Corporate Finance and Credit Control Lead - Automotive
Corporate Finance and Credit Control Lead - Automotive Job Snapshot - Role: Corporate Finance and Credit Control Lead - Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Industry: Automotive - Function: Corporate Finance - Experience: 10 to 15 years of relevant finance experience, including leadership responsibilities - Job Type: Full Time - Work Arrangement: On-site
Al-Futtaim Automotive is seeking an experienced finance leader to oversee corporate finance, new business evaluation, liquidity management, and credit control across its UAE and overseas operations. Based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the role is responsible for safeguarding liquidity, optimizing working capital, evaluating strategic investments, and maintaining effective credit risk governance. The successful candidate will lead financial planning initiatives covering cash flow, funding requirements, investment appraisal, business expansion, customer credit assessment, and receivables management. Reporting to the General Manager - Divisional Finance, the position includes leadership of a team with five direct reports and close collaboration with the Automotive CFO, Group Finance, Treasury, Tax, Legal, and other business stakeholders. This senior finance leadership opportunity requires extensive experience in corporate finance, financial modelling, investment evaluation, credit risk management, and strategic financial decision-making.
Job Details
Country: United Arab Emirates
City: Dubai
Industry: Automotive
Function: Corporate Finance
Salary: Not disclosed
Gender: No Preference
Candidate Nationality: Not specified
Job Type: Full Time
Work Arrangement: On-site
Key Responsibilities
Corporate Finance and Financial Strategy
- Lead corporate finance activities across Al-Futtaim Automotive's UAE and overseas operations.
- Support financial strategies that balance commercial growth, funding capacity, liquidity, and risk-adjusted returns.
- Provide financial analysis and recommendations to support strategic business decisions.
- Evaluate financial opportunities and risks associated with business expansion and investment initiatives.
- Collaborate with senior management to align financial priorities with business objectives.
- Support effective allocation of financial resources across relevant automotive operations.
- Translate complex financial information into clear recommendations for executive decision-makers.
Liquidity and Cash Flow Management
- Lead liquidity planning and cash flow forecasting across automotive operations.
- Monitor cash requirements and identify opportunities to strengthen liquidity.
- Coordinate with Group Treasury on funding requirements and cash management priorities.
- Support the assessment of currency exposures and related financial risks.
- Evaluate cash conversion performance and recommend improvements.
- Maintain effective coordination with Treasury, Tax, Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A), and business teams.
- Support financial planning that considers operational requirements and available funding capacity.
Working Capital Optimization
- Develop and implement initiatives to improve working capital efficiency.
- Monitor inventory, receivables, and payables to identify opportunities for improvement.
- Evaluate working capital trends and their impact on cash flow and liquidity.
- Collaborate with business and finance teams to improve cash conversion.
- Recommend corrective actions to address working capital inefficiencies.
- Support sustainable business growth through effective management of financial resources.
- Monitor the financial impact of working capital improvement initiatives.
Investment Appraisal and Capital Expenditure
- Evaluate proposed investments and capital expenditure initiatives.
- Develop financial models to assess investment feasibility and expected returns.
- Conduct valuation exercises and scenario analysis to support investment decisions.
- Assess financial risks, funding requirements, and commercial assumptions.
- Prepare financial recommendations for management review and approval.
- Support investment approval processes through accurate financial analysis.
- Conduct post-investment reviews to evaluate actual performance against approved business cases.
- Identify lessons learned to improve future investment evaluation.
New Business Development and Strategic Transactions
- Develop financial business cases for new business opportunities and market entry initiatives.
- Evaluate potential partnerships, joint ventures, and acquisition opportunities.
- Support financial due diligence for proposed strategic transactions.
- Contribute to transaction evaluation and structuring activities.
- Assess financial assumptions, investment requirements, and potential commercial returns.
- Coordinate with internal stakeholders and external advisers during transaction assessments.
