Afghan Biographies

Afghanistan Financial Services


Name Afghanistan Financial Services
Ethnic backgr.
Date of birth
Function/Grade Background Members
History and Biodata

Former "Afghanistan Financial Services" was renamed and restructered to "Afghanistan Holding Group".

Former acting Staff of former "Afghanistan Financial Services":


Syed Kamal
(BA, MA, PGDIM) leads AHG’s Afghanistan Center for Excellence (ACE) division and one of the company’s leading M&E experts. He has more than nine years of professional work experience, specializing in Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E). Kamal experience includes working as Tetra-Tech’s M&E manager in implementing a US$41million USAID-funded Land Reform Project in Afghanistan (LARA). He is an expert on Afghan Info and Trai-Net reporting tools. Mr. Kamal also worked as an M&E Officer for the DFID-funded Afghanistan Investment Climate Facility (Harakat) – a US$50million grant facility – responsible for 14 projects. Other M&E experience covers projects such as the National Solidarity Program (NSP), to National Area Based Development Program (NABDP), to safe water supply (WSP), capacity development and investment climate reform for donors including USDA, UNDP, USAID and DFID. Kamal has a Bachelors and Masters in English Literature from the University of Peshawar, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from the Indira Gandhi University of India.
Kamal is fluent in Pashtu, Dari, English, and Urdu.

Parwez Besmel (BA, MA) leads AHG’s Afghanistan Research Services (ARS) division. He has more than eleven years of work experience in Afghanistan and USA. Besmel’s experience includes serving as Research Associate for USAID’s BESST Project where he assisted in developing The National Teacher Competency Framework; Instructor at School of Languages and Literature Kabul University; Director of the International Office at Kabul University where he coordinated programs supported by international partners and assisted in creating partnerships with foreign academic institutions. He was the External Relations Consultant with the Asia Foundation where he authored the restructuring document of the Afghanistan Stabilization Program; Assistant Advisor for USAID’s AEGP Project where he conducted public awareness programs; and Correspondent for Reuters News Agency where he wrote feature stories and reported breaking news. Besmel received his Master's degree in Teaching English from Northern Arizona University, and his Bachelor of English Literature from Kabul University. He is currently a doctoral candidate in Politics and International Affairs at Northern Arizona University.
Besmel is fluent in Dari, Pashto, and English.

Yasir Shakoor (ACPA) is one of three Director’s leading AHG’s Afghanistan Financial Services (AFS) division. He has more than six years of professional work experience in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Shakoor’s experience includes serving as the Internal Audit Advisor and Lead Trainer for Afghanistan’s Ministry of Finance’s Internal Audit Department (World Bank Audit Training Project), where he developed the legal framework for the application of the internal audit procedures and its implementation for all Afghan government entities. He also led the two-year World Bank Certified Accounting Technician(CAT) building the capacity of more than 70 mid-level employees of MoF working in various different departments. He was the audit supervisor for Rafaqat and Babar- a leading accounting firm in Pakistan and was involved in various statutory and internal audits of private sector companies and the public sector. He has been an ACCA and CAT lecturer in various educational institutes in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Shakoor is certified Associate Certified Public Accountant (ACPA) and is completing his ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) certificate.
He is fluent in English, Pashtu, Urdu and Dari.

Masood Faroq (M.D.) is responsible for the leadership of Afghanistan Holding Group’s human resource and administration. He has more than 12 years of experience in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Dr. Faroq’s has extensive experience working in various capacities with the Afghan government. His experience includes serving the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) in the capacities of Institutional Change Adviser, National Adviser, and Program Budget Adviser where he played a central role in helping MOCI establish a new Petroleum Regulation Department with the aim to better regulate and monitor petroleum sector in Afghanistan by identifying PRD responsibilities, drafting TORs, staffing the department, and providing direct support to draft the new Afghanistan Petroleum Supply Law; serving the Ministry of Counter Narcotics as National Advisor where he developed the Ministry’s Human Resource Manual, and prepared quarterly and annual workplans; and serving as a translator on many different projects. Dr. Faroq received his Medical Doctorate Degree from Kabul Medical University.
Faroq is fluent in Dari, Pashtu, English and speaks some Urdu.

