Director, Group Finance & Treasury – DIFC

confidential; Dubai; On-site; AED 400,000 - 500,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent financial institution in Dubai seeks a Director of Group Finance & Treasury to lead the DIFC office's operations and oversee financial activities. Candidates should possess over 15 years of experience in finance and treasury, with strong leadership and analytical skills. This role includes managing banking relationships and ensuring compliance with regulations. The ideal candidate is a UAE resident or willing to relocate, bringing a hands-on approach and a strategic outlook.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in finance and treasury, ideally in an international corporate environment.
• Experience with debt sourcing and capital raising initiatives.
• Proven track record of managing banking relationships.

Responsibilities

• Oversee DIFC entity's operations and represent it towards banks and authorities.
• Lead preparation of financial statements and relevant reports.
• Manage liquidity and relationships with banks.

Skills

Financial analysis

Leadership

Risk management

Negotiation

Cash management

Education

University degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Economics

Professional qualifications (CA, CPA, ACCA, CFA)

Job description

Director, Group Finance & Treasury – DIFC, Dubai, UAE

Title: Director, Group Finance & Treasury (DIFC)

Location: Dubai, UAE

Reports to: CEO; accountable to the Board of Directors

Employment type: Full-time

Role Summary

The Director, Group Finance & Treasury (DIFC) position is a foundational role in a new multi-pronged business strategy. The Director is the day-to-day leader of the UAE Holding entity and primary local point of contact for banks, auditors, advisors, and authorities. The role combines overall responsibility for the DIFC office’s operational management with leadership of the group’s finance and treasury activities. The Director ensures that the Group maintains adequate liquidity, robust banking relationships, and accurate financial reporting, in full compliance with UAE and other legal, tax, and regulatory requirements and the Group’s internal policies.

Key Responsibilities

1. Leadership & Governance

• Act as the day-to-day leader of the DIFC holding entity, overseeing its operations and representing it towards banks, auditors, advisers, counterparties, and relevant authorities.
• Participate in the Board of Directors of the UAE entity (where applicable) and support the CEO in setting and executing strategy for the DIFC holding and its role within the wider group.
• Ensure that the DIFC entity maintains appropriate substance, including office premises, staff, and decision-making documented through board minutes and internal approvals.
• Implement and uphold a strong culture of risk awareness, compliance, and integrity in collaboration with the Head of Compliance, Risk & Office Administration in Switzerland.

2. Finance & Reporting

• Lead the preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements of the DIFC entity and all relevant group reporting packages, in coordination with the external fiduciary and group finance.
• Develop and monitor budgets, cash flow forecasts, and financial KPIs for the DIFC entity and other relevant group entities.
• Ensure IFRS / GAAP / local statutory compliance and timely filing of tax returns, regulatory reports, and other statutory obligations.
• Coordinate with group subsidiaries on inter-company charges, transfer pricing, funding arrangements, and internal reporting schedules.

3. Treasury, Banking, & Structuring

• Manage liquidity, cash pooling, and bank account structures for the group entities managed from DIFC / Switzerland.
• Establish, maintain, and deepen relationships with UAE, Swiss and international banks, clearly presenting the company’s structure, trade flows, governance, and risk controls.
• Design and oversee payment processes, ensuring application of the four-eyes principle, appropriate signatory mandates, segregation of duties, and proper documentation of approvals.
• Monitor FX exposure and propose suitable hedging or natural offset strategies, in line with the group’s risk appetite.
• Lead or support the structuring and negotiation of trade finance instruments (letters of credit, guarantees, SBLCs, receivable discounting, etc.) in coordination with the Group CEO, Operations, and the Head of Compliance.
• Lead debt sourcing and capital raising initiatives, including bilateral/syndicated loans, debt capital markets, and equity fundraising, managing relationships with financial institutions.
• Work with consultants on financial and tax structuring for investment deals to effectively address the underlying risk exposures, including due diligence review and documentation.
• Develop and implement funding and hedging strategies to optimize capital structure and manage financial risks.
• Lead complex negotiations with financial institutions, investors, and counterparties to secure favorable outcomes.
• Effectively position and communicate the company's financial narrative to external stakeholders, including investors and financial institutions.

4. Risk & Internal Controls

• Design, implement, and monitor internal financial controls for Group entities, including payment limits, delegation of authority matrices, and reconciliation processes.
• Work closely with the Head of Compliance, Risk & Office Administration in the Swiss office to ensure that treasury and finance operations adhere to KYC/AML, sanctions, and internal policy requirements.
• Regularly report to the CEO and Board on liquidity, bank exposure, counterparty and country risk, and key control issues.
• Support and respond to internal and external audits related to finance, treasury, and governance of the DIFC and other entities.

5. Office & People Leadership (High-Level)

• Provide overall leadership and direction to the DIFC office, ensuring effective collaboration between Finance/Treasury and Compliance/Office Administration and other functions.
• Support recruitment, performance management, and development of UAE and Swiss-based staff in alignment with group HR policies.
• Ensure that the DIFC office operates efficiently, with appropriate resourcing and prioritization aligned with group strategy.

Skills

Profile / Requirements

Education & Qualifications

• University degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Economics, or a related field.
• Professional qualifications such as CA, CPA, ACCA, CFA, or equivalent is a requirement.

Experience

• 15+ years of experience in finance and treasury, ideally in an international multi-jurisdictional corporate environment that includes manufacturing, construction, commodity trading, trade finance, and corporate treasury.
• Experience with debt sourcing and capital raising initiatives, including bilateral/syndicated loans, debt capital markets, and equity fundraising, managing relationships with financial institutions.
• Demonstrated experience in a senior leadership role with responsibility for a legal entity or business unit, preferably in the UAE and/or Switzerland.
• Proven track record of managing banking relationships and trade finance instruments.
• Experience working with UAE, Swiss or European banks and familiarity with their KYC and risk expectations.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong financial, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with a hands‑on approach.
• Deep understanding of cash management, FX, funding, and financial risk management.
• Sound understanding of DIFC and Swiss corporate, tax, and regulatory environment.
• Strong leadership and communication skills, able to represent the company credibly to senior external stakeholders.
• High integrity and risk awareness; comfortable taking decisions and standing behind them.

Languages

• Fluency in English (written and spoken) is essential.
• Arabic capability a deciding advantage.

Personal Characteristics

• UAE‑resident (or willing to relocate) and comfortable acting as the local face of the group at DIFC.
• Entrepreneurial, pragmatic, and comfortable operating in a lean, fast‑moving environment.
• Detail‑or yet able to maintain a strong strategic overview.
• Discrete and trustworthy when handling confidential and sensitive information.