Finance Manager

PAX; Dubai; On-site; AED 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

PAX in Dubai is seeking a senior Finance Manager to oversee the UAE entity's full set of accounts, month-end close and IFRS reporting. You will lead budgeting, forecasting, tax compliance and ERP initiatives to ensure robust financial governance.

With strong partnering skills, you will coordinate with operations, audits and finance teams to optimize processes and drive business insights across the UAE. English fluency is required; Chinese is a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or above in Finance, Accounting or related disciplines preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of finance experience, with UAE experience preferred.
• In-depth knowledge of UAE VAT, Corporate Tax and Free Zone tax rules with transfer pricing exposure.
• Full-spectrum finance capability: close, reporting, budgeting, forecasting, treasury and controls.
• Strong business finance/partnering skills; cross-border trading/industries a plus.
• Fluent English; Chinese is beneficial.
• Proficient in ERP/finance systems; SAP preferred.
• ACCA/CPA/CMA advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day finance operations for UAE entity including GL, AR, AP, expenses, revenue and cost accounting.
• Complete monthly, quarterly and year-end closings per group standards.
• Manage UAE VAT, Corporate Tax and local tax compliance with regulatory knowledge.
• Lead local cash flow management, forecasting and treasury collaboration.
• Drive budgeting, rolling forecasts and business performance analyses for pricing and operations.
• Establish and optimize internal controls; liaise with auditors and tax advisors.
• Develop the local finance function and support ERP implementation for group reporting.

Skills

UAE Tax knowledge

Financial reporting & IFRS

Budgeting & forecasting

ERP system proficiency

English fluent

Chinese beneficial

Stakeholder partnering

Audit coordination

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance or Accounting

Tools

SAP

Job description

Job Description

• End-to-End UAE Finance Management Independently oversee day-to-day finance operations and full set of accounts for the UAE entity, including general ledger, accounts receivable & payable, expenses, revenue & cost accounting, intercompany reconciliations and month-end closing. Complete monthly, quarterly and year-end closing in line with group standards, ensuring financial data is accurate, complete and traceable.
• Tax & Compliance Management Manage UAE VAT, Corporate Tax and other local tax compliance requirements, with solid knowledge of Free Zone tax regulations. Keep up to date with QFZP, Qualifying Income and Transfer Pricing rules to proactively identify potential tax risks. Handle complex tax matters, coordinate with external tax advisors, and provide clear recommendations to the group.
• Group Reporting & Financial Control Timely submit local financial statements, management reports and relevant analysis under group IFRS and unified finance policies. Support group month-end activities, consolidation, audits and other financial control initiatives, aligning local processes with group standards.
• Cash & Banking Management Own local cash flow management, cash forecasting, bank accounts and banking relationships. Build and maintain short-to-medium term cash flow forecasts including 13-week cash flow projections, identify funding gaps and propose mitigation plans. Collaborate with the group on treasury arrangements and cross-border fund management.
• Budgeting, Business Analysis & Business Partnering Lead annual budgeting, rolling forecasts and business performance analysis for the UAE entity, focusing on revenue, gross margin, expenses, inventory, receivables, working capital and cash flow metrics. Partner closely with local business teams to deliver financial insights for pricing, customer, inventory and operational decisions.
• Internal Control, Audit & Process Improvement Establish and continuously optimize local finance processes and internal controls covering payments, expense claims, procurement, contracts, treasury and financial authorization matrices. Liaise with external auditors, tax consultants, banks and authorities, and ensure audit findings and remediation actions are completed on schedule.
• Finance Function Build-up & Team Leadership Develop the local finance function alongside business growth, define roles and workflows. Drive the implementation of group ERP and finance systems in UAE, supporting integration for group reporting, treasury and management analytics requirements.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or above in Finance, Accounting or related disciplines preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of finance experience, with at least 3 years of hands-on UAE finance experience. Prior experience running a standalone finance function or serving as Finance Manager in UAE is highly preferred.
• In-depth knowledge of UAE VAT, Corporate Tax and Free Zone tax rules, with practical exposure to QFZP, Qualifying Income and Transfer Pricing.
• Full-spectrum finance capability covering month-end close, financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow, treasury, audit and internal control.
• Strong business finance / finance business partnering skills. Experience in trading, FMCG, consumer goods or cross-border businesses is a plus.
• Fluent English for daily business communication; good command of Chinese is beneficial.
• Proficiency in mainstream ERP & finance systems; SAP experience is preferred.
• Professional qualifications such as ACCA, CPA, CMA are advantageous.