ABDULAI JIMBA ZAKARIA
Wa Municipality,Upper West Region
Summary
Seasoned professional accountant with 15 years of combined experience in banking operations, auditing, risk management, budgeting, and strategic planning within the rural banking sector. Strong analytical acumen and proven track record in enhancing operational efficiency and profitability in the highly risky and ever-changing banking environment. Adept at leading cross-functional teams, fostering client relationships, and driving business growth through innovative financial solutions. Committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and excellence in all professional endeavors.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Head of Banking Operations
Nandom Rural Bank Limited
11.2023 - Current
- Responsible for secured, profitable and sustainable operations of the bank to improve the needs of stakeholders
- Improved the financial health of the bank within the first year of taking over
- Thus, exceeded the asset base annual percentage growth of 15% by 7 percentage points to 22%
- Deposits average annual percentage increase of 18% was exceeded by 11% to 29%
- Investments increased from the annual average of 15% by 27 percentage points to 42%
- Increased the bottom-line of the bank by 8% arising from cost management strategies that reduced total expenses by 4% over last period’s figure and an increase in total income by 2% over the previous figure
- Ensured the evacuation of cash from three branches to head office and for further evacuation to ARB Apex Bank in compliance with insurance limits
- Supervised the Bank’s cheque clearing system that serves and average of 10 clients a day with monthly turn out in millions of Ghana cedis
- Supervises the monthly reconciliation and bringing to date three nostro accounts of the bank as well as 17 other internal accounts involving turnout in millions of Ghana cedis.
- Preparation of monthly financial statements and returns (including weekly and bi-weekly returns) to regulatory standards and complying with the deadlines for filing same
- In conjunction with the human resource function, recruited and adequately trained twelve staff of the bank that are currently performing effectively under various schedules
- Ensured the adoption of a service level agreement with a qualified service provider that performed quarterly maintenance of
- Ensure accurate and timely processing of financial transactions per established protocols
- Led the creation of a customer service desk and complaint mechanism that enabled the bank to comply with the filing of returns required returns
- Advise management on the allocation of resources to business units, and the protection of all assets of the bank
- Train staff and monitor performance to ensure high customer service standards and address concerns promptly
- Maintain data integrity and security, ensuring effective budgeting process that is in sync with overall corporate strategy and agreed plans.
- Interviewed and hired talented individuals with top-level strengths, improving organizational talent, and skill set.
- Identified opportunities to improve business process flows and productivity.
- Enhanced staff performance through regular training, coaching, and performance evaluations.
- Managed risk effectively by enforcing strong internal controls and compliance measures.
- Maintained strict compliance with regulatory requirements to uphold the bank''s credibility in the market.
- Conducted financial due diligence on potential investments and acquisitions.
Head of Internal Audit
Nandom Rural Bank Limited
08.2015 - 10.2023
- Led a Management Committee that prepared the Banks current three-year strategic plan for 2024 – 2027
- Internal Audit Management: produced 80% of four reports to the Board from the planned and performed audit assignments
- Risk Management Evaluation: Overall risk of the bank was reduced to below 20% acceptable limit through with a strong rating by Apex Bank, signifying low risks from loans, governance, liquidity and general operations
- User Activity Monitoring: Monitored and verified 45 user’s profiles in applications such as Temenos Transact, i-Trans, the Cheque Codeline Clearing system, and the Western Union Money Transfer system of the bank that ensured that dormant profiles not required were deleted
- Consultancy and Advisory Services: Led the drafting of twenty different operational forms and policy manuals related to governance, risk management, and internal controls
- Annual Reporting: generated 100% of reports on the internal audit activity’s purpose, authority, responsibility, and performance relative to its plan
- Internal Controls Review: carried out 80% of detailed evaluation of the internal control system of the bank on quarterly basis and making recommendations for enhancements
- Follow-Up Audits: Conducted follow-up audits (once annually) to ensure the implementation of audit recommendations in line with management action plans.
- Enhanced internal audit processes by implementing risk-based auditing strategies and methodologies.
