Dilari Amaratunga

• Optimised cash flow and liquidity by maintaining average cash balance, mitigating financial risks and ensuring operational stability, and implementing rolling 13-week cash flow forecasting process to proactively manage funding needs.
• Reduced accounts payable from £2.6 M to £8K within six months, rebuilding supplier trust and securing more favourable payment terms.
• Introduced detailed debt collection process and carried out AR reconciliations to accurately determine outstanding balances. Chased overdue payments and negotiated tailored payment plans for long-outstanding debt, significantly improving cash inflows.
• Implemented structured month-end close process, enabling delivery of accurate monthly management reports by 10th working day.
  Streamlined financial procedures, improving efficiency and reducing reporting errors by 30%.
• Led smooth, issue-free audits, collaborating with external auditors to ensure zero significant findings.
• Strengthened interdepartmental collaboration by acting as bridge between finance and other business units, aligning priorities and improving cross-functional outcomes.

• Strategic Financial Management: Oversaw and managed UK Finance function, ensuring accurate and timely production of monthly management accounts and group reporting packs. Played a key role in strategic financial planning and forecasting.
• M&A Activity: Supported M&A initiatives by analysing potential merger and managing integration of financial operations post-merger. Collaborated with Global Project team on migrating customers on to new communication platform which resulted in retention of 93% of customer base.
• Budgeting and Forecasting: Built and updated financial models to support budgeting and forecasting processes, providing insights into complex financial data to aid in executive decision-making.
• Process Improvement: Established credit control policies that increased regular cash flow of company, optimizing liquidity management by ascertaining optimum level of trade credit to offer customers and to manage it.
• Communication and Leadership: Facilitated clear and effective communication between company stakeholders and external parties, ensuring comprehensive understanding of financial situations.
• Reviewed annual financial statements, collaborating with audit partners to produce statutory accounts.

• Leadership: Led finance team of 5, including Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Payroll, and other financial roles. Promoted to Financial Controller due to exemplary performance as Management Accountant. Reported directly to Managing Director.
• Financial Reporting: Controlled end-to-end finance operations, preparing monthly financial statements, including P&L, Balance Sheets, and Cash Flows, highlighting detailed financial and operational performance.
• Risk Management: Analysed key business processes to identify weaknesses and advised management on potential improvements and risk mitigation strategies.
• Financial Strategy: Conducted planning and analysis, preparing weekly KPIs, sales analyses, and profitability reports.
• M&A Activity: Supported M&A initiatives by analysing potential merger and managing integration of financial operations post-merger.
• Led audit engagements, serving as primary point of contact for audit-related queries in UK.
• Introduced and managed IFRS technical accounting policies and best practices.

A joint venture between Speedo International (UK), Brandot International (US) & MAS Holdings and only swimwear manufacturers in South Asian region.

• Managed team of 8 finance professionals, reporting to GM-Finance, Director Operations and CEO up on request.

• Heading Annual Budget preparation team and was responsible for forecasting overheads as on-going process.

Member of NEXIA International, leading, global network of independent accounting and consulting firms.

• Carried out Risk Management and Internal Audits for over 50 clients (Apparel, Travel, Hotel, Food & Beverages and Finance industries) and designed and implemented internal control systems.

• Also provided share valuations, Due Diligence, fraud investigations and other financial services for clients