Team Leader Strategic Planning
Resume:
continued…
David Saulo Obati ***** Balsaam Creek Lane, Katy, Texas +1-915-***-****
https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-obati-56361037
Accomplished Finance, Strategic Planning and Operations Lead 25+ years’ success in leading financial and strategic operations for reputable international organizations Strategic hands-on team leader with an immense span of experience in capacity development and implementing Financial and Strategic Management systems that attain efficiency, effectiveness and compliance. Skilled in driving efficiency and goal congruence through appropriate team orientation, sensitization and implementation of continuous process improvements. As part of the Senior Management team (SMT), I have undertaken critical roles in the overall strategic financial decision making, guiding the support operations and enforcing policies and procedures that improved organizational effectiveness duly informed by the compliance requirements of Donor
(USAID, Global Funds, DFID, UNICEF etc.) Agreements, Contracts and other funding mechanisms. I also undertook lead roles in the Office Closures, Administrative set-up and Operational systems establishments for FHI360, worked as an External Auditor with Ernst & Young International, and as an Internal Auditor with ACTION AID (a DFID funded INGO). I am aptly capable of asserting this extensive expertise in Finance, Strategic planning, Operations, Auditing and Administration, to lead related multi-disciplinary functions, and to steer diverse teams to ensure optimized performance, accountability and commitment to excellence. Highlights of Expertise
• Strategic Financial Planning
• Financial Budget Management, Accounting
and Financial Reporting
• Operations & Administrative Management
• Procurement, Contracts and Subawards
Management
• Internal /External Audits, Internal Controls
& Compliance
• Cash Flow Optimization
• Process Re-engineering / Financial and
Support Systems development
• Leadership, Team Building and Goal
Congruency
• People Management, Supervisory and
Organizational Skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Capacity Development and Risk Assessment
Career Experience
Management Sciences for Health (MSH), Afghanistan
DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS (July 2022 to Dec 2024)
Earned an opportunity to administer leadership and comprehensive Country Operations for MSH in Afghanistan under the USAID funded US $117 million AFIAT project. In this Senior management role, I strategically supervised and exercised business leadership over the Procurement, Operations, Human Resource, IT and Administrative functions of the Assistance for Families and Indigent Afghans to Thrive (AFIAT) 5-year project in Afghanistan with key results being;
• Restructured the HR department and attained an aggregate recruitment of over 200 new employees over a one-year period whilst aligning to the critical HR precepts of equity, inclusion, affirmative action, belonging and overall staff welfare.
• Innovatively assessing and configuring the Country Office expatriate and office accommodation hybrid model that projected aggregate savings exceeding US $340,000.
• Undertook a lead role in implementing a successful mental health (psycho-social counselling) intervention program for about 110 female staff in AFIAT project in 2024.
• Developed more efficient, cost-effective procurement approaches under AFIAT, based on best practices
• Provided leadership in the establishment of 7 (seven) new AFIAT Project Provincial offices. David Saulo Obati Page 2
continued…
FHI360, AFGHANISTAN
DIRECTOR, FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION (April 2018 to December 2018) Excelled in the provision of fiscal functions under USAID's Workforce Development Project (USWDP) with a US$ 93 million budget, with the responsibility for maintaining and developing fiscal functions in line with corporate and regulatory donor requirements. Advised senior leadership in the development and administration of strategic input to ensure best practice and sustainability. Evaluated strategies and provided financial perspective on contractual agreements, especially as an Audit liaison. Analysed budgets, financial reports, and financial trends. Trained and guided subordinates to ensure operational efficiencies and administrative logistics with key achievements being;
• Instrumental in resolution of delinquent in-kind grants and close-out process – improved closed-out status and achieved 95%+ reconciliation at project close-out.
• Integrated continuous improvements in financial reporting procedures to achieve 100% compliance receiving a nil report (zero deficiencies) from the Internal Audit team.
• Played lead role in the HR needs assessment and planned (staggered) staff attrition based on project close-out and budget pipeline configuration.
