Head - Finance & Operations

Mubama Group; Dubai; On-site; AED 300,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading investment firm in Dubai is looking for a seasoned professional to oversee financial strategy and operations. The role demands substantial experience in finance leadership within a family office or regulated investment firm, alongside an MBA or similar qualification. Candidates must have DFSA approval and expertise in treasury management and IFRS compliance. The position offers a dynamic environment, requiring strong analytical and decision-making skills.

Qualifications

• 10–15 years of total experience with at least 5+ years in a senior finance leadership role.
• Proven ability to set up financial systems and governance frameworks.
• Required DFSA ‘Authorised Individual’ approval or relevant regulatory experience.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement financial accounting systems.
• Manage global treasury operations and ensure liquidity.
• Prepare and maintain financial statements in accordance with IFRS.
• Oversee compliance with UAE DIFC/ADGM standards.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical Thinking

Strategic Agility

Attention to Detail

Technological Proficiency

Education

MBA (Finance) or Chartered Accountant

Tools

ERP/accounting systems (e.g., Xero, NetSuite)

Excel

Power BI

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• Financial Strategy, Accounting & Treasury
• Financial Architecture: Design, implement, and operate all financial accounting systems, ensuring a robust chart of accounts suitable for sophisticated investment analysis. Build financial discipline across the company.
• Treasury Management: Manage global treasury operations to ensure liquidity, implementing a strong and profitable strategy for optimal allocation between preservation and growth portfolios.
• Investment & Market Analysis: Develop, maintain, and review sophisticated financial models for all investments. Actively monitor interest rates, foreign exchange (FX), and global financing markets.
• Capital & Cash Flow Management: Manage comprehensive cash forecasting, oversee capital call and distribution schedules, and create a periodic monthly schedule for all payments.
• Financing: Source, negotiate, and secure cost-efficient financing solutions, including NAV facilities, credit lines, and margin loans.
• Asset Management: Maintain and regularly update a comprehensive Asset Register for all company and principal holdings.
• Structuring: Collaborate with external advisors to structure investments and Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) across key UAE jurisdictions (DIFC/ADGM) and international hubs (Luxembourg, Ireland, Cayman, Singapore, UK, US).
• Legal Diligence: Review and manage all contracts, legal documents, subscription agreements, and financing documentation for both fund and direct investments.
• Strategic Objective: Execute the plan to achieve the desired corporate and investment structure within the next month.
• Advisor Liaison: Serve as the primary contact for external counsel, tax advisors, and auditors to ensure full compliance and tax efficiency of all structures.
• Record Keeping: Maintain complete company and investment records in both soft and hard copy formats.
• Infrastructure: Establish and manage an effective global banking, custody, and financial infrastructure.
• Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong, strategic relationships with global private banks, custodians, and other counterparties.
• Custody: Create and manage all custody accounts for Principal and Company assets.
• Negotiation & Optimization: Negotiate favorable terms for custody, lending, FX, and execution services to minimize costs. Track and benchmark all fees to ensure service quality and manage the performance of banking partners.
• Operational Efficiency: Ensure all Know Your Customer (KYC) document requests are fulfilled with a maximum turnaround time of 3 days.
• Process Leadership: Lead and streamline operational processes for capital calls, distributions, and fund transfers. Ensure all payments require prior approval through a defined system.
• Technology & Automation: Implement and manage technology solutions for portfolio monitoring and document management. Drive the automation of Management Information Systems (MIS) and dashboards, leveraging AI and automated tools for live accounting visibility and investment analysis.
• Reporting: Evolve and implement a comprehensive MIS framework with daily, weekly, and monthly reporting schedules and approval systems. Oversee reconciliations, valuations, and performance measurement across all asset classes.
• IT Systems: Build and manage the company’s complete IT system and infrastructure, either directly or through third‑party vendors.
• Governance Framework: Draft, implement, and maintain charters, Investment Policy Statements (IPS), and other corporate policies to ensure strong governance.
• Risk Management: Actively monitor and mitigate governance risk, counterparty risk, and operational risk. Manage cyber‑security and data protection measures for all sensitive family office data.
• Process Standardization: Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all recurring processes, including subscriptions, transfers, reporting, and NAV financing.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure full compliance with UAE DIFC/ADGM standards and international regulatory frameworks such as CRS, FATCA, and OECD guidelines.
• Audits: Institute and manage a system of quarterly internal audits and an annual external audit.
• Regulatory Reporting: Prepare and submit all financial returns and reports to the DFSA on schedule. File prudential returns accurately through the DFSA’s reporting system.
• Financial Reporting: Prepare and maintain financial statements in strict accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Liaise with auditors to ensure timely completion and sign‑off of annual audits.
• Prudential Compliance: Continuously monitor the firm’s compliance with DFSA Prudential (PIB) requirements, ensuring required capital adequacy and liquidity are maintained at all times.
• Internal Controls: Implement and oversee robust financial policies and internal controls. If applicable, ensure the proper reconciliation and safeguarding of all client money.
• Management & Board Reporting: Provide financial updates, budgets, forecasts, and strategic financial reports to the Senior Executive Officer (SEO) and the Board.
• Authorized Role: Act as the DFSA‑approved “Authorised Individual” for all finance‑related matters, ensuring proper systems and records are maintained.
• Employee Records: Maintain individual confidential files for all employees, including passport copies, education certificates, visa information, and other essential records.
• Document Management: Oversee a comprehensive document management system for organized and accessible record‑keeping in both software and hardware formats.

Candidate Requirements

• Experience
  • 10–15 years of total experience, with at least 5+ years in a senior finance or operations leadership role within a family office, proprietary trading, or DFSA‑regulated investment firm.
  • Proven ability to set up financial systems, governance frameworks, and operational infrastructure.
• Educational Qualification
  • MBA (Finance) or Chartered Accountant or similar (mandatory).
• Certifications & Technical Competencies
  • DFSA ‘Authorised Individual’ approval or relevant regulatory experience required.
  • Expertise in IFRS, treasury management, NAV financing, SPV structuring, and global compliance frameworks.
  • Proficiency in ERP/accounting systems (e.g., Xero, NetSuite) and reporting tools (Excel, Power BI).
• Behavioral Competencies
  • Strategic agility and execution excellence.
  • High integrity and discretion with sensitive data.
  • Strong analytical and decision‑making capability.
  • Independent, proactive, and detail‑oriented.
  • Adaptable to evolving business environments.
  • Technology‑oriented and process‑driven mindset.