Abdul Aziz Abi Melhem
Bayonne,NJ
Summary
External Audit and Financial Advisory Professional with 10+ years of experience supporting CFOs, Controllers, and Finance teams across banking and financial services clients. Skilled in audit execution, financial reporting process improvement, technical accounting, internal controls, and data-driven analysis under US GAAP, IFRS, PCAOB, and GAAS. Experienced in partnering with executive finance leadership to enhance close processes, strengthen governance, and improve decision-making workflows. CPA Eligible; authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Audit Manager
DFK International
01.2018 - 11.2024
- Planned, supervised, and executed audit engagements, including substantive testing and internal control evaluations for financial institutions, banking entities, and investment clients.
- Audited commercial, retail, investment, financial services with assets over $1B across Europe, Australia, US and the Middle East.
- Led and coordinated cross-functional teams, managed timelines, communicated milestones, and delivered engagement outcomes aligned with client priorities and deadlines — mirroring program and project management expectations.
- Coached and developed seniors and junior auditors following firm methodology, supporting career growth and improving audit delivery performance.
- Experience working with public and private clients under PCAOB and GAAS standards.
- Applied advisory-focused methodologies to improve documentation standardization, governance reporting, and cross-departmental finance communication.
- Managed engagement budgets and resource allocation, maintaining profitability while meeting deadlines and benchmarks.
- Managed client communication throughout the engagement, proactively resolving audit questions and supporting year-round collaboration.
- Performed and reviewed internal controls testing including SOX/ICFR documentation, walk throughs, deficiencies assessment, and remediation follow-up.
Audit Supervisor
DFK International
01.2015 - 12.2017
- Served as in-charge auditor on multiple engagements, overseeing testing, workpaper review, and reporting deliverables.
- Performed audit fieldwork including balance sheet/income statement testing, internal controls review, and audit risk assessment procedures.
- Reviewed working papers and reconciliations for completeness, technical accuracy, and compliance with firm procedures.
- Guided 5+ junior auditors during fieldwork, improving overall efficiency, consistency, and documentation quality.
- Assisted finance leadership with process reviews and reporting structure analysis, contributing recommendations to enhance efficiency and audit readiness.
- Delivered accurate, timely audits supporting management accountability and compliance with regulatory frameworks.
Senior Auditor
DFK International
12.2011 - 12.2014
- Executed day-to-day audit procedures and supported engagement leadership in performing risk assessments, documenting procedures, and completing assurance work-papers.
- Designed and executed risk-based audit procedures, internal control evaluations, and substantive testing.
- Performed financial analytics and variance assessments to support reporting accuracy and management decision-making.
Senior Internal Auditor
Halawi Exchange Company
06.2011 - 11.2011
- Tested internal controls to identify weaknesses in transaction monitoring, employee access, and suspicious activity reporting.
- Conducted research on accounting and auditing matters; documented findings and technical conclusions.
Experienced Associate (Auditor)
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
12.2010 - 05.2011
- Executed audit procedures for multinational clients in the insurance and consumer goods sectors, including Cadbury operations.
- Performed full audit sections covering cash, inventory, revenue, and assets in accordance with PwC global standards.
- Collaborated with international teams to ensure compliance with IFRS, U.S. GAAP, and firm-wide quality assurance protocols.
- Supported reporting and audit documentation for clients with global structures and U.S.-based accounting requirements.
Semi-Senior Auditor
BDO, Semaan Gholam & Co.
10.2007 - 05.2010
- Prepared financial statements and supporting schedules reviewed by managers for accuracy and completeness.
- Conducted risk assessments, developed audit programs, tested internal controls, documented findings, reassessed risks, prepared reports, mentored associates.
Education
Master of Business Administration - Business Administration And Management
Lebanese American University
Lebanon06.2010
BBA - Accounting & Auditing
Saint-Joseph University
Lebanon06.2007
Skills
- Core Competencies: External Audit, Financial Statement Audits, PCAOB Standards, GAAS, US GAAP/IFRS, SOX & ICFR Testing, Risk Assessment, Substantive Testing, Control Design Evaluation, SEC Reporting Support, Audit Planning & Execution, Engagement Leadership, Workpaper Review, Client Communication, Coaching & Mentoring Junior Staff, Advisory & Finance Transformation Experience (AUP Engagements), Finance Process Improvement, Financial Reporting Optimization, Technical Accounting Advisory, Data Analytics
- Technical Tools: Netsuite (familiarity), QuickBooks (working knowledge), Excel financial modeling (VLOOKUP, Pivot Tables, Index/Match, basic forecasting), Tableau (used for audit analytics)
- Languages: English (Fluent), French (Fluent), Arabic (Fluent)
Accomplishments
- Led and supervised 50+ financial statement audits for banking, asset management, and financial services clients, improving reporting accuracy and regulatory compliance under US GAAP, IFRS, GAAS, and PCAOB standards.
- Executed SOX and ICFR walkthroughs, tested key controls, identified deficiencies, and provided improvement recommendations to strengthen governance and reduce control risk.
- Managed fieldwork teams of 3-8 auditors, reviewed workpapers, resolved audit issues, and ensured adherence to timelines and quality standards.
- Partnered with CFOs, Controllers, and Finance Directors to evaluate financial reporting processes, streamline month-end close activities, and strengthen governance and operational efficiency, thru AUP Engagements.
- Advised clients on technical accounting matters and financial reporting under US GAAP and IFRS, supporting decision-making for complex accounting areas and financial disclosures.
- Improved financial reporting workflows and internal control structures, enabling more efficient consolidation, reporting timelines, and audit readiness.
- Leveraged advanced Excel, audit analytics, and data modeling techniques to perform financial trend analysis, portfolio behavior assessments, and actionable insights for finance leadership.
- Strengthened client relationships by providing proactive communication, identifying process improvements, and contributing insights that supported operational efficiency and audit readiness.
Certification
- CPA - Certified Public Accountant in progress
Languages
English
Full Professional
French
Full Professional
Arabic
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Audit Manager
DFK International
01.2018 - 11.2024
Audit Supervisor
DFK International
01.2015 - 12.2017
Senior Auditor
DFK International
12.2011 - 12.2014
Senior Internal Auditor
Halawi Exchange Company
06.2011 - 11.2011
Experienced Associate (Auditor)
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
12.2010 - 05.2011
Semi-Senior Auditor
BDO, Semaan Gholam & Co.
10.2007 - 05.2010
Master of Business Administration - Business Administration And Management
Lebanese American University
BBA - Accounting & Auditing
Saint-Joseph University