Finance Manager

Desert Group; Dubai; On-site; AED 350,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

Desert Group in Dubai seeks a Finance Manager for the Contracting Division to own project cost control, billing, cash flow and reporting. The role partners with Project Directors to protect margins and accelerate cash collections on live projects.

The candidate should have 12+ years in construction contracting finance, a Finance/Accounting degree, and a mandatory CA qualification; strong cost control, cash flow and risk management expertise are essential.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in construction contracting finance.
• Bachelors degree in finance, accounting, or related field.
• CA qualification is mandatory.
• Strong hands-on project finance and cost control expertise.
• Deep understanding of contracting cash flow and margin management.
• Practical knowledge of construction contracts (FIDIC preferred).
• Commercial mindset with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to operate independently and make fast, informed decisions.
• Proven experience managing multiple live projects in a mid-size contractor.

Responsibilities

• Own financial performance of all live contracting projects.
• Establish and control project budgets, cost tracking, and cost-to-complete forecasts.
• Monitor margins, overhead recovery, and project profitability in real time.
• Intervene early on cost overruns and margin slippage.
• Review cost to complete with budgets and highlight variance to management/CEO.
• Monitor uncertified work for prompt billing and clearance.
• Drive timely submission of interim payment applications, variations, and final accounts.
• Closely track certifications, invoicing, collections, and retention recovery.
• Support financial evaluation of variations, claims, and prolongation costs.
• Maintain rolling project cash flow forecasts and funding visibility.
• Review contract terms impacting cash flow, penalties, retentions, and claims exposure.
• Support negotiations on variations, settlements, and dispute resolutions.
• Ensure financial alignment between main contracts and subcontract agreements.
• Prepare concise monthly project and divisional financial reports for management.
• Ensure accurate WIP, accruals, and provisions with minimal reliance on head office.
• Maintain practical internal controls suitable for a mid-size contracting environment.
• Coordinate audits and statutory reporting with external advisors.
• Lead annual budgets and quarterly forecasts for the contracting division.
• Review tender pricing, margin assumptions, and cash flow profiles.
• Highlight financial risks and downside scenarios in bids.
• Lead a lean finance team supporting projects and head office.
• Act as a trusted financial partner to Operations, Commercial, and Project teams.
• Provide clear, actionable financial advice to senior management.
• Identify financial, contractual, and commercial risks early.
• Ensure appropriate provisioning for claims, disputes, and cost overruns.
• Strengthen financial discipline and accountability across projects.

Job description

Job Summary/ Purpose:

The Finance Manager Contracting Division is responsible for end-to-end financial control of the contracting business, with direct ownership of project cost control, billing, cash flow, and financial reporting. The role is hands-on and commercially driven, working closely with Project Directors and Operations to protect margins, accelerate cash collections, and manage financial risk across live projects.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Project Financial Control

• Own financial performance of all live contracting projects
• Establish and control project budgets, cost tracking, and cost-to-complete forecasts
• Monitor margins, overhead recovery, and project profitability on a real-time basis
• Intervene early on cost overruns and margin slippage
• Review cost to complete with budgets and highlight variance to management/ CEO
• Monitor uncertified work on monthly basis for prompt billing and clearance.
• Highlight all long outstanding uncertified work to management/ CEO

2. Billing, Claims & Cash Flow

• Drive timely submission of interim payment applications, variations, and final accounts
• Closely track certifications, invoicing, collections, and retention recovery
• Support financial evaluation of variations, claims, and prolongation costs
• Maintain rolling project cash flow forecasts and funding visibility

3. Commercial & Contract Support

• Review contract terms impacting cash flow, penalties, retentions, and claims exposure
• Support negotiations on variations, settlements, and dispute resolutions
• Ensure financial alignment between main contracts and subcontract agreements

4. Financial Reporting & Governance

• Prepare concise monthly project and divisional financial reports for management
• Ensure accurate WIP, accruals, and provisions with minimal reliance on head office layers
• Maintain practical internal controls suitable for a mid-size contracting environment
• Coordinate audits and statutory reporting with external advisors

5. Budgeting, Forecasting & Tender Support

• Lead annual budgets and quarterly forecasts for the contracting division
• Review tender pricing, margin assumptions, and cash flow profiles
• Highlight financial risks and downside scenarios in bids

6. Leadership & Business Partnering

• Lead a lean finance team supporting projects and head office
• Act as a trusted financial partner to Operations, Commercial, and Project teams
• Provide clear, actionable financial advice to senior management

7. Risk Management

• Identify financial, contractual, and commercial risks early
• Ensure appropriate provisioning for claims, disputes, and cost overruns
• Strengthen financial discipline and accountability across projects

Skills, Experience & Educational Requirements

• 12+ years of experience in construction contracting finance
• Bachelors degree in finance, Accounting, or related field
• CA qualification is mandatory.
• Strong hands-on project finance and cost control expertise
• Deep understanding of contracting cash flow and margin management
• Practical knowledge of construction contracts (FIDIC preferred)
• Commercial mindset with strong attention to detail
• Ability to operate independently and make fast, informed decisions
• Proven experience managing multiple live projects in a mid-size contractor