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Rajan Pradeep Ankarath

@rajanpradeepankarath

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Seasoned regional finance leader driving ERP transformation, governance, and strategic financial control.

Zambia

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What I'm looking for

I seek senior finance roles leading multi-entity/regional financial control, ERP and BI transformations, governance, and team capacity building.

I am a seasoned regional finance leader with over 34 years' experience, including 27 years in senior executive roles across Southern Africa and India. I specialize in strategic business planning, financial control, governance, and multi-entity ERP transformation.

As a Group Finance Controller and Regional Advisor, I have led cross-border finance functions, implemented Syspro, Pastel, Sage and QuickBooks, and delivered accurate, insight-driven reporting for organizations across Zambia, South Africa, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Tanzania.

I have a proven record in capital structuring, investment evaluation, cost optimisation, and establishing internal control and audit frameworks that strengthened compliance and profitability. I attract and structure funding, having facilitated significant foreign and institutional investment.

I am passionate about digital transformation, business intelligence and capacity building, having trained finance teams, rolled out BI and ERP solutions, and developed institutional financial procedures and governance manuals.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Principal Consultant

Current

Cottan Consultancy

Jun 2018 - Present (7 years 6 months)

Led consulting mandates across finance, governance and institutional development, delivered digital financial reporting transformations and structured EU-backed financing exceeding USD 10M.

Financial Consulting Governance Power BI Donor Finance Capacity Building

Group Finance Controller

Genesis Group of Companies

May 2008 - Oct 2015 (7 years 5 months)

Provided strategic financial direction and governance for a pan-African conglomerate, directed multi-country operations with combined turnover > USD 15M and implemented Syspro ERP to standardize reporting and improve real-time visibility.

Financial Reporting Governance Budgeting & Forecasting Internal Controls

Commercial Manager

Shabco Milling Group of Companies

Jul 2000 - Apr 2008 (7 years 9 months)

Oversaw finance and commercial operations for a manufacturing and agribusiness group, designed pre-financing and supplier credit schemes for smallholder farmers and secured working capital facilities to stabilise cash flow.

Commercial Finance Cash Flow Management Pastel Partner Quickbooks Risk Mitigation

Finance Controller

Melcome Pharmaceuticals Limited

Oct 1996 - Jul 2000 (3 years 9 months)

Headed finance for a pharmaceutical manufacturer, ensured compliance with international donor reporting standards for major health programs and strengthened finance-procurement linkages to improve project delivery.

Pharmaceutical Finance Donor Reporting Statutory Compliance Budgeting Pastel Partner

Group Chief Accountant

Trio Chemicals Limited

Jul 1994 - Oct 1996 (2 years 3 months)

Managed financial operations across subsidiaries and farms, introduced SAGE accounting and VAT compliance systems, and reduced audit closure time through improved coordination with auditors.

Group Accounting Reporting Systems Implementation

Sub Divisional Clerk

Municipal Corporation of Delhi

Apr 1989 - Jul 1994 (5 years 3 months)

Introduced computerised payroll and HR systems for a 250-employee workforce and accelerated contractor payment processes to improve municipal operational efficiency.

Payroll Systems HR & Administration Process Improvement