Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Hobbies and Interests
Interests
Languages
Timeline
Generic

Mala Sumathy

Greystanes

Summary

CPA qualified finance professional with over 20 years’ experience in Finance Operations and Commercial Management within leading Property organisations. Strong understanding of accounting principles, tax, Australian regulatory environment, and experience in large and diverse multinational organizations.

Hands-on experience in Property Finance, Financial Reporting, and Accounting. Ability to communicate at all levels of an organization, good interpersonal and people management skills.

Possesses strong analytical skills, deep knowledge of financial strategies, and proven ability to drive financial performance. Expertise in budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting, combined with a keen focus on optimizing processes. Known for a collaborative approach, adaptability, and delivering reliable results in dynamic environments. Strong communicator with a knack for problem-solving and strategic planning.

Finance professional prepared to manage financial operations and drive organizational success. Proven expertise in budgeting and forecasting, regulatory compliance, and financial reporting. Known for a collaborative approach and adaptability in dynamic environments, leveraging analytical skills and leadership to achieve results.

Strong focus on team collaboration and achieving results. Known for adaptability and reliability. Experienced with team leadership, strategic planning, and operational management. Utilizes effective communication and organizational skills to drive project success. Track record of fostering productive work environments and achieving set goals. Highly valued for a can-do attitude and results-driven.

Overview

18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Financial Controller - Retail

151 Property
03.2018 - 12.2019
  • Company Overview: 151 Property (Revantage) part of Blackstone - one of the world’s leading investment firms and the world’s largest private owner of commercial real estate.
  • Review and oversee the production of financial and management accounts and other compliance-related financial reporting for all sector-specific Blackstone (BX) investments, including quality control of the output of both direct reports and outsource service providers.
  • NAV Reporting, unit pricing, and cash flow management for BX
  • Support (internally) the broader 151 Property finance (treasury, tax, and commercial support), analytics, and asset management (AM) teams by providing relevant, accurate, and timely sector-specific portfolio financial information and expertise both on a regular and ad-hoc basis as required.
  • Function as business partner to the sector AM team to help maximise investment returns in the relevant sector with a focus on accurate and consistent reporting of asset and entity operating results, including tracking of capital/development expenditure
  • Responsible for all External financial reporting requirements (Board, JV partners etc.)
  • Support (externally) BX by providing relevant, accurate and timely sector specific financial information and expertise both on a regular and ad-hoc basis as required.
  • Budget process establish a timeframe for delivery of the CY19 budgets. Responsible for accuracy and consistency of data reporting and preparing of the business planning financials (working closely with National Retail Manager and Senior Retail Analyst).
  • Senior Management Team (SMT) meeting: preparation and summary of actual data to ensure assets are on track to deliver budgeted NOI, red flags – cost increase and provide/ present innovative solutions to financial obstacles in business.
  • Assist / implement systems and procedures to streamline and improving retail business systems and procedures.
  • Preparation of annual portfolio level budgets (in conjunction with asset management/analytics team) including portfolio level operating cost, finance costs and tax expense budgets.
  • Maintenance of portfolio level cash flow forecast models (in conjunction with finance/analytics teams)
  • For assets sold via Unit Sale Agreement (USA), completion of historic financial information for data room purposes and attending to purchaser queries thereon, attendance at pre-completion planning meetings and preparation of completion statements as required by USA documentation
  • For asset acquisitions, work with Finance Manager – Commercial Support to ensure third party service providers on-board efficiently and reflect all relevant property transactions (acquisitions, disposals, intercompany, external debt and tax adjustments) in general ledgers as required.
  • Cheque signatory responsibilities
  • Co-ordination and review of statutory financial reporting including management of annual external audit process
  • Co-ordination and review of management reporting (regular and ad-hoc)
  • Co-ordination and review of debt covenant compliance reporting
  • Conduit for lending requirements and information flow such as actuals income and expenditure, actual capital expenditure, etc (working closely with Senior Retail Analyst)
  • Internal (BX) – review and provide input to Head of Analytics/Senior Retail Analyst on actual financial results as required in BX valuation process
  • External (financiers) – provide financial impact analysis of valuation adjustments for 151 Property valuation committee consideration
  • Responsible for the training, mentoring, performance evaluation of direct reports
  • Promote the successful culture of 151 Property.
  • Continuous improvement of processes within the finance team and across the broader business
  • Manage and mentor direct reports (accountants and assistant accountants), promoting development and skill progression within the finance team.
  • Proactively identify and work towards implementing process improvements within the finance team and across the broader 151 Property business.
  • Design and Implementation of the Reporting Pack for the Property Reporting
  • Design and Implementation of Budget Model with 3 years LTF
  • Design and Implementation of Capex Tracker to report on different types of capital expenditure
  • Automating the Financial Process- Accounting and Management Reports.

