CD Finance Executive KOQB

Unilever; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global consumer goods company in the UAE is looking for a Finance Manager to oversee trade spend operations across the region. The role demands strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and proficiency in Excel, along with a bachelor’s in finance or accounting. Candidates with certifications like ACCA or CMA, and 1-2 years of experience in finance or trade spend management are preferred. Embrace a diverse workplace culture that fosters equity and inclusion while managing financial processes effectively.

Qualifications

• 1-2 years of experience in sales finance or trade spend management is a plus.
• High attention to detail and a proactive approach to problem-solving.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end process of trade spend: planning, budgeting, recording, accounting, and reporting.
• Monitor actual spend vs. budget and provide variance analysis.
• Implement and maintain strong financial controls around trade spend processes.

Skills

Analytical skills

Excel proficiency

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field

Professional certification (e.g., ACCA, CMA)

Tools

SAP or similar ERP systems

Job description

ABOUT UNILEVER

With 3.4 billion people in over 190 countries using our products every day, Unilever is a business that makes a real impact on the world. Work on brands that are loved and improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us. We are driven by our purpose: to make sustainable living commonplace, and it is our belief that doing business the right way drives superior performance. At the heart of what we do is our people – we believe that when our people work with purpose, we will create a better business and a better world. At Unilever, your career will be a unique journey, grounded in our inclusive, collaborative, and flexible working environment. We don’t believe in the ‘one size fits all’ approach and instead we will equip you with the tools you need to shape your own future.

CD Finance introduction

CD Finance is a business partnering job to CD (customer development) and CSP (customer strategy and planning) teams focusing on Top line planning, Trade spend management, month end closing activities and results analysis, dealing with key partners are the CD country and channel heads, regional sales managers, key account managers, CSP, also working closely with Cash & collection team and financial controllers.

Role Purpose: To lead and manage the financial operations related to trade spend across Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Bahrain (KOQB). This role ensures robust planning, budgeting, governance, and financial control of trade spend processes, while also overseeing customer contracts and compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end process of trade spend: planning, budgeting, recording, accounting, and reporting.
• Monitor actual spend vs. budget and provide variance analysis with actionable insights.
• Ensure accurate and timely accruals and reconciliations.
• Partner with CD teams to validate spend effectiveness and ROI.
• Implement and maintain strong financial controls around trade spend processes.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies and external audit requirements.
• Drive process improvements and automation to enhance control and efficiency.
• Review and manage financial aspects of contracts with key customers.
• Ensure contractual terms are accurately reflected in financial systems and spend tracking.
• Collaborate with legal and commercial teams to ensure alignment and risk mitigation.
• Support monthly and annual planning cycles for KOQB trade spend.
• Provide financial forecasts and scenario analysis to support decision-making.
• Work closely with country teams to align plans with market realities.

Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field.
• Professional certification (e.g., ACCA, CMA) is a plus.
• 1-2 years of experience in sales finance or trade spend management is a plus.
• Strong analytical and Excel skills; experience with SAP or similar ERP systems is preferred.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• High attention to detail and a proactive approach to problem-solving.

Unilever is an organisation committed to equity, inclusion and diversity to drive our business results and create a better future, every day, for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their ‘Whole Self’ to work and this includes you! Thus if you require any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of your application so that we can support you through your recruitment journey.