Finance Manager Fit Out

Designsmith Interior Works LLC; Dubai; On-site; AED 420,000 - 780,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Job summary

Designsmith Interior Works LLC in Dubai seeks a fully qualified Finance Manager to lead the finance function of the Fitout division, owning end-to-end reporting, planning, compliance and treasury while partnering with project managers to protect margins.

This hands-on leadership role requires strong IFRS expertise, UAE tax knowledge and extensive experience in construction fitout or contracting, including progress billing and WIP accounting.

Qualifications

• Qualified ICA with IFRS knowledge and UAE tax awareness.
• Experience in construction fitout or contracting is essential.
• Experience leading finance teams and external audits.

Responsibilities

• Prepare IFRS-compliant financial statements and manage month-end close.
• Own budgeting, forecasting and project-level financial planning.
• Oversee project cost accounting, WIP, and variation orders.
• Manage treasury, banking relationships, and working capital.
• Lead audits and liaison with tax consultants and regulators.
• Partner with project managers to protect margins and drive commercial decisions.
• Drive ERP upgrades and digital transformation across finance processes.

Skills

IFRS accounting & reporting

Budgeting & forecasting

Project cost accounting

Treasury & cash management

Management reporting & MIS

Stakeholder management

Team leadership

Education

Chartered Accountant – CA / ACCA / CIMA (or equivalent)

Tools

ERP systems

AI-enabled finance tools

Financial software (SAP/Oracle)

Job description

We are seeking a fully qualified commercially astute Finance Manager to lead the finance function of our Fitout division. The successful candidate will own end-to-end financial reporting, planning, compliance, and treasury while partnering closely with project managers and operational stakeholders to protect project margins and drive sound financial decision‑making. This is a hands‑on leadership role suited to a professional who combines strong technical accounting expertise with practical experience in a construction fitout or contracting environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Financial Reporting & Compliance – Prepare timely and accurate financial statements and management accounts in full compliance with IFRS; ensure correct application of contracting‑specific standards including IFRS15 revenue recognition, percentage‑of‑completion and work‑in‑progress (WIP) accounting; maintain robust internal controls, accounting policies and month‑end/year‑end close processes; lead the annual audit and act as primary liaison with external auditors, tax consultants and banks; manage compliance with UAE Corporate Tax, Transfer Pricing and VAT regulations including filings, documentation and advisory coordination; keep the business current on evolving UAE tax and regulatory requirements and assess their impact.
• Planning, Budgeting & MIS – Own the budgeting, forecasting and financial planning cycle across the division and at project level; produce insightful MIS and management reporting for leadership, including variance analysis and profitability by project; provide financial analysis to support bids, tenders and commercial decisions.
• Project Cost Finance, Fitout, Contracting – Oversee project cost accounting, job costing, WIP and cost‑to‑complete estimates; manage progress billing, interim payment certificates (IPCs), retention accounting, receivable and payable and variation orders and claims; monitor project cash flows, margin erosion and cost overruns; partner with project managers to protect profitability; administer bonds and guarantees, performance bonds, advance payment guarantees and related trade finance.
• Treasury, Cash Flow & Working Capital – Lead cash flow management and forecasting critical to a project‑driven, retention‑heavy business; manage treasury operations, banking relationships, facilities, letters of credit and working‑capital optimisation.
• Transactional Finance – Oversee Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable, including subcontractor and supplier payments and collections; ensure disciplined credit control and healthy DSO/DPO performance.
• Business Partnering & Operations – Partner with project managers and cross‑functional stakeholders to embed financial discipline into operations; act as a trusted finance advisor to divisional leadership.
• Systems & Digital Transformation – Drive digital initiatives, upgrading finance systems, processes and controls; leverage ERP capabilities and emerging AI tools to improve efficiency, reporting and forecasting accuracy.
• Leadership – Lead, develop and mentor the divisional finance team.

Qualifications

• Fully qualified Chartered Accountant – CA / ACCA / CIMA (or equivalent recognised professional accounting body). (Mandatory)
• Minimum 7 years post‑qualification experience in a finance role.
• Minimum 3 years experience in UAE / Gulf (GCC).
• Prior experience in construction / fitout / contracting – strongly preferred.
• Background with a Big 4 / large audit firm – added advantage.
• Hands‑on experience with ERP systems and familiarity with AI‑enabled finance tools.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong technical command of IFRS and relevant contracting standards.
• Practical knowledge of UAE Corporate Tax, Transfer Pricing and VAT.
• Excellent financial modelling, budgeting, forecasting and MIS capabilities.
• Solid grasp of treasury, cash flow and working‑capital management.
• Confident with ERP platforms and digitalisation of finance processes.
• Strong leadership, people‑management and stakeholder‑management skills.
• Excellent communication skills – able to translate financial data for non‑finance stakeholders such as project managers.
• Commercial mindset, high attention to detail, and ability to perform under deadline pressure across multiple concurrent projects.

Preferred / Added Advantage

• Big 4 or large audit‑firm training.
• Direct fitout / interior contracting exposure.
• Experience implementing or upgrading ERP systems.