We are seeking an experienced Financial Controller with 10–12 years of finance and accounting experience to join a growing finance function.
The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing the organisation’s financial operations, ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting, maintaining strong financial controls and supporting compliance with applicable regulatory requirements.
This is a hands-on role suited to a commercially minded finance professional with strong technical accounting, regulatory reporting and financial management experience. Experience within fintech, financial services or a fast-paced growth environment would be advantageous.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Operations & Management
- Oversee day-to-day financial operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, cash management and bank reconciliations
- Monitor and manage cash flow to ensure appropriate liquidity and working capital
- Forecast cash requirements and provide management with visibility of future funding and liquidity needs
- Ensure all financial transactions are accurately recorded, appropriately authorised and processed in a timely manner
- Ensure accounting practices are consistent with internal policies and applicable IFRS requirements
- Lead the preparation of accurate and timely monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements
- Ensure financial reporting complies with IFRS and applicable UAE regulatory requirements
- Provide detailed financial analysis, including budget and forecast variance analysis
- Develop and monitor financial KPIs covering performance, profitability, costs and efficiency
- Provide senior management with clear financial insights and recommendations to support business decisions
Regulatory, Tax & Compliance
- Oversee VAT, tax filings and other statutory financial obligations in the UAE
- Ensure compliance with applicable UAE financial and regulatory requirements
- Prepare and coordinate regulatory financial reporting and submissions as required
- Maintain effective relationships with tax advisers, external auditors and relevant regulatory authorities
- Lead the external audit process and ensure audit findings and recommendations are appropriately addressed
Budgeting, Forecasting & Strategic Planning
- Lead the annual budgeting process, working closely with department heads and senior management
- Develop and maintain rolling financial forecasts covering revenue, expenditure, cash flow and profitability
- Monitor performance against approved budgets and provide meaningful variance analysis
- Support long-term financial planning and strategic business initiatives
- Develop financial models and scenario analysis to assess potential risks, opportunities and business decisions
- Establish, maintain and continuously improve internal financial controls
- Ensure the protection of company assets and the integrity of financial information
- Identify and manage financial risks, including credit, foreign exchange and operational financial risks where relevant
- Work with relevant internal teams to develop and implement appropriate risk mitigation strategies
- Ensure the finance function remains audit-ready and compliant with accounting standards, internal policies and regulatory requirements
Financial Systems & Process Improvement
- Oversee the effective use and development of financial systems and accounting software
- Identify opportunities to improve financial processes, reporting efficiency, controls and data accuracy
- Drive automation and process improvements where appropriate
- Work closely with IT and other business functions to optimise financial systems and workflows
- Ensure finance processes are aligned with wider business requirements
Leadership & Team Development
- Lead, manage and develop the finance team, promoting a high-performance and collaborative culture
- Provide coaching, mentoring and technical guidance to finance team members
- Support the professional development and progression of the finance function
- Work collaboratively with Operations, HR, Legal, Sales and other departments to provide financial support and commercial insight
- Act as a key finance business partner to senior management
Skills & Qualifications
- 10–12 years' experience in finance and accounting, with at least 5 years in a leadership position
- Experience within fintech, financial services, technology or a fast-growing business environment would be advantageous
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance or a related discipline
- Professional qualification such as CPA, CMA, ACCA, CA or equivalent preferred
- Strong knowledge of IFRS, UAE VAT, taxation, financial reporting and financial controls
- Good understanding of UAE financial and regulatory requirements
- Strong financial modelling, budgeting and forecasting capabilities
- Advanced Excel skills and experience with financial systems and accounting software
- Experience with Power BI, data analytics or business intelligence tools would be advantageous
- Strong leadership and team management skills
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving and decision-making abilities
- High level of attention to detail and accuracy
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial information clearly to senior stakeholders
- A hands-on, commercially minded approach with the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced and evolving environment