Financial Director

Calvin James Recruitment; Dubai; On-site; AED 600,000 - 1,100,000; Full time

Job summary

Experience in financial services or other regulated sectors is highly preferred. You will lead a capable finance team, ensure robust controls, and translate complex data into actionable commercial guidance.

Qualifications

• Qualified accountant with senior finance leadership experience.
• Experience in financial services or highly regulated industries preferred.
• Strong governance, controls, risk and regulatory knowledge.
• Proven ability to influence and challenge senior stakeholders.
• Hands-on when required and able to translate financial data into commercial insights.

Responsibilities

• Lead the finance function and act as a key commercial partner to senior leadership.
• Provide financial insight and challenge to support strategic and commercial decision‑making.
• Partner with operational, commercial and other business functions.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, financial planning and performance analysis.
• Identify opportunities to improve profitability, efficiency and overall business performance.
• Maintain strong financial controls, governance and reporting standards.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Stakeholder management

Business partnering

Commercial mindset

Technical accounting

Financial management

Education

ACCA/CPA/CIMA/CA

Job description

We are looking for an experienced Finance Director to join a growing organisation in Dubai.

This is a commercially focused finance leadership role requiring someone who can operate beyond the numbers. The successful candidate will combine strong technical finance capability with commercial awareness, excellent business partnering skills and the ability to see the bigger picture.

Experience within financial services or another highly regulated industry is strongly preferred, with the ability to operate effectively in an environment where governance, controls, compliance and commercial performance are equally important.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the finance function and act as a key commercial partner to senior leadership.


• Provide financial insight and challenge to support strategic and commercial decision-making.


• Partner closely with operational, commercial and other business functions.


• Lead budgeting, forecasting, financial planning and performance analysis.


• Identify opportunities to improve profitability, efficiency and overall business performance.


• Translate financial data into clear, commercially relevant insights.


• Maintain strong financial controls, governance and reporting standards.


• Ensure the business operates within the appropriate financial and regulatory framework.


• Oversee financial reporting, cash flow, working capital and financial risk.


• Support the continued development of financial systems, processes and reporting.


• Lead and develop the finance team.


• Remain hands-on and willing to get into the detail when required.

Candidate Requirements

• Must hold a recognised professional accounting qualification – ACCA, CPA, CIMA or CA.


• Significant senior finance leadership experience, ideally at Finance Director or equivalent level.


• Financial services experience is highly desirable, although candidates from other complex and highly regulated industries will also be considered.


• Strong commercial mindset with the ability to understand the wider business and its key commercial drivers.


• Excellent business partnering and senior stakeholder management skills.


• Strong technical accounting and financial management capability.


• Strong understanding of governance, controls, risk and regulatory requirements.


• Proven ability to influence and constructively challenge senior stakeholders.


• Able to translate complex financial information into meaningful commercial insight.


• Strategic enough to see the bigger picture while remaining highly hands-on.


• Strong leadership and communication skills.


• UAE/GCC experience would be advantageous.

The Profile

We are looking for someone who is more than a traditional Finance Director.

The right person will have the technical depth expected of a qualified Finance Director, ideally gained within financial services or another regulated environment, but will also be commercially minded, pragmatic and hands-on.

You will be comfortable partnering with the wider business, influencing senior stakeholders and challenging decisions where necessary.

Ultimately, we need someone who can see the bigger picture, understand what drives the business commercially and still be prepared to get into the detail when required.