Financial Controller

Michael Page; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 420,000 - 640,000; Full time

Job summary

Michael Page is seeking an experienced Financial Controller for a growing manufacturing operation based in Dubai. You will partner with senior leadership and operations to drive financial performance, strengthen controls, and guide decision-making during a pivotal growth phase.

Responsibilities include budgeting, forecasting, monthly management reporting, cost accounting, inventory valuation, and compliance with UAE VAT/Corporate Tax.

Qualifications

• Minimum 6 years of experience within Financial Controlling, FP&A, or Industrial Finance
• Experience within UAE essential
• Experience in manufacturing/engineering environment preferred
• Professional qualification such as ACCA, CIMA, CMA desirable
• Strong knowledge of UAE VAT and Corporate Tax requirements
• Familiarity with IFRS and internal control frameworks
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with ERP systems
• Experience with Power BI or similar reporting tools would be beneficial

Responsibilities

• Support annual budgeting process, forecasting activities, and medium-term financial planning
• Prepare and analyse monthly management reports, providing insight into financial performance and key trends
• Monitor budget performance and investigate variances against targets
• Identify financial risks and opportunities and support corrective actions
• Provide financial analysis and recommendations to support informed business decisions
• Analyse manufacturing costs, including materials, labour, and overhead allocations
• Maintain and review costing assumptions and investigate cost variances
• Review inventory valuation and WIP balances with operations
• Monitor productivity, capacity utilisation, scrap rates and other performance metrics
• Support month-end and year-end closing activities and prepare financial schedules
• Assist with VAT, Corporate Tax and regulatory compliance

Skills

Budgeting

Forecasting

Variance analysis

Financial analysis

IFRS knowledge

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Finance/Accounting/Controlling

ACCA / CIMA / CMA desirable

Tools

Excel

Power BI

ERP systems

Job description

Job description

An exciting opportunity for an experienced Financial Controller to join a growing manufacturing operation based in Dubai. Working closely with senior leadership and operational teams, this role will play a key part in driving financial performance, strengthening controls, and supporting business decision-making during a significant phase of growth.

Client Details

Our client is a globally established organisation operating within a highly technical manufacturing and engineering environment. With an international footprint and a strong commitment to innovation, quality, and operational excellence, the business offers the opportunity to contribute to large-scale industrial projects while supporting the continued development of its regional operations.

Description

• Support the annual budgeting process, forecasting activities, and medium‑term financial planning
• Prepare and analyse monthly management reports, providing insight into financial performance and key trends
• Monitor budget performance and investigate variances against targets
• Identify financial risks and opportunities and support the implementation of corrective actions
• Provide financial analysis and recommendations to support informed business decisions
• Analyse manufacturing costs, including materials, labour, and overhead allocations
• Maintain and review costing assumptions and investigate standard versus actual cost variances
• Review inventory valuation and work-in-progress balances in collaboration with operational teams
• Monitor productivity, capacity utilisation, scrap rates, and other operational performance metrics
• Assess and track the financial benefits of cost‑saving and continuous improvement initiatives
• Support month‑end and year‑end closing activities in line with reporting deadlines
• Review accruals, provisions, reconciliations, and supporting financial schedules
• Analyse sales performance, margins, and operating expenditure
• Prepare reporting submissions for regional and group stakeholders
• Support cash flow forecasting and working capital management activities
• Monitor receivable, payable, inventory, and cash performance indicators
• Track capital expenditure commitments and spending against approved budgets
• Assist with VAT, Corporate Tax, and regulatory compliance activities
• Maintain effective financial controls, documentation, and audit trails
• Support internal and external audits and ensure recommendations are implemented
• Contribute to the development and enhancement of finance processes and reporting tools
• Partner with Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, and HR teams to improve financial visibility and accountability
• Support ERP optimisation projects, data quality improvements, and reporting automation initiatives

Profile

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Finance, Accounting, Controlling, or a related discipline
• Minimum 6 years of experience within Financial Controlling, FP&A, or Industrial Finance
• Previous finance or controlling experience within the UAE is essential
• Experience within manufacturing, engineering, or another industrial environment is highly preferred
• Exposure to business start‑ups, plant launches, or ERP implementation projects would be advantageous
• Professional qualification such as ACCA, CIMA, CMA, or equivalent is desirable
• Strong knowledge of UAE VAT and Corporate Tax requirements
• Good understanding of budgeting, forecasting, cost accounting, and financial analysis
• Familiarity with IFRS and internal control frameworks
• Advanced Excel skills and experience working with ERP systems
• Experience using Power BI or similar reporting tools would be beneficial
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills

Job Offer

• Opportunity to join a globally recognised manufacturing business
• Exposure to a diverse and international working environment
• Key role supporting a growing and strategically important operation
• Broad stakeholder exposure and visibility across the business
• Opportunity to influence processes, systems, and reporting frameworks
• Long‑term career development within a stable and expanding organisation

Skills

Budgeting, financial planning and analysis, variance analysis, forecasting, reporting, audit, compliance