Project and Financial Management, Systems Development

Sanzar Kakar graduated from the prestigious University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and is currently a candidate for a Master's in Business Administration from Warwick Business School. Following his undergraduate degree, Kakar worked for Merrill Lynch as a Technology Analyst on a trading desk for bonds and equities, creating a link for automatic reporting to NASDAQ.

Kakar started in Afghanistan as an Investment Associate for Acap Partners, setting up a $20MM venture capital facility and sourcing over 300 new deals for consideration. He joined as an Executive Advisor to the Attorney General's Office of Afghanistan on a U.S. Department of State program to reorganize the institution and setup a nationwide paper and computer criminal case management system spanning 7 justice institutions. Kakar then served as the Economic Advisor for the Afghanistan Investment Climate Facility, setting up operational and fiduciary requirements for the 7 year $100MM grant facility in Kabul, followed by a promotion to Deputy Team Leader.

Kakar is fluent in Dari, Pashto, English, and speaks some Urdu.

Organizational Development, Advisory and Management, Private Sector Development

Suleman Fatimie earned his MBA from Preston University in the UK with a specialization in Human Resource Management. Prior of becoming the Partner at Afghanistan Financial Services LLC. Fatimie was the CEO of Harakat-Afghanistan Investment Climate Facility, a grant facility managing a portfolio of US$ 50 million (2009-2011). In two years with Harakat he sourced over 40 projects from the Government, Private Sector and Civil Society for funding consideration and approval. Before joining Harakat-AICF, Fatimie was the CEO of Export Promotion Agency of Afghanistan (EPAA) an Executive Agency of Ministry of Commerce and Industry (2007-2009). He played a very important role in the establishment of this agency; he was responsible for designing exportable offer development tools, while advising and advocating for the creation of an enabling environment for competitive exports. He also coordinated and advised Government stakeholders on export promotion and development strategy and policies. In October 2008, EPAA was awarded "Best Trade Promotion Organization from a Least Developed Country" by the International Trade Centre (ITC).

Before joining EPAA, Fatimie formulated strategies to promote and encourage foreign and domestic investment into Afghanistan, as the Vice President of Afghanistan Investment Support Agency (AISA). During his term with AISA (2003-2006) he advised and consulted the High Commission on Investment regarding investment obstacles and elaboration of proposals to remove these barriers. AISA was the top reformer for starting a business, according to the World Bank 'Doing Business Indicators 2006' and was awarded 2nd Best Investment Promotion Agency by World Association of Investment Promotion Agency (WAIPA).

Suleman Fatimie is fluent in Dari, Pashto, English, Urdu and speaks some Arabic.

Institutional Reform, Strategic Communication, International Affairs

Arian Sharifi holds a high-profile and competent expertise in the field of public & international affairs. After graduating with a BA in Political Science from Wesleyan University, he fine-tuned his natural capabilities by accomplishing a Master in Public Affairs (MPA) with specialization in International Relations, from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, a part of the globally-acclaimed Ivy League institute of Princeton University.

Sharifi has worked as the Director of Communications and Public Relations Advisor at the Afghan Government's Ministry of Finance from 2006 to 2008, managing the Ministry's external relations with the donor community, the National Assembly and other GIRoA agencies; in addition to leading the organization's public and media affairs. He was the winner of the prestigious White Fellowship Award for Excellence in Government in 2007. Sharifi established the Finance Ministry's first anti-corruption unit, which was awarded over $1.5 million by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

While working as the Operations Research Analyst at the Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research in Singapore, Arian Sharifi conducted extensive research on some of the major terrorist groups in South-Central Asia. Similarly, he worked as a Research Analyst for the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point between 2009 and 2011, providing detailed contextual and linguistic research on a wide range of militant propaganda publications.