Internal Auditor/AML Compliance Officer
Nandom Rural Bank Limited
08.2013 - 01.2015
- Risk Management Policy Development: Authored and implemented the bank's inaugural risk management policy and risk register, both approved by the Board of Directors and currently operational
- Conducted ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the risk management framework
- Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Leadership: Spearheaded the creation of a comprehensive Know Your Customer (KYC)/Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML-CFT) policy guide, meeting regulatory requirements and enhancing the bank's compliance posture
- Regulatory Reporting: Successfully and consistently generated and submitted cash and suspicious transaction reports to the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) in Ghana, ensuring adherence to the Anti-Money Laundering Act and the bank's KYC/AML-CFT policy guide
- Audit Planning and Execution: Organized, planned, and carried out the internal audit function, including the development of a risk-based audit plan
- Oversaw the completion of audit procedures performed by audit staff and reviewed their work for accuracy and compliance
- Internal Controls Assessment: Evaluated the validity, appropriateness, effectiveness, and adequacy of internal controls across all aspects of the bank's operations
- This included banking transactions, client account balances, loan administration and recovery, new product development, accounting systems and reconciliation, asset procurement, and contract awards
- Reported findings and recommendations to the Board of Directors for further action
Assistant Internal Auditor
Nandom Rural Bank Limited
08.2010 - 07.2013
- Regulatory Compliance Reporting: Prepared and filed over 1,000 cash transaction reports with the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), ensuring strict adherence to regulatory requirements
- Internal Controls Assessment: Assess the effectiveness and adequacy of internal controls across banking operations, including transaction processing, client account balances, loan administration, and product development
- Reported findings and recommendations to the Board of Directors
- Internal Audit Management: Organized and led the internal audit function, developing detailed audit plans, assigning tasks, scheduling audits, and estimating resource needs to ensure thorough evaluation of the bank’s operations
- External Auditor Coordination: Managed interactions with external auditors, facilitating clear communication and addressing areas of concern to ensure a cohesive audit process
- Reconciliation Oversight: Founded and supervised the reconciliation desk to independently reconcile Clearing, Inter-branch, and office accounts, maintaining accuracy and integrity in financial reporting.
Education
Master of Science - Business Consulting and Enterprise Risk Management
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science And Technology
Kumasi, Ghana03.2025
Bachelor of Business Administration - Accounting
Islamic University College
Accea, Ghana01.2008
Diploma in Business Studies - Business Studies
Tamale Technical University, Formally Tamale Polytechnic
Tamale01.2003
Skills
- Stakeholder Communication Management:
- Rising from junior staff to head a department gives built a unique ability to collaborate closely with employees and executives at all levels and an ability to liaise with all stakeholders
- Team Leadership and Development: Unique leadership abilities that gets the team to deliver goals in a friendly environment
- Auditing & Compliance:
- A deep understanding of accounting systems and systems of internal control development and ability to audit same
- T24 Banking Software: A working knowledge of T24 R20 Banking Software with a deeper and unique understanding of finance and auditing under this application
- Sound understanding of the banking industry and regulatory environment
- Risk management and evaluation
- Working under pressure, time bound in performing schedules without compromising accuracy and details
- Customer Oriented
- Operational Efficiency
Affiliations
- Chartered Accountant and Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana (since July 2023).
- Attended and successfully completed the course requirements for Certified Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics Professional (since August, 2024), Member of the management team since August 2019
- Member of the Board sub-committee on Audit, Risk and Compliance since 2020
- Member of the Finance Committee 2023
- Head of a team that spearheaded the development of the current four-year strategic plan of the bank in March 2023
Accomplishments
- As an auditor, he played a key role in validating the bank’s financial data in pre and post-computerization in November 2011 and was able to detect system glitches that resulted in post computerization errors in income of One million and thirty-two thousand Ghana cedis
- He drafted and obtained Board approval of a detailed enterprise-wide risk management framework for the bank including the bank’s maiden risk register
- He also initiated the adoption and re-drafting of various operational manuals, policy documents and forms to regulatory standards in a bid to reduce risks and enhance internal control
- These included standardised KYC and Dormant Accounts Reactivation forms
- Jimba has attended over fifty training workshops on various fields including finance, risk management, auditing, anti-money laundering, compliance, banking operations etc:
- One month of serious audit internship with Diligence Consult
- A professional development workshop on ‘planning and conducting audits in a risk management context’ from 12th – 14th November 2013
- A short course at National Banking College Ghana on TEMENOS T24/eMERGE, a banking software now called Temenos Transact from 16th – 20th July, 2012
- Training workshop for managers and Internal Auditors on Cheque Codeline Clearing System, Automated Clearing House and Automated Apex link Funds Transfer: 10th – 11th December, 2011
- Training workshop for System Administrators and Internal Auditors on Information Security Policy Guidelines for Rural and Community Banks: 27th – 28th November, 2011
- Participant: For Internal Auditors and Accountants on reconciliation of inter – branch accounts, office accounts and bank’s accounts with other banks: 4th – 6th march, 2011
- Participant: Finance managers and internal auditors on the Conceptual Framework and application of selected IFRS
Certification
Chartered Accountant (CA) - Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana.
Timeline
Head of Banking Operations
Nandom Rural Bank Limited
11.2023 - Current
Head of Internal Audit
Nandom Rural Bank Limited
08.2015 - 10.2023
Internal Auditor/AML Compliance Officer
Nandom Rural Bank Limited
08.2013 - 01.2015
Assistant Internal Auditor
Nandom Rural Bank Limited
08.2010 - 07.2013
Master of Science - Business Consulting and Enterprise Risk Management
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science And Technology
Bachelor of Business Administration - Accounting
Islamic University College
Diploma in Business Studies - Business Studies
Tamale Technical University, Formally Tamale Polytechnic
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