toptal.com
Contact us: +1.888.867.7001
Suhail Hafiz, Finance Expert in Toronto, ON, Canada
Suhail Hafiz

Finance Expert in Toronto, ON, Canada

Member since September 25, 2019
Suhail, a veteran who has worked at renowned Canadian private and public equity firms like Onex and Gluskin Sheff, has invested $3+ billion of capital. Now a corporate finance professor at York University, he started his career in the capital markets group at CIBC, helping underwrite $5+ billion of debt facilities. Suhail has collaborated with global family offices and many pre-series B technology companies as a freelancer. He has helped with all activities tied to raising capital.
Suhail is now available for hire
Hire Suhail

Career Highlights

Education

Case studies

Expertise

Employment

  • Strategic Advisor

    2019 - PRESENT
    Hum Capital
    • Oversaw the credit function of the investment team. Closed key transactions and underwrote 50+ businesses seeking venture debt.
    • Assisted the executive team in creating a firm strategy. Built a large number of product and investor presentations to outline and drive strategy.
    • Collaborated closely with the engineering team to help identify key product features and provide a user based review.
    • Created the investor materials, data room, and financial model for the seed and Series A raises for $20MM+ in capital raised.
    Focus areas: Fundraising, Venture Debt, Venture Capital, Business Strategy, Fractional CFO

  • CEO | Founder

    2019 - PRESENT
    Contrarian Investment Partners Ltd
    • Founded a firm focused on providing retainer and project-based advisory services to pre-Series B technology companies, venture capital funds, and family offices that do not want to build out large finance and strategy teams in-house.
    • Built a direct investment arm where Contrarian owns minority positions in private technology business and helps them accelerate their growth while minimizing dilution.
    • Brokered a partnership with a global IT services firm to lead their North American M&A effort.
    Focus areas: Investing, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Fractional CFO, Advisory

  • Adjunct Professor

    2017 - PRESENT
    York University
    • Taught advanced corporate finance to BBA and MBA students at the Schulich School of Business.
    • Created a new course curriculum that incorporated real-world experts to improve students' success rate after graduation.
    • Taught introduction to corporate finance to BBA and MBA students at the Schulich School of Business.
    Focus areas: Finance

  • Investment Analyst

    2017 - 2019
    Crimson Asset Management
    • Worked as the lead analyst supporting the CEO and founder to build and establish a new asset manager.
    • Helped build a North American small-cap portfolio from inception—researching and developing a repository of 100+ North American “dream team” companies complete with financial models, research packages as well as investment letters, leading 50+ management meetings.
    • Contributed 12 ideas to an investment portfolio of 25 names, four of which grew to be 5%+ weights in the fund and one of which grew to become a core 10% portfolio position.
    • Worked on business development and sales, personally securing a high net worth client for the firm.
    • Built the firm’s presentation decks and marketing materials and managed the finance and operations activities, including the NAV reporting functions.
    Focus areas: Excel Modeling, Analysis, Focus Groups, Surveys, Primary Research, Research, Investing

  • Equity Analyst

    2016 - 2017
    Gluskin Sheff & Associates, Inc.
    • Worked as the sole analyst assisting the portfolio manager in managing a $3 billion Canadian equity portfolio.
    • Built discounted cash flow models and conducted in-depth industry research on mid and large-cap equities.
    • Initiated coverage of 30+ companies across consumer staples, consumer discretionary, industrials, materials, technology, and non-bank financial sectors.
    • Developed strong relationships with sell-side analysts and company management teams, attending 100+ management diligence meetings and leading 30+ sessions individually.
    Focus areas: Interviews, Focus Groups, Surveys, Primary Research, Research, Investing

  • Analyst

    2012 - 2016
    Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
    • Conducted fundamental credit analysis of counterparties in the financial services industry.
    • Assisted in managing a portfolio of 40+ clients contributing over $20+ million in revenue for the bank.
    • Underwrote various bank and fund credits accounting for $5+ billion in credit limits.
    Focus areas: Credit Risk, Lending, Corporate Finance

  • Portfolio Analyst

    2011 - 2011
    Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
    • Researched, analyzed and evaluated hedge fund managers pursuing fundamental strategies.
    • Created deal sheets and investment recommendation materials.
    • Built models to verify the valuation thesis presented by hedge funds.
    Focus areas: Investing

  • Research Analyst

    2011 - 2011
    Onex Corporation
    • Prepared research packages outlining company strategy, financial position, and industry trends for 50+ North American private and public companies.
    • Assisted in negotiating non-disclosure agreements with various investment banks.
    • Conducted comparable company, precedent transaction and strategic analysis of target companies.
    Focus areas: Strategy, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)

  • Strategic Planning Analyst

    2010 - 2010
    Pepsi Beverages Canada
    • Built an Excel-based model to optimize routes used by Pepsi’s delivery fleet conducting calls with internal stakeholders to refine the model; initiative projected to yield annual savings of over $3 million.
    • Developed an Excel-based tracking system for forecasting expiries resulting in $400,000-$500,000 annual savings.
    Focus areas: Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Strategy

Education

  • Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree in Finance
    2014 - 2015
    Schulich School of Business—York University - Toronto, Canada
  • Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration
    2008 - 2012
    Wilfrid Laurier University - Waterloo, Canada

To view more profiles

Join Toptal
Share it with others
Hire the top 3% of freelance finance experts TM