Director Shared Services

Human Resources Department of Ras Al Khaimah Government; Ras Al Khaimah; On-site; AED 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

The Director of Support Services at the Human Resources Department of Ras Al Khaimah Government will lead and govern core corporate support functions including Human Resources, Accounts and Finance, Procurement, and Office Administration. The role ensures integrated, well-governed services with clear policies, controls, and service standards across locations.

The director will drive organizational readiness, risk management, and audit preparedness while professionalizing administration and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or management.
• Master’s degree preferred in a related field.
• Professional accounting or finance qualification such as CPA/ACCA/CA/CMA preferred.
• Certifications in procurement, HR, or governance are advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and governance for HR, accounts and finance, procurement, and office administration.
• Define operating models, roles, responsibilities, and decision rights for centralized and distributed services.
• Establish service standards and internal SLAs across locations.
• Ensure alignment with strategic objectives and audit readiness across jurisdictions.
• Oversee HR workforce planning, recruitment, onboarding, and performance management.
• Oversee budgeting, financial planning, accounting, and reporting with strong controls.
• Coordinate procurement planning and vendor governance across locations.
• Oversee office administration, facilities management, security, and records management.
• Maintain policies to ensure compliance with labor laws and financial regulations.

Skills

Leadership

Governance

Stakeholder Mgmt

Risk Management

HR Governance

Financial Governance

Policy Development

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting/finance/business/management

Master’s degree preferred

CPA/ACCA/CA/CMA preferred

Certifications in procurement/HR/governance advantageous

Tools

SAP

Oracle

Microsoft Excel

Job description

The Director of Support Services is responsible for leading, governing, and continuously strengthening the core corporate support functions, including Human Resources, Accounts and Finance, Procurement, and Office Administration. Reporting to the General Manager, the role ensures that support services operate as integrated, well-governed mandate

The Director is accountable for establishing clear policies, internal controls, and service standards across all support functions, ensuring compliance. A key emphasis is placed on predictability, transparency, and continuous audit readiness, enabling leadership and delivery teams to rely on timely, accurate, and defensible support services.

In addition to functional oversight, the role is responsible for professionalizing office administration and facilities operations across locations, ensuring physical work environments, administrative services, and internal processes support productivity, security, and organizational effectiveness in a growing and geographically distributed authority.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES:

Shared Services Leadership and Governance:

• Provide overall leadership and governance for Human Resources, Accounts and Finance, Procurement, and Office Administration functions.
• Define and maintain clear operating models, roles, responsibilities, and decision rights for centralized and distributed support services.
• Establish consistent service standards and internal service-level expectations applicable across locations.
• Ensure alignment of support services with strategic objectives, operating plans, and evolving organizational maturity.
• Act as a trusted advisor to the General Manager and senior leadership on corporate services performance, risks, and organizational readiness across the organization.

Human Resources Governance and Workforce Management:

• Oversee workforce planning, recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and employee relations.
• Ensure consistent application of HR policies, grading structures, compensation frameworks, and performance management principles, with appropriate localization for labor laws and employment practices in different jurisdictions.
• Support leadership in organizational design, role clarity, and capability development across headquarters and delivery centers.
• Ensure accuracy, integrity, and confidentiality of HR data and reporting across locations.

Accounts, Finance, and Financial Stewardship:

• Provide governance and oversight for budgeting, financial planning, accounting, and financial reporting
• Ensure effective financial controls, consistent accounting practices, and continuous audit readiness across jurisdictions.
• Oversee budget preparation, monitoring, and variance management for headquarters and international operations.
• Ensure timely, accurate, and consolidated financial reporting to leadership and relevant oversight bodies.
• Coordinate internal and external audits covering multi-location operations and ensure closure of findings.

Procurement and Vendor Governance:

• Oversee procurement planning, sourcing, contracting, and vendor management activities.
• Ensure procurement processes are transparent, compliant, and aligned with approved policies, thresholds, and governance requirements.
• Promote value-for-money principles and consistent vendor governance across jurisdictions.
• Establish and monitor vendor performance and compliance frameworks applicable to both local and international vendors.
• Coordinate procurement practices to support delivery centers and distribute teams while managing risk and contractual exposure.

