Merlin Mary Chacko

Senior Accountant at Nova Seas

Owned month-end and year-end close for FY2024 revenue of AED 220M+ in a lean 2-person finance function, delivering same-month close and completing accounts by the 30th/31st of each month. Managed AR (AED 6.7M+) and AP (AED 4.1M+), including AR ageing, credit control, and customer/supplier reconciliations. Responsible for VAT and Corporate Tax compliance across filing periods and coordinated statutory audits with external auditors and tax consultants. Handled bank account openings and forex rate negotiations, reviewed supplier invoices, and approved AP payment batches. Prepared annual budgets and rolling forecasts with variance analysis for management decision-making, maintained the fixed asset register, and collaborated with IT to link Microsoft Dynamics reporting with Power BI and automate cash flow reporting.

Senior Accountant at Monjasa DMCC

Led financial accounting for subsidiary and parent entities within a finance team of 10, supporting combined group revenue of AED 500M+. Owned end-to-end SPOT business accounting for Monjasa Chartering DMCC, including trading and chartering transactions. Delivered fast-close reporting (smaller entities within 1 working day; parent within 3 working days) enabling timely group consolidation. Managed group-wide reconciliations, financial reporting, budgeting, and cash flow across multiple entities, supported VAT submission, and mentored junior accountants while driving compliance improvements across the finance function.

Accountant at Monjasa DMCC

Managed day-to-day accounting operations for subsidiary and parent entities during a period of significant business growth. Oversaw UAE physical operations accounting for oil bunkering, trading, and vessel chartering activities, and supported month-end reconciliations, financial reporting, and budgeting across business lines. Handled AR and AP for major subsidiaries and the parent company, including B2B business support for the parent company.

Assistant Financial Accountant at Destinations of World Travel & Tourism

Produced daily sales and cash flow reports for international branches to provide real-time visibility into performance and cash positions. Maintained month-end journals and performed monthly bank and balance sheet reconciliations, including Virtual Credit Card accounts (AMEX/Citibank). Reviewed journals and employee expense claims for accuracy and policy compliance. Prepared and submitted corporation tax schedules and quarterly UK VAT returns to HMRC, staying current with VAT regulatory developments. Prepared draft financial statements and MIS reports following variance analysis, and supported interim and annual audits.

Accounts Assistant – Receivables at Destinations of World Travel & Tourism

Managed receivables and collection calls for customers across Europe and GCC regions, performing regular outstanding balance reconciliations. Conducted customer credit analysis to support credit risk assessment and onboarding decisions. Prepared weekly AR performance reports for management and handled bank guarantees related to customer contracts and credit terms.