Tracing his media stint, Sharifi has also worked as an Associate Producer for ABC News in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2003, covering the international military campaign against the Taliban and the subsequent political developments in the country. He has also filmed and co-produced many documentaries, including Dian Sawyer's Emmy-nominated feature Journey Out of Darkness, The Hunt for Osama bin Laden, Remember Afghanistan?, amongst several others.

Sharifi is fluent in Dari, Pashto, and English and speaks some Urdu.

Organizational Management, Finance and Accounting

Farid Fayez has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus in finance. He has nearly a decade of experience in financial services and project management in Afghanistan.

Since 2002, Fayez has been working in the field of finance. His experiences include working as a Financial Analyst for a construction and rehabilitation organization; as Financial Manager in multiple construction and reconstruction projects, including, but not limited to the construction of potable water reservoir includes (borehole, plumbing network, booster pump), as well as the reconstruction of women's dormitory at Kabul University. In 2010 he worked as Chief Finance Officer at Raz Tanha Construction Company, specifically focusing on one of the Company's major projects – construction of a 10-km asphalt road in Panjsher province. Before RTCC, Fayez set up the operational accounting system for Jami Pamir Construction Company as well as Alhaam Zahid Construction Company. He provided financial advisory services to both companies.

Farid Fayez is fluent in Dari, Pashto, English, and understand Urdu.

Ishfaq Shah AFA, FFTA, is a practicing Associate Member of the Institution of Financial Accountants (IFA), one of top ten accountancy bodies in the UK, and a Fellow Member of Federation of Tax Advisors (FTA) in the UK.

Shah received his post-graduate degree in Human Resource Management from Oxford Business College, Oxford UK. He has successfully completed his Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) studies from London, UK as well as completed the short term exams conducted by International Association of Bookkeepers (IAB).

Shah has over a decade of experience in accounting and taxation services in London and Kabul. Previously, he served as Assistant Finance Director for Spacetech International, a limited company in the UK. He has also served as Practice Manager and General Accountant with Salami Business Solutions as well as Assistant Accountant for Amity, a Chartered Management Accountant and Tax Consultancy firm. Shah has closely worked with and attended regularly CPDs conducted by tax authorities, including HMRC and Companies House.

Currently, Ishfaq Shah serves as a Financial Associate with Afghanistan Financial Services, managing a large portfolio of private sector clients, both national and international. Mr. Shah is fluent in English, Pashto and Urdu.

Yasir Shakoor completed his GCE 'O' and 'A' Levels from Cambridge University through Beaconhouse School System in Peshawar, Pakistan. He has also completed his studies for Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

Shakoor has served as a Financial Associate at Afghanistan Financial Services since 2010. His work responsibilities include helping clients develop accounting systems, financial policies and procedures, set up financial software, including customization and training. His main areas of work are providing tax advice for a variety of clients, both national and international. Prior to joining AFS, Shakoor worked as an international trainer on a World Bank led capacity building project for Ministry of Finance officials worked at at executive, middle and operational management levels. The project was based on training and qualifying the Ministry of Financial officials as Certified Accounting Technicians (CAT) over the period of two years. Shakoor has also worked with various audit and accounting consultancies in Pakistan, including as a Junior Auditor for Rafaqat Babar and Company.

Yasir Shakoor is fluent in English, Pashto and Urdu.


Tariq Mojadidi graduated from the London School of Economics and Political Science with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Finance. He is also a certified OpenERP specialist as well as a QuickBooks technician. Mojadidi has worked with the Afghanistan Government, as a Public Relations Officer for the Export Promotion Agency of Afghanistan, as well as in the private sector as an Assistant Project Manager for the Public Relations and Event Management Company (PREMC).

He has served as a Financial Associate at Afghanistan Financial Services since July 2011. His responsibilities include managing payroll systems, financial accounting systems and human resources.

Tariq Mojadidi speaks English, Farsi, Pashto, Arabic and Urdu.


Hafizullah Mohmand obtained his Diploma in Business Administration (DBA) from Kardan University in Kabul, Afghanistan. He subsequently pursued his Bachelors in Business Administration (BBA) in Finance, also from Kardan University. Mohmand is currently studying towards becoming a Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) formally registered with Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) of London, UK.

