Accountant Ontario (CPA) -
01.2025
Diploma in Business Accounting - undefined
Centennial College
12.2024
Associate member - undefined
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria
07.2015
B.sc Hons. (First Class) - Accounting
Babcock University
09.2011
Associate Member - undefined
Association of Accounting Technicians In West Africa
12.2010
Skills
- Financial Analysis and Budget Preparation
- Accounting
- Complex Account Reconciliations
- Monthly and Year End account closing
- Advanced Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook)
- Proficiency in SQL and Power BI for Data Analysis
- Process Improvement and System Enhancement
- Stakeholder Communication and Relationship Management
- Critical Thinking and Decision-Making
- Team Leadership and Collaboration
- Excellent Presentation and Report Writing Skills
- Financial Data Modeling and Visualization
- ERP Systems (eg, Microsoft Dynamics 365)
- Detail Oriented
- Expense Analysis
Certification
- Microsoft Excel, Power BI, and SQL Fundamentals
- Project Management (CompTIA Project+)
- Data Analytics and Business Intelligence (Dataleum)
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Senior Financial Analyst
Access Bank Plc
09.2019 - 08.2022
Financial Analyst
Access Bank Plc
02.2017 - 08.2019
Junior Financial Analyst
Access Bank Plc
03.2015 - 01.2017
Diploma in Business Accounting - undefined
Centennial College
Associate member - undefined
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria
B.sc Hons. (First Class) - Accounting
Babcock University
Associate Member - undefined
Association of Accounting Technicians In West Africa
Chartered Professional Accountant Ontario (CPA) -
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