Finance Manager

Cyberdrone; Dubai; On-site; AED 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading creative drone show company in Dubai is seeking a Finance Manager to oversee financial operations and provide strategic guidance as the company expands internationally. The ideal candidate will have 5-7 years of experience in finance, specifically within the UAE, and must be proficient in financial modeling and budgeting. This role involves managing payroll, expense claims, and collaborating with department heads to ensure financial compliance and profitability across multiple regions. Competitive salary and benefits are offered.

Benefits

Competitive salary

House rent allowance

Commuting allowance

24 vacation days + Public Holidays

Flight ticket to home (max. 3000 AED) per year

Medical insurance

Official UAE residency/work visa

Qualifications

• 5-7+ years of progressive experience in a finance role.
• Must have UAE mainland and freezone financial operations experience.
• Tech-savvy with advanced MS Excel proficiency.

Responsibilities

• Manage payroll for UAE staff and international freelancers.
• Lead annual budgeting process with department heads.
• Ensure project profitability and provide pricing strategies.

Skills

Financial modeling

UAE financial operations

Budgeting

Excellent communication

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance or related field

Tools

MS Excel

Xero

QuickBooks

Job description

About Us

Cyberdrone is a leading creative drone show company based in the UAE. With a dynamic team of 50 professionals, we deliver unforgettable experiences for our clients. We are in an exciting phase of global expansion, with a holding company and two subsidiaries in the UAE (Mainland and Freezone) and new operations launching in Brazil and the Czech Republic. We are looking for a financial leader to join our team and help build the financial backbone for our next stage of growth.

The Role

We are seeking a highly motivated, hands-on, and strategic "full-spectrum" Finance Manager to own our company's end-to-end financial operations. This is a unique "full-spectrum" role. You will be responsible for managing day-to-day financial processing (payroll, invoicing, expenses) while also providing senior-level strategic guidance to leadership.

The ideal candidate is a proactive problem-solver who is comfortable managing operational details while simultaneously building financial models for our new international entities. You will be the central point of contact for all finance-related matters, guiding department heads on budgeting and ensuring our global operations are built on a scalable and compliant financial foundation.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Operations & Payroll (60%)

• Payroll: Manage the end-to-end monthly payroll process for all UAE staff (approx. 45 employees) and international freelancers, ensuring timely and accurate transfers.
• Expense Management: Oversee and process employee expense claims, including overtime calculations, fuel reimbursements, and food allowances, ensuring compliance with company policy.
• Accounts Receivable (A/R): Issue all client invoices accurately and in a timely manner.
• Collections: Actively manage accounts receivable, performing dunning (collections) and following up on overdue payments to ensure healthy cash flow.
• Accounts Payable (A/P): Manage supplier payments and execute all necessary bank transfers.

Strategic Finance & Leadership (30%)

• Budgeting & Forecasting: Lead the annual budgeting process in collaboration with department heads.
• Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A): Develop and maintain financial forecasts and "what-if" scenarios for our expanding worldwide operations (UAE, Brazil, Czech Republic).
• Financial Control & Profitability: Oversee project profitability and sales pricing, ensuring all projects meet targeted margins. Provide guidance to the Sales department on pricing strategies and profit optimization.
• Leadership: Act as the finance leader for the company, guiding and educating department heads on financial discipline, budgeting, and a P&L-ownership mindset.
• Reporting: Liaise with our external accountants to ensure all bookkeeping is accurate and management reports are delivered on time for leadership review.

Banking & Compliance (10%)

• Bank Relations: Serve as the primary point of contact for all banking partners (local & international).
• Local Compliance: Liaise with UAE local authorities (e.g., DED, Freezone) for trade license renewals and other administrative requirements.

Requirements & Qualifications

Must-Haves:

• Experience: 5-7+ years of progressive experience in a finance role.
• UAE Experience: Must have proven experience with UAE mainland and freezone financial operations, including WPS payroll, UAE banking systems, and managing trade license renewals.
• International Finance: Experience managing finances for multi-entity or multi-country operations (understanding of foreign currency, inter-company transactions).
• Full-Spectrum Skills: Demonstrated ability to be both hands-on (managing payroll, invoicing) and strategic (building forecasts, budgeting).
• Tech-Savvy: Advanced proficiency in MS Excel (for financial modeling) and experience with accounting software (e.g., Xero, Zoho Books, QuickBooks).
• Attitude: A proactive, "roll-up-your-sleeves" mentality suited for a fast-paced, 45-person company environment.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal English communication skills, with the confidence to advise senior leadership.

Nice-to-Haves:

• SME/Startup Experience: Previous experience in an SME or startup is a significant advantage.
• Education: Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field.
• Certifications: Professional certification (e.g., ACCA, CMA, CPA) is a plus but not required if experience is strong.

What we offer:

• Competitive salary
• House rent allowance
• Commuting allowance
• 24 vacation days + Public Holidays
• Flight ticket to home (max. 3000 aed) per year
• 3 months probationary period
• Medical insurance
• Official UAE residency/work visa