Property Finance Executive

Vinta Group
02.2010 - 02.2018
  • Company Overview: Vinta is a leading Australian private integrated property group. Its integrated structure includes capabilities in capital transactions, developments, design and construction, leasing, marketing, asset management, property management, and funds management, covering the full spectrum of the property lifecycle.
  • Responsible for Monthly Commercial and Business Reporting.
  • Participate in the Annual Planning Process - Coordinate Annual Budgets and Planning Process.
  • Preparation and delivery of Annual Budgets and Forecasts for the Property Division of the Business.
  • Produce analytical reports for Divisional Directors (Leasing, Asset Management & Marketing), Funds Manager, and CEO as required.
  • Produce and review accurate and on-time management reporting. Provide analysis and insight which promotes awareness of issues and facilitates decision making.
  • Review and provide input to Development Finance Executive on actual financial results as required.
  • Manage and negotiate priorities with internal and external customers working across teams to maximize achievements of position and department objectives.
  • Coordinate Quarterly Forecast and Presentation of Quarterly Forecast to the GM Asset Management, GM Leasing, GM Funds Management, and the CEO
  • Coordinate asset plans, financial aspects of strategy documents for the asset management and on-site property management team
  • Review of all Finance data for the Annual Business Plan (Portfolio). Preparation and Review of all Finance data for the Annual Asset Plan (Per Property)
  • Maintain the financial models, design, and coordination of building the model
  • Reviewing the property's general ledger and ensuring NOI aligns with the leases in place
  • Coordination of external audit for the Year-End Result and Outgoings for the Centre
  • Statutory reporting – preparation of Annual Statutory Report for 6 Companies
  • Responsible for three direct reports: Property Analyst, 2 Accountants
  • Responsible for all the Property Finance of the property portfolio- Retail and Commercial (ANZ)
  • Main point of contact for the third- party service providers- Property Agents
  • Design and Implementation of the Reporting Pack for the Property Portfolio and Marketing
  • Design and Implementation of Asset Plan Template and Reporting Pack (Annual and 5 Year Plan)
  • Design and Implementation of KPI reporting for Leasing, Asset Management and Marketing
  • Automating the Financial Process- Accounting and Management Reports
  • Training and Mentoring Staff- lead the team to be deadline driven while maintaining the high report standards in terms of accuracy and value adding
  • Working closely with the internal and external stakeholders towards achieving the Company Targets
  • Managing the Balance Sheet to ensure that reconciling items is less than 30 days
  • Management of Arrears with Centre Team to ensure that billing and collection are done in a timely manner.

Manager Australian Operations Financial Control

Westfield Limited
07.2006 - 01.2010
  • Company Overview: The Westfield Group is the largest retail property group in the world by equity market capitalisation and the ninth largest entity listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. It has investment interests in 119 shopping centres in four countries, with a total value in excess of A$ 62.6 billion (US$53.2 billion).
  • Business Partnering with the Corporate Cost Centres to manage the cost (IT, HR, Legal, Westfield Shopping Centre Management)
  • Review and delivery of annual budgets and forecasts for Westfield Australian Operations ($225 Million)
  • Financial analysis of Gross Profit and cost base for the operating division
  • Produce analytical reports for Divisional Directors, Regional General Managers, MD and Board as required
  • Produce and review accurate and on-time management reporting. Provide analysis and insight which promotes awareness of issues and facilitates decision making
  • Accounting and analysis of the Australian Operations Overhead
  • Engage internal & external customers to establish mutually beneficial relationships. Understand needs & work individually and within a team to deal with issues in a prompt and professional manner
  • Communicate timetables and delivery of information clearly
  • Statutory reporting – preparation of tax returns for the Australian Operations and FBT
  • Statutory reporting - preparation of Audit Packs for the Australian Operations
  • Manage and negotiate priorities with internal and external customers, working across teams to maximize achievements of position and department objectives
  • Manage a team of 4 Financial Analysts and 2 Assistant Accountants.
  • Team Building and Mentoring staff
  • Left to take up more challenges- had achieved all my KPI’s in this role, therefore, when a redundancy package was offered accepted it. Restructure of the Division, both Operational and Finance.
  • Managed and motivated employees to be productive and engaged in work.

