Chanaka Kushan Rajamanthree

At MAS Holdings, renowned for its leadership in apparel technology and integrated solutions, I oversee the finance and logistics operations. I drive strategic growth and operational excellence in a fiercely competitive market, and my role is pivotal in ensuring the comprehensive management of critical financial operations and logistics systems. Key Contributions, 🔹Strategic Initiatives: I directed critical strategies in finance, legal, taxation, IT, shipping, and logistics, significantly boosting operational effectiveness and sustaining a competitive stance in global markets. 🔹Partnership Development: Forged and maintained strategic partnerships with banks, auditors, insurance companies, tax authorities, and logistics providers, streamlining operations and facilitating efficient workflows. 🔹Cost Rationalisation: Led a robust cost rationalization initiative post-COVID-19, significantly reducing manufacturing costs. This strategic move positioned MAS Arya for competitive expansion into new customer and product segments. 🔹Regulatory Compliance: Developed and enforced a rigorous customs and tax compliance framework equipped with a dedicated monitoring system, achieving a 70% penalty reduction over three years and safeguarding profits. 🔹Operational Consolidation: Championed the consolidation of support services across Indonesian operations, achieving annual savings of $75,000, standardizing tax and customs procedures, and enhancing local logistics leadership. My tenure at MAS Arya has not only reinforced my expertise in managing high-stakes environments but also underscored my capability to adapt and drive continuous improvement through strategic foresight and rigorous operational management.

In a pivotal leadership role at Goodhope Asia Holdings Ltd, a leading investment company in the Food Ingredient industry, I oversaw the procurement and logistics operations spanning Indonesia, Malaysia, and India. My focus was on enhancing supply chain efficiencies and ensuring the delivery of superior value through strategic procurement and logistics management. Key Contributions: 🔹Procurement Innovation: Devised and implemented analytical tools for procurement processes, driving strategic improvements and superior organizational value delivery. 🔹Cost Management: Spearheaded comprehensive cost-saving and cost-avoidance strategies that significantly enhanced procurement value, aligning with broader financial goals. 🔹Service Level Agreements (SLAs): Initiated and enforced SLAs with key stakeholders, fostering high-quality service delivery and setting clear mutual expectations. 🔹Central Procurement Unit: Established a central procurement hub to streamline demands, achieve economies of scale, and boost the effectiveness of market strategies for crucial commodities such as fertilizers, diesel, agrochemicals, heavy equipment, trucks, and spare parts. 🔹Inventory Management: Negotiated and executed various inventory management strategies, including consignment, Vendor-Managed Inventory (VMI), Order-Level Management, and Contract Supply, resulting in a 60% reduction in inventory costs. This role underscored my ability to lead complex procurement and logistics operations, optimize supply chain processes, and deliver substantial cost efficiencies across multiple markets.

In this critical role at PT Agro Harapan Lestari, I spearheaded major business process improvements within procurement and logistics. My focus was optimizing operations to ensure the efficient delivery of supplies across various sectors, enhancing the organization's overall supply chain management. Key Contributions; 🔹Strategic Procurement Initiatives: Developed and executed group-level procurement strategies, implemented departmental KPIs, and pioneered alternative sourcing methodologies that significantly strengthened supply chain management and ensured cost-effectiveness. 🔹Leadership in Supply Chain Optimisation: Directed cross-functional teams to redefine supply chain practices, boosting profitability through strategic vendor management and advanced negotiation techniques. 🔹Operational Streamlining: Rationalized procurement operations by implementing a category-based procurement strategy, which streamlined the team from 36 to 20 buyers in just two years, markedly enhancing operational efficiency and focus. This position highlighted my ability to conceptualize and implement transformative strategies in procurement and logistics, driving substantial improvements in operational efficiency and cost reduction and preparing me for subsequent leadership roles in the industry.

As the Financial Controller for the regional office in Jakarta, I was accountable for overseeing regional finance operations in the upstream plantation sector, including Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Treasury, Cash Flow, General Ledger, and Group Insurance Policies. Key Contributions, 🔹International Financial Coordination: Served as the first point of contact for financial liaisons with bankers in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka. Successfully secured necessary financial facilities and operational support, enhancing regional financial operations. 🔹Process Efficiency Enhancement: Led the centralization of finance and accounting processes to the Group’s BPO unit in Sri Lanka, significantly optimizing business functionalities and improving process efficiencies. 🔹Financial Reporting and Analysis: Actively involved in the preparation and review of financial statements (monthly, quarterly, annually) and annual budgets. Managed all aspects of project proposal preparations and reviews, ensuring accuracy and compliance with financial regulations. 🔹Team Leadership and Treasury Management: Effectively managed a team of 10 finance professionals, establishing and supervising the group treasury functions. This included daily operations, cash flow management, and capital management, significantly improving financial operations and team productivity. 🔹ERP Implementation and Process Re-engineering: Led the design and implementation of an ERP system's financial module, reducing the supplier payment cycle from 20 days to 7 days and advance/pre-payment cycle from 15 days to 5 days, thereby streamlining financial operations and enhancing supplier relations. In this role, I enhanced financial controls and reporting mechanisms, contributing to the strategic financial management and operational efficiency of the organization.

As CFO at Comfortwear (Pvt) Ltd, I led the Finance, Internal Audit, MRP, IT, and Systems (ERP) functions, ensuring robust financial management and operational efficiency across the organization. Key Contributions, 🔹Financial Reporting and Management: Spearheaded the gathering, analysis, and presentation of financial and operational reports to the Board of Directors quarterly and provided monthly performance updates to the Managing Director. Ensured transparency and informed strategic decision-making. 🔹Strategic Planning and Budgeting: Actively involved in the formulation, implementation, and review of corporate strategies. Prepared, executed, and monitored annual budgets, aligning financial resources with corporate goals. 🔹IT and ERP System Development: Led the development of IT infrastructure and ERP systems in accordance with corporate strategies. Implemented and refined internal control systems to improve efficiency and accuracy in financial operations. 🔹Professional Liaison and Collaboration: Managed relationships with bankers, auditors, and other professional organizations. Handled interactions with the Board of Investment (BOI) of Sri Lanka, the Inland Revenue, and other government entities, ensuring compliance and fostering strong professional partnerships.

Worked with multiple clients to reach audit deadlines, adapting to a variety of audits and teams. Effectively audited assigned areas. Maintained a high level of customer service with clients while obtaining needed information.

Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others. - Jack Welch

Accountancy and Financial Management