- Prepare financial analysis and recommendations for senior approval.
- Support strategic business expansion while maintaining appropriate financial discipline.
Credit Risk Governance
- Lead the development and oversight of customer credit risk governance.
- Establish and maintain appropriate customer credit assessment practices.
- Review customer creditworthiness and associated financial risks.
- Oversee credit limits, payment terms, and security arrangements.
- Ensure credit decisions align with established risk appetite and approval requirements.
- Manage exceptions to approved credit policies and procedures.
- Maintain effective delegated authority and credit approval standards.
- Support consistent credit risk practices across relevant automotive operations.
Receivables and Collections Management
- Monitor customer receivables and collections performance.
- Conduct portfolio reviews to identify overdue balances and collection risks.
- Support the resolution of customer payment disputes.
- Coordinate recovery escalations for accounts requiring additional attention.Develop initiatives to improve receivables performance and collectability.
- Collaborate with relevant departments to address credit and collection challenges.
- Monitor receivables trends and recommend appropriate corrective actions.
- Support the reduction of financial exposure arising from overdue customer accounts.
Financial Controls and Governance
- Maintain effective financial policies, procedures, and internal controls.
- Ensure appropriate approval standards are followed for financial and credit-related decisions.
- Support compliance with established corporate finance and credit governance requirements.
- Review existing controls and recommend improvements where necessary.
- Maintain accurate management reporting on financial performance and risk exposures.
- Coordinate with Legal, Internal Audit, and other stakeholders on relevant governance matters.
- Promote financial integrity, accountability, and disciplined decision-making.
Financial Modelling and Management Reporting
- Develop and review financial models supporting investments, business cases, and strategic decisions.
- Perform financial valuation, scenario analysis, and sensitivity assessments.
- Prepare management reports covering liquidity, working capital, credit risk, and investment performance.
- Analyze financial information to identify trends, risks, and business opportunities.
- Present complex financial findings in a clear and commercially relevant manner.
- Support senior management with financial recommendations and decision‑making information.
- Maintain reporting standards that support transparency and effective financial oversight.
Stakeholder Management and Business Partnership
- Work closely with the Automotive CFO and senior business leaders.
- Collaborate with FP&A, Group Finance, Treasury, Tax, Legal, Internal Audit, and shared services teams.
- Coordinate with external advisers, lenders, and business partners when required.
- Provide financial guidance on investment, funding, and credit-related matters.
- Support negotiations through financial analysis and commercial evaluation.
- Build effective relationships across finance and operational functions.
- Apply constructive challenge to business proposals while supporting commercial objectives.
- Maintain clear communication on financial risks, recommendations, and approval requirements.
Team Leadership and Development
- Lead and develop a finance team with five direct reports.
- Establish clear responsibilities and performance expectations.
- Provide professional guidance on corporate finance, credit governance, and financial analysis.
- Support team development through coaching and knowledge sharing.
- Encourage collaboration, accountability, and high standards of financial management.
- Promote continuous improvement in team processes and service delivery.
- Support the adoption of digital tools and analytical capabilities.
- Maintain a culture of integrity, disciplined execution, and constructive business partnership.
Digitalization and Continuous Improvement
- Identify opportunities to improve finance processes through digitalization.
- Promote the use of financial analytics to strengthen decision‑making.
- Support improvements in reporting efficiency and data quality.
- Review existing financial workflows and recommend process enhancements.
- Encourage the adoption of effective enterprise finance systems.
- Lead initiatives that improve financial controls, productivity, and operational efficiency.
- Support continuous improvement across corporate finance and credit management activities.
Required Skills and Competencies
- Extensive expertise in corporate finance and financial strategy.
- Strong cash flow forecasting and liquidity management capabilities.
- Advanced working capital management knowledge.
- Financial modelling, business valuation, and investment appraisal expertise.
- Experience developing financial business cases and evaluating strategic transactions.