FHI 360, NIGERIA
DIRECTOR, FINANCE, PROCUREMENT AND CONTRACTS MANAGEMENT SERVICES
(September 2011 to March 2018)
Principal financial strategist and manager for the direction of US $600 Million+ Nigeria Country Program portfolio that was significantly USAID funded and focused on HIV/AIDS, Education, TB, Nutrition, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and integrated health systems in Nigeria. In this role, I had oversight of all the Finance, Procurement and Contracts operations within the FHI 360 Nigeria Country office and held the critical role of multi-tasking the financial and administrative operations for this country portfolio of US $600 million+, accountable for managing the financial budget and forecasting needs, overseeing procurement and contract management functions. Notable achievements included;
• Provided leadership that included, but not limited to, the implementation of the electronic payments system that significantly enhanced efficiency and effectiveness of the Finance Unit’s payment
(turnaround reduced by 40%) whilst spearheading the development of the financial systems manual.
• Introduced serialized computer purchase order processing that enhanced accountability and efficiency through supply chain management, re-order levels, and purchase requisition procedures – achieved 95%+ annual procurement targets whilst receiving significant economies of scale discounts.
• Procurement standardization through Procurement Committees and standard operating procedures
(SOPs) as best practice for FHI360 Nigeria including the systemization of competitive based procurement through forward procurement planning that boosted efficiencies and transparency. FHI 360, KENYA
REGIONAL SENIOR FINANCIAL SPECIALIST, AFRICA / ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION, AFRICA (October 1993 to September 2011) Provided regional financial and administrative management technical assistance support to FHI 360 Country offices and projects in the Africa region, through structured capacity development and progressive in-house training of the requisite staff (FHI 360 and Implementing partners). Undertook country specific compliance reviews, External Audit liaison assisting in formulating responses and resolutions to External Audit findings and questioned costs and acted in an Advisory capacity to Kenya and other Country offices in the region. Some of the critical achievements included;
• Review Team Leader (with team members drawn from Africa and USA) in the 2010 FHI 360 Financial review of FHI 360 Nigeria and acted as an Audit liaison occasionally over the years at FHI360.
• Represented FHI 360 in 2003 in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire, in a nationally televised event that featured the execution of the Accord Du Siege between FHI 360 and the Cote D’Ivoire government duly represented by the Cote D’Ivoire Minister of State.
• Undertook a lead role in the establishment & support of a number of FHI 360 offices in the Africa region including; Nigeria (GHAIN/SIDHAS), Ghana (AWARE), Kenya (AIDSCAP/IMPACT) amongst others. ACTIONAID INTERNATIONAL (1992 – 1993) – INTERNAL AUDITOR
• Provided independent Audit services as an Internal Auditor and appropriately advised the Country Director, through the Director Finance and Administration, on the financial and administrative systems’ evaluation with recommendations provided and ultimately assisted Senior Management in the implementation of improved internal control systems. ERNST & YOUNG INTERNATIONAL (1987 -1992) – EXTERNAL AUDITOR
• As an External Auditor, provided professional external Audit services to clients on a periodic/Annual basis. Specific or major accomplishments beyond the routine annual audit engagements included international assignments & project evaluation particularly for Donor (World bank) Funded projects in Djibouti and Rwanda (Association Rwandaise pour Le Bien Etre Familial, ARBEF) and Banque Rwandaise de Developpement, BRD)
Education & Credentials
PhD, Strategic Management (Thesis – Oral Defence)
University of Nairobi, Kenya
Master of International Business Administration
United States International University – Africa, Kenya Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting (Honours)
University of Nairobi, Kenya
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT (CPA)
Strathmore Business School, Vision Institute of Professionals, Nairobi, Kenya Professional Development
• Understanding and Transitioning to the new USAID and CDC Financial and Compliance Rules and Regulations - Sustainability Solutions
• Capitalizing on the Changes in the OMB’s Super-circular for US Grants and Cooperation Agreements - Sustainability Solutions
• Forensic Audit, Anti-Fraud, and Corruption - KPMG
• USG Grants Management - Management Concepts
• Retirement Benefit Scheme Management Seminar - College of Insurance, Nairobi Affiliations/Membership
• Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) Country Professional Experience
• Afghanistan, Burundi, Cameroon, DR Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Haiti, Guinea, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Languages
• English, Fluent
• Kiswahili, Fluent
• French, Working Knowledge (Alliance Francaise)
Contact this candidate