Director of Financial Control

Confidential; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential in Abu Dhabi is seeking a Director of Financial Control to establish and lead the bank’s financial control framework. You will ensure the integrity of financial reporting, GL management, IFRS compliance, and governance, reporting to the CFO and senior stakeholders. Build a modern, scalable finance function from day one.

You will oversee policy creation, regulatory reporting, and tax activities, while driving automation and AI-enabled processes across finance and control functions.

Qualifications

• Accounting qualifications and standards expertise (IFRS).
• Experience with general ledger management and month/quarter/year-end close processes.
• Strong financial controls and governance experience in regulated environments.
• Familiarity with regulatory reporting requirements and Basel/CBUAE frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Own the financial control framework, including general ledger and chart of accounts.
• Lead month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes with timely, accurate reporting.
• Establish IFRS accounting policies and reconciliation processes to ensure integrity of financial data.
• Oversee regulatory reporting, financial operations, and tax activities within the bank.
• Own capital measurement/reporting activities in coordination with Treasury and Risk teams.
• Build and lead the financial control team and implement AI-enabled finance processes.

Skills

IFRS accounting

General ledger management

Close processes

Financial controls

Automation/AI in finance

Regulatory reporting

Education

ACCA/ACA/CPA qualification

Job description

We're excited to be partnering with a leading institution in the UAE that is building a digital-first, AI-enabled financial services organisation from the ground up. This is a unique opportunity to join at an early stage and help shape the operational, financial, and control foundations of a business with significant institutional backing and long-term ambition. If you're passionate about financial control, accounting excellence, and building scalable finance functions, we'd love to hear from you.

As Director of Financial Control, you will be responsible for establishing and leading the bank's financial control framework, ensuring the integrity of financial reporting, general ledger management, IFRS compliance, and financial governance. Working closely with the CFO and senior stakeholders, you'll play a critical role in building a finance function that supports a modern digital bank from day one.

Responsibilities

• Own the general ledger, chart of accounts, and financial control framework across the bank.


• Lead month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes, ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting.


• Establish and maintain IFRS accounting policies, controls, and reconciliation processes.


• Oversee regulatory and financial reporting, financial operations, and tax activities.


• Own capital measurement and reporting activities, coordinating closely with Treasury and Risk teams.


• Build and lead the financial control team while implementing AI-enabled finance and control processes.

Requirements

• 12+ years of financial control or accounting experience within banking or financial services, including leadership of finance teams.


• Deep expertise in IFRS, general ledger management, reconciliations, close processes, and financial controls.


• Proven experience building accounting policies, control frameworks, and financial reporting processes in regulated environments.


• Strong understanding of CBUAE reporting requirements, IFRS standards, and Basel frameworks.


• Experience implementing automation, advanced analytics, or AI-enabled finance processes.


• Professional accounting qualification such as ACA, ACCA, or CPA.