Director, Finance & Corporate Development

Algebra; Dubai; On-site; AED 300,000 - 450,000; Full time

Job summary

Algebra, based in Dubai, is seeking an experienced professional to lead both corporate development and finance operations. In this builder role, you will manage acquisition strategies in the MENA region and oversee the financial operations of the business.

The ideal candidate has over 10 years of experience in corporate development or M&A, a strong understanding of professional services, and is comfortable working without a team. This role offers a unique opportunity to build systems and own equity in the company.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in corporate development, M&A advisory, or private equity.
• Experience running a deal end-to-end, from sourcing to close.
• Strong financial modeling skills to build deal models from scratch.

Responsibilities

• Own acquisition pipeline sourcing, screening, and prioritizing targets.
• Run end-to-end diligence on acquisition targets.
• Structure and negotiate deals including valuation and retention mechanisms.

Skills

Corporate Development

Financial Modeling

Deal Structuring

Relationship Management

Understanding of Professional Services

Job description

About Algebra

Algebra builds and operates AI-powered workflows for mid-market companies as a managed service. We identify high-value operational processes, design AI systems to run them, and own the outcome end to end. We are not consultants. We do not sell software licenses. We are the accountable operator.

The Role

This is a builder role with no team below you. You will own two things equally: the finance operations of the business, and the corporate development function that drives our acquisition strategy.

The corp dev half is the higher-leverage half. You will identify acquisition targets in professional services, run diligence, structure deals, and help integrate what we buy. You will also own the framework for which verticals Algebra should enter and how.

If your instinct is to build systems and make them run, and you want equity in something early - this is the role.

What You'll Do

Corporate Development

• Own the acquisition pipeline - source, screen, and prioritize targets in UAE/MENA professional services (accounting, tax, compliance, payroll, legal, corporate secretarial)
• Run end-to-end diligence on acquisition targets - financial, operational, and commercial
• Structure and negotiate deals - valuation, deal mechanics, seller financing, earnouts, and retention mechanisms
• Build and maintain the vertical strategy framework - which markets Algebra should enter, in what order, and why
• Manage relationships with acquisition targets, advisors, and financing partners
• Own post-close integration planning and handoff to operations

Finance Operations

• Own the management accounts, cash flow forecasting, and monthly reporting across Algebra and acquired entities
• Build the financial infrastructure as the business scales - reporting, controls, and processes
• Manage the cap table, funding mechanics, and tranche conditions with investors
• Support board and investor reporting - financial summaries, KPIs, and scenario modeling
• Own the finance layer of any acquisition - structuring, post-close reporting integration, and entity consolidation

What We're Looking For

• 10+ years of experience across corporate development, M&A advisory, or private equity - with at least some of that in MENA
• You have run a deal end to end, not just supported one - from sourcing through close
• Strong financial modeling skills - you can build a deal model from scratch, not just update one
• You understand professional services businesses: how they are valued, what drives retention, and what breaks post-close
• You are comfortable operating without a team - this is not a delegation role
• You write and communicate clearly; you can explain a deal structure to a founder and a financial model to an investor
• Based in Dubai or willing to relocate

Bonus Points

• You have worked inside a roll-up platform or multi-entity holding structure
• You have exposure to UAE regulatory environment - corporate tax, VAT, WPS, or DIFC/ADGM entity structures
• You have run the finance function of an early-stage business, not just advised one
• You have a network in UAE/MENA professional services - accountants, tax advisors, compliance firms

What This Role Is Not

This is not a strategy consulting role. We are not building frameworks that sit in decks. We are identifying businesses, buying them, and making them run better.

This is not a corporate finance role where someone else owns the decisions. You will have a view, defend it, and execute on it.

If your best work is inside a large institution with deep support structures, this is probably not the right fit. If you want to build something and own a piece of it - we want to talk.