Raees Riyal

Led end-to-end audit processes from planning and risk assessment through execution and final reporting. Directed and supervised audit teams, reviewed working papers, ensured audit quality, and maintained strict adherence to deadlines and budgets. Conducted comprehensive evaluations of internal controls, identified key risk areas, and provided practical recommendations to strengthen governance and financial reporting processes.

Successfully handled audits of startup companies, demonstrating strong understanding of early-stage business models, funding structures, revenue recognition complexities, and evolving internal control environments. Additionally, managed audit assignments for companies under liquidation, including assessment of asset realizability, creditor settlements, going concern considerations, and regulatory compliance requirements.

Regularly engaged with senior management, audit committees, and external stakeholders to present findings, resolve complex accounting issues, and provide strategic insights. Recognized for strong analytical capabilities, technical accounting knowledge, leadership skills, and ability to manage complex, high-risk audit engagements across multiple sectors.

Monitoring the performance of the audit team and providing feedback on a timely basis is part of the role. Representing the audit team in performance discussion with leadership of the Company and supporting the team in obtaining what is deserved is key quality of the role.

Handled key engagements as an in-charge and parallelly managed 2-3 clients in the role of audit manager reflecting the ability to perform different roles at the same time.

As an in-charge, primary responsibility was to ensure quality of working papers, timely completion of work and scheduling review of working papers in advance.

As a manager, the responsibility lies with management of client expectation, reporting to the audit director on a timely basis, leading the team towards timely completion of work and managing the risk of the audit engagements through mitigation strategies based on the nature of risk identified.

Preparation and management of budget for the jobs, determination of audit fees, discussing proposals with head of departments and audit directors are part of the role as well.

Performed supervisory role both in Sri Lanka and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Joined KPMG Riyadh in December 2021 with 11 months of supervisory experience in Sri Lanka.

The role requires direct reporting to the audit manager while guiding the audit trainees towards achieving the final outcome and ensuring they learn the audit procedures to support on their career development.

Ensuring audit quality is one of the key task as a supervisor. Managing a large team with different skill levels by providing appropriate and suitable comments and guidelines based on their level of knowledge and skills, undertaking multiple audits parallelly without compromising the quality of the audit are other key requirements of the role. In addition to audit, I was able to perform separate assignments for non-audit clients especially with implementation of lease standard (IFRS 16) and also undertook various other assignments for audit clients such as Agreed Upon Procedures (AUP), solvency test within the framework set out by KPMG and without causing any implication to independence and objectivity.

One of the key achievements during this role was obtaining the best employee performance rating in KPMG for the consecutive calendar years which assess aspects related to work, involvement in sports, other additional activities. Year-end performance discussions are key part of the promotions and progressions of audit.

Key responsibilities were to prepare working papers on significant and non-significant accounts, while following up with client on the pending matters and report any concerns immediately to the audit manager and supervisor. The role provides experience relevant to the implementation of the audit and find audit issues and misstatements.