Finance Manager – ING Portfolio

CB Richard Ellis Pty Ltd
09.2005 - 06.2006
  • Preparation of Budget Models and Forecast models for property income/ expenses of the portfolio (Office and Industrial and Bulky Goods Outlet)
  • Responsible for all the property finance and lease maintenance for the ING portfolio
  • Monthly Property Financial and Management Reporting for the portfolio to ING
  • Reporting to the Portfolio Manager

Senior Financial Accountant

Lend Lease Corporation (Lend Lease Real Estate Partners)
04.2002 - 08.2005
  • Company Overview: Lend Lease Real Estate Partners is a wholesale fund managed by Lend Lease Real Estate investments. It is a series of Funds.
  • Quarterly Financial (with Left Hand Notes) and Management reporting for the fund.
  • Budgeting, including Monthly Update, Review Forecasts and Variance analysis
  • Monthly and quarterly analysis as per REP requirements (Capital Work Management)
  • Statutory reporting – preparation of tax returns for the Fund and doing monthly BAS reporting
  • Assisting the Asset Manager with income models (Reconciliation of Actual to Forecast/ Budgets and advising Property Agents of Variance)
  • Coordination of internal and external audit
  • Liaising with the Property Agents to ensure that rental income matches tenancy schedules and rent is collected in a timely manner
  • Managing the Accounts Payable process to ensure accurate and timely payments are made within Fund’s cash constraints and complying with tax and accounting reporting requirements

Education

CPA - Accounting

CPA Australia
Sydney, NSW
12.2006

Graduate Conversion Course -

University of Technology Sydney
Sydney, NSW
01.2001

Bachelor of Commerce -

University of South Pacific
Fiji
12.1996

Skills

  • Proficient in MRI, JDE, TM1, PASWIN, CTI, SAP, and Microsoft Office Suite
  • Financial internal controls
  • Cash flow analysis and planning
  • Financial transaction processing
  • Tax obligation management
  • Management of fixed assets
  • Goal-oriented planning

Certification

  • Took planned time off to focus on family care, professional development, personal projects, travel, and health.
  • Worked in the family business, preparing all the financial information for the Accountants, managing end-to-end import operations for the Business.
  • Filling in as Client Engagement Officer if and when required for the business.
  • Gained a TAFE Certificate (V) in Fashion Design.
  • Maintained industry knowledge through online reading and Podcasts.
  • Gained valuable skills in time management, self-motivation, and cross-cultural communication.

Hobbies and Interests

Cricket, Rugby, Soccer, Cooking, and Reading

Interests

  • Regularly practice mindfulness and meditation for overall wellness
  • Enjoy following travel blogs and vlogs
  • Historical Exploration
  • I enjoy sketching and drawing, which helps improve my creativity and attention to detail
  • Exploring various forms of art, such as design, sewing, and photography, to nurture creativity and personal growth
  • Listening to Music

Languages

English
Full Professional
Hindi
Native or Bilingual

Timeline

Financial Controller - Retail

151 Property
03.2018 - 12.2019

Property Finance Executive

Vinta Group
02.2010 - 02.2018

Manager Australian Operations Financial Control

Westfield Limited
07.2006 - 01.2010

Finance Manager – ING Portfolio

CB Richard Ellis Pty Ltd
09.2005 - 06.2006

Senior Financial Accountant

Lend Lease Corporation (Lend Lease Real Estate Partners)
04.2002 - 08.2005

CPA - Accounting

CPA Australia

Graduate Conversion Course -

University of Technology Sydney

Bachelor of Commerce -

University of South Pacific

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Mala Sumathy