Mohmand is currently working as a Financial Associate for Afghanistan Financial Services. His scope of responsibility at AFS includes facilitating clients in a variety of areas of accounting, including providing tax advice, managing their monthly and annual tax responsibilities, developing accounting systems, incorporating financial policies and procedures for the smooth running of client operations, carrying out internal audit reviews, and training the relevant staff on financial software.

Prior to joining AFS, Mohmand worked as an Accounts Manager with Afghan Fleet Group and Services (AFGS), one of the largest companies operating in Afghanistan. At AFGS, he planned out budgets for different regions, allocated expenditures, reported to executive level on performance, interviewed potential finance candidates, and reported to donors. Before AFGS, Mohmand worked with Foundation for International Community Assistance (FINCA). He worked there in various key positions, namely Branch Accountant, Senior Cashier, Loan Officer, and Credit Officer over his three year tenure.

Hafizullah Mohmand is fluent in Dari, Pashto, English and speaks some Urdu.


Ahmad Omid Bessed graduated from Kardan High Institute of Business Administration & Information Technology with an Advanced Diploma for Business Administration and Management (DBA), specializing in Accounting and Financial Management. Bessed has studied English at the American English Language and Computer Education Center and studied computer hardware and software (including Microsoft Office and Intuit QuickBooks) at the Haris Institute of Information Technology.

Ahmad Bessed joined Afghanistan Financial Services in 2009 as Financial Intern and was soon promoted to Financial Analyst, working with clients in accounting operations. He assists clients to ensure all income and expense transactions are properly documented, entered into financial software and allocated to the correct accounts to ensure correct reporting each period

Ahmad Omid Bessed is fluent in Dari and Urdu, intermediate in English and conversant in Pashtu.

Sayed Parwiz Sayedzada graduated from the Afghanistan National Institute of Management and Administration (NIMA) with an Advanced Diploma for Public Administration and Management (DBA), specializing in Accounting and Financial Management. NIMA's coursework is in full accordance with curricula that has been evaluated and endorsed by the University of Jyvaskyla Finland. Since 2009, Sayedzada has been working in the field of finance and accounting. His experience includes serving as the General Manager in Azizi Logistic and Contraction Company Limited and as Supervisor of Material and Funds at Jahan-e-Sabz Logistic Services Limited.  Sayedzada taught English at Forogh Education Center as well as software applications of Microsoft Office and Intuit QuickBooks.

Sayedzada now serves as Financial Analyst at Afghanistan Financial Services, managing nearly all of the daily internal accounting activities of the firm.

Sayed Parwiz Sayedzada is fluent in Dari, Pashto and English, and also speaks some Urdu.

Afghanistan Financial Services, LLC
House 1319, Street 7, Karte 4, District 3, Kabul, Afghanistan
+1 571 335 3480 (US) | +93 799 145 229 (AF) |
sanzar.kakar@afs.af
http://www.afs.af

 

Afghanistan Financial Services, LLC (AFS) is a privately held company registered in Afghanistan and the United States. The team members consist of over 15 multi-lingual professionals include affiliates of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

AFS provides accounting, audit and advisory services to clients in Afghanistan. Accounting services include taxation, payroll and business setup. Auditing services include financial reviews and reports as well as technical audits evaluating performance. Advisory services include surveys, assessments, management consulting, and government projects.

 

More Background:
For tax preparation in South Riding, Virginia, you can count on Sanzar Kakar at Afghanistan Financial Services LLC. Sanzar Kakar assists taxpayers and small businesses with taxes in South Riding, Virginia and the surrounding communities. Whether you are an individual or a local business in or around South Riding, Virginia, Sanzar Kakar has years of valuable experience as an IRS registered tax preparer.

Afghanistan Financial Services LLC
42281 Magistrate Ct, South Riding, VA 20152
Phone: 571-335-3480

 

Last Modified 2014-10-08
Established 2011-12-23