- Strong understanding of capital expenditure assessment and post-investment reviews.
- Knowledge of customer credit assessment and credit risk governance.
- Experience managing credit limits, securities, payment terms, and delegated authority.
- Strong receivables analysis and collections governance capabilities.
- Understanding of funding requirements and currency exposures.
- Commercial judgment and strategic financial decision‑making skills.
- Ability to translate complex financial analysis into executive recommendations.
- Strong stakeholder management and influencing capabilities.
- Effective communication and negotiation‑support skills.
- Collaborative leadership and team development abilities.
- Strong analytical thinking and problem‑solving skills.
- Commitment to integrity, accountability, and disciplined delivery.
- Ability to work effectively across multiple business functions and geographical markets.
Qualifications and Professional Requirements
- Chartered Accountant, Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), MBA in Finance, or an equivalent professional qualification.
- 10 to 15 years of relevant finance experience.
- Leadership experience in corporate finance, treasury‑facing functions, investments, new business evaluation, credit risk, or collections governance.
- Demonstrated experience in financial modelling and business case development.
- Practical experience managing liquidity and supporting senior financial approvals.
- Proven ability to collaborate across business and finance functions.
- Treasury exposure involving cash forecasting, currency exposures, and funding requests to a group treasury function.
- Experience managing or governing customer credit frameworks, including risk appetite, credit limits, securities, delegated authority, and portfolio reporting.
- Working knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
- Understanding of corporate funding concepts and financial transaction evaluation.
- Familiarity with enterprise finance systems.
Preferred Skills and Industry Experience
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
- Experience using SAP.
- Previous experience in automotive, distribution, retail, financial services, or another asset‑intensive and working‑capital‑intensive industry is advantageous.
Reporting Structure and Team
The position reports to the General Manager - Divisional Finance within Al-Futtaim Automotive. The successful candidate will lead a team with five direct reports and support financial operations across the UAE and overseas markets. The role involves regular interaction with the Automotive CFO, business leaders, FP&A, Group Finance, Treasury, Tax, Legal, Internal Audit, and shared services. External collaboration may include advisers, lenders, and business partners, depending on investment, funding, and transaction requirements.
Key Performance Priorities
- Maintaining effective liquidity and cash flow planning.
- Improving working capital and cash conversion performance.
- Evaluating investments and strategic business opportunities.
- Supporting sound financial decisions on new businesses and transactions.
- Strengthening customer credit governance and financial risk controls.
- Improving receivables and collections performance.
- Maintaining effective financial reporting and approval processes.
- Supporting digitalization and continuous improvement.
- Developing a capable and accountable finance team.
Job Reference
Job Requisition ID: 182711
About Al-Futtaim Automotive
Al-Futtaim Automotive is a leading regional mobility business operating across eight countries in the Middle East, Asia, and North Africa. The division represents more than 25 internationally recognized automotive and mobility brands, offering products and services across passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and industrial equipment. Its operations are supported by integrated logistics, leasing, aftersales, and financial services, providing customers with solutions throughout the mobility journey. Al-Futtaim Automotive focuses on innovation, digital transformation, and customer experience while developing mobility solutions that respond to the changing requirements of individuals, businesses, and communities. With more than 9,000 employees, the business promotes collaboration, professional development, and continuous improvement across its operations.
About Al-Futtaim Group
Established in the 1930s and headquartered in Dubai, Al-Futtaim is a diversified privately held regional business operating across more than 20 countries. The Group employs more than 40,000 people and operates in automotive, financial services, real estate, retail, and healthcare. Its portfolio represents more than 200 internationally recognized brands, including Toyota, Lexus, IKEA, ACE, and Marks & Spencer. Al-Futtaim focuses on enriching lives and supporting communities through digital innovation, artificial intelligence, sustainable growth, and strategic partnerships. The Group aims to create long-term value for customers, employees, communities, and business partners while building a responsible legacy for future generations.