ISSIAKA CAMARA
Camara Issiaka, more than 16 years of experience including 10 years as Administrative Director and Financier in multinationals (listed on the stock exchange)
Camara Issiaka was entrusted with his first position as Administrative and Financial Director shortly before his 30th birthday in 2012 in a multinational in the Maritime and international logistics sector (MSC).
This is a big challenge, especially since the responsibility covers two countries and three offices and he only has five years of experience previously acquired in the accounting, management control and IT management project departments in another multinational in the same sector of activity. Over the course of four years, Issiaka will implement the basic rules of internal control allowing for greater transparency in the operations of the company’s various departments.
With a view to optimizing the company’s working capital requirements, he will prepare and implement the first credit control policy which has made it possible to reduce customer receivables by half in number of days of turnover. Furthermore, he will also work on the implementation of the first transfer pricing policy in the two countries.
Finally, he will implement SAP (the management software most used by multinationals) in the two countries for which he was responsible.
In 2016, Issiaka had the opportunity to join the leader in cement production (LafargeHolcim) in Ivory Coast as Administrative and Financial Director. This enthusiast of challenges refuses to stay in his comfort zone. It is a godsend for him to discover a sector other than maritime transport.
Throughout the six years spent in this company, he will be a true Finance Business Partner for management.
Upon his arrival, he set up operational and commercial dashboards enabling a reduction in customer payment times of 50% and a reduction in fixed costs of around 25% before moving on to the implementation of the internal control policy (designed on the COSO model).
He will lead several fundraising operations (~60 Million Euros in total) to finance the company’s development projects, the main ones being:
– increasing storage capacity,
– 100% increase in production capacity,
– and increased bagging capacity.
Furthermore, he will actively participate in the company’s capital increase for an amount of 9 million Euros. In addition, he has a certificate in financial expertise (CFA Institute, Investment Foundations).
Speciality:
Financial and Administrative Department
Studies :
Master in Accounting and Legal Techniques obtained from the National Polytechnic Institute of Yamoussoukro,
Master’s in Accounting, Control and Audit obtained from ESCAE.
Certification:
Certification in fraud detection obtained from the ACFE in Austin, Texas, USA (Certified Fraud Examiner, License 649 247)
Grâce à son expérience en tant que Directeur Financier au sein de multinationales,
he supervised the teams for the continuation of the process automation project under SAP (going from 40% to 80% automation).
Finally, as Administrative and Financial Director, the day-to-day management of the finance department teams (an average of twenty people since 2010), the management and coordination of statutory audit missions, the management of relations with shareholders (the organization of AGMs, CAs, the presentation of the management report), the management of tax and legal risks, the management of relations with external third parties (banks, public administration, customers and suppliers), and the management of cash flow balance are the foundation of his role.
In 2022, he released a project that was close to his heart:
management consulting focused on outsourcing the role of experienced CFO for SMEs.
While preparing this personal project, a multinational operating in the agro-industrial sector (Olam) offered him an opportunity for a CFO position, which he accepted because it was a chance for him to have practical experience in the agro-industrial sector, a core activity of the Ivorian economy. During a year in this company, he made proposals on the strengthening of internal control measures and optimal waste management. of production.
He also meets various entrepreneurs who are facing crucial difficulties in financial management of their activities.
Convinced of the fact that local SMEs have strong potential and that, however, they are faced with a deficit of Experienced Financial Leadership at a lower cost, in 2023 he launched METRICS PARTNERS, a financial consulting firm which primarily offers the services of Director Experienced part-time financier. The firm also offers financial diagnosis services, internal control environment review, business plan preparation, project structuring and fundraising support, etc.
Camara Issiaka holds a Master’s degree in Accounting and Legal Techniques from the National Polytechnic Institute of Yamoussoukro and a Master’s degree in Accounting, Control and Audit from ESCAE.
He also has a certification in fraud detection obtained from the ACFE in Austin, Texas, USA (Certified Fraud Examiner, License 649 247)
Finally, he has a certification in financial expertise (CFA Institute, Investment Foundations).