Office Administration and Facilities Management:

• Lead and professionalize office administration and facilities management functions across.
• Ensure effective management of office operations, facilities, security coordination, access control, and administrative services at headquarters and international offices.
• Oversee facilities-related contracts, service providers, and administrative vendors across locations.
• Ensure physical work environments support productivity, safety, security, and employee well-being in diverse operating contexts.
• Establish clear administrative processes for asset management, records management, logistics, and general office services across locations.

Risk, Compliance, and Internal Controls:

• Ensure support services operate within defined policies, regulatory requirements, and internal control frameworks across all jurisdictions.
• Identify, monitor, and mitigate operational, financial, and compliance risks associated with multi-location operations.
• Maintain continuous audit readiness with complete documentation, traceability, and defensible controls across headquarters and international offices.
• Coordinate internal and external audits related to HR, finance, procurement, and administration across locations.
• Ensure timely implementation and closure of audit findings and corrective actions.

Stakeholder Collaboration and Service Quality:

• Act as the primary escalation point for support service issues impacting departments, delivery centers, and leadership.
• Collaborating with department heads and location leads to ensure support services meet operational needs without compromising governance or controls.
• Balance a service-oriented mindset with firm governance, enabling delivery across locations while maintaining accountability.
• Provide regular, structured updates to the General Manager on service performance, risks, and improvement initiatives across all locations.

Continuous Improvement and Organizational Readiness:

• Drive continuous improvement across support services through standardization, process optimization, and appropriate centralization.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, service quality, and cost effectiveness across geographically distributed operations.
• Support organizational change initiatives related to systems, policies, operating models, or geographic expansion.
• Coordinate closely with technology, information security, and data governance teams to ensure support service systems meet security, data protection, and access control standards across locations.
• Operate effectively in a high change, evolving, and geographically distributed environment, providing stability and sound judgment.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, & SKILLS:

Educational and Professional Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or Management is required; a master’s degree (e.g., MBA, MPA, or master’s in finance) is strongly preferred.
• Professional accounting or finance qualification such as CPA, ACCA, CA, or CMA is preferred.
• Additional professional certifications in Procurement, Human Resources, or Governance (e.g., CIPS, CIPD, CGMA) are advantageous.
• Formal training or certification in internal controls, risk management, or audit is desirable.

Skills and Experiences:

Skills and Competencies:

• Strong technical competence in financial management, budgeting, accounting, and internal controls, with the ability to assess risk and challenge financial assumptions.
• Solid working knowledge of HR frameworks, procurement governance, and administrative operations, sufficient to ensure consistency, compliance, and service quality.
• Ability to design and operate shared services or centralized governance models across multiple locations.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to synthesize financial, operational, and compliance information for senior leadership.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, including the ability to engage constructively with technical teams, auditors, regulators, and senior executives.
• High-quality written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex financial and governance issues clearly and concisely.
• Comfort operating in environments with ambiguity, evolving structures, and competing priorities.

Experiences:

• Minimum 12 to 15 years of progressive experience in corporate or shared services roles, with deep, hands-on experience in Accounts and Finance as the primary discipline.
• At least 5 to 7 years in a senior leadership role (Director, Head of Function, or equivalent) overseeing finance and multiple G&A functions such as HR, Procurement, and Administration.
• Demonstrated experience in financial governance, including budgeting, financial reporting, audit management, internal controls, and compliance.
• Proven experience managing multi-location or cross-border operations, including oversight of finance and administrative functions in international or delivery-center environments.
• Experience working within government, semi-government, or regulated organizations is strongly preferred.

Systems and Tools:

• Strong familiarity with financial and ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, or equivalent government-grade platforms).
• Experience working with procurement systems, HR systems, and document or records management platforms.
• Strong proficiency in financial analysis, reporting, and controls using enterprise tools and spreadsheets.
• Ability to work effectively with technology teams to ensure systems support governance, controls, and reporting requirements.

Personal Attributes:

• High integrity, professionalism, and a strong sense of accountability.
• Confident, composed, and credible when engaging with senior leadership and oversight bodies.
• Detail-oriented with a strong control mindset, balanced by pragmatism and service orientation.
• Able to take ownership of complex, sensitive issues and see them through to resolution.
• Resilient, calm, and effective in high-pressure, high-scrutiny environments.
• Trusted to act as a stabilizing force during periods of organizational or geographic expansion.
• UAE National