Muhammad Bilal Siddiqi
Professional Experience
Muhammad Bilal Siddiqi is a qualified Associate Chartered Accountant (ACA) with over six years of professional experience in financial management, external audit, financial reporting, and assurance services across Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. He currently serves as Finance Manager at Kaizen Consulting Group and Arrowad Group in Riyadh, overseeing financial operations, budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, treasury management, and regulatory compliance across multiple entities.
Previously, he served as Senior Audit Associate at Grant Thornton KSA, managing audit and assurance engagements remotely, including engagement planning, risk assessment, audit execution, quality review, and team supervision. He began his professional career at Grant Thornton Anjum Rahman in Pakistan, progressing from Audit Associate to Senior Audit Executive. His experience spans power generation, fertilizer, textile manufacturing, education, and information technology sectors, serving both public and listed companies.
Practical Expertise
Muhammad specializes in financial reporting and consolidation under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), external auditing under International Standards on Auditing (ISA), financial planning and analysis, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, internal controls, and Saudi regulatory compliance. His technical expertise includes IFRS 9, IFRS 16, IFRS 3, and IFRS 10, alongside VAT, corporate tax, and zakat compliance requirements administered by ZATCA.
He has led complex audit engagements, including group audits, interim reviews, agreed-upon procedures, and internal audit function assessments. His responsibilities have included audit strategy development, financial statement reviews, risk assessments, substantive testing, accounting policy standardization, and engagement quality assurance. He has successfully managed audit teams of seven to nine professionals, ensuring timely delivery, regulatory compliance, and high-quality reporting.
His achievements include contributing to the successful completion of an Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) Quality Control Review and strengthening financial controls, reporting processes, and accounting policies across corporate entities. He is experienced in audit technologies and analytical tools, including IDEA, Grant Thornton Voyager, and LEAP, and provides technical guidance, professional coaching, and financial insights to senior management and stakeholders.
Educational Background and Training
Muhammad is a qualified Chartered Accountant and Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP), having completed his Chartered Accountancy qualification. His qualification received Master of Commerce (M.Com) equivalency recognition from the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan. He also holds Level 7 qualification equivalency recognition under the Regulated Qualifications Framework and the UAE National Qualifications Framework, assessed through ECCTIS.
His professional training includes certificates in Professional Values, Ethics and Attitude, Certified Finance and Accounting Professional, Presentation and Communication Skills, Accounting and Finance, and Assessment in Fundamental Competency. He has also participated in ongoing technical and professional development covering auditing standards, financial reporting frameworks, regulatory requirements, audit methodologies, and professional best practices.