Head – Financial Controller/Commercial Finance Dimensions HRD Consultants

The Corporate Institute; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 600,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Job summary

The Corporate Institute is seeking a Head of Finance / Commercial Finance Lead to drive financial strategy and performance for Abu Dhabi locations. You will oversee real estate finance, capex governance, treasury, and working capital, while partnering with operations to optimize margins and store profitability.

Ideal candidates bring 10–15 years in finance leadership within consumer-facing sectors, strong IFRS16 expertise, and hands-on experience with ERP platforms (Odoo/NetSuite/SAP/Oracle).

Qualifications

• Proven ability to model and evaluate business cases across multi-site operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead four-wall EBITDA improvement across all stores through financial analysis and insights.
• Oversee real estate finance, IRR/NPV analysis and lease economics for new sites.
• Manage capex governance, budgets, and cost controls for store openings.
• Oversee treasury, cash management, and fraud prevention across locations.
• Drive working capital optimization through vendor terms and inventory controls.
• Lead store-level P&L reviews, forecasting, budgeting, and variance analysis.
• Support ERP-driven reporting, audits, and fundraising data rooms.

Skills

Financial modeling

Business case eval

Commercial finance

Multi-site leadership

ERP experience

Education

Chartered finance qualification (CA/ACCA/CPA/CMA)

Bachelor’s in Finance/Accounting/Economics

MBA/EMBA (preferred)

Tools

Odoo

NetSuite

SAP

Oracle

Job description

Head of Finance / Commercial Finance Lead

Location: Abu Dhabi

Reporting To: Group CFO

Key Responsibilities:

Commercial Finance & Store Profitability:

• – Drive four-wall EBITDA performance across all operating locations through rigorous financial analysis and operational insights.
• – Monitor and optimize revenue per square foot, customer spend, utilization rates, and store profitability metrics.
• – Partner with operations teams to improve labor productivity, scheduling efficiency, and overall cost management.
• – Analyze party, event, cafe, and F&B revenue streams to maximize margins and profitability.

Real Estate Finance & Expansion Strategy:

• – Lead financial feasibility assessments for new locations, including IRR, NPV, payback period, and investment return analysis.
• – Evaluate lease structures, rental models, landlord contributions, and fit-out economics for new sites.
• – Provide financial recommendations on expansion opportunities and capital allocation decisions.
• – Manage IFRS 16 lease accounting, lease liability tracking, and compliance requirements.

Capex Governance & Cost Control:

• – Establish fit-out budget controls and oversee capital expenditure governance across new store openings.
• – Monitor contractor costs, project budgets, and investment performance against approved business cases.
• – Ensure disciplined spending and effective return on invested capital.

Treasury, Cash Management & Controls:

• – Oversee daily cash reconciliations, POS integrity, bank settlements, and revenue controls across all locations.
• – Implement robust treasury and fraud prevention processes.
• – Manage petty cash governance and cash handling procedures to ensure financial integrity.

Working Capital & Procurement:

• – Optimize working capital through effective vendor payment management and credit term negotiations.
• – Implement inventory controls for edutainment materials, merchandise, and F&B supplies.
• – Improve cash conversion cycles and operational efficiency.

Financial Reporting, ERP & Audit Management:

• – Lead monthly store-level P&L reviews, forecasting, budgeting, and variance analysis.
• – Drive reporting automation and data accuracy through ERP platforms such as Odoo or NetSuite.
• – Support external audits, financial due diligence, and investor reporting requirements.
• – Maintain audit-ready documentation and support Series A fundraising data room preparation.

Key Requirements:

• – Qualified CA, ACCA, CPA, CMA, or equivalent finance qualification.
• – Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related discipline.
• – MBA / Executive MBA from a leading institution preferred.
• – 10 – 15 years of progressive finance leadership experience, including multi-site consumer-facing businesses.
• – Experience within retail, hospitality, leisure, entertainment, cinema, family entertainment centers, or F&B chains.
• – Strong expertise in financial modeling, business case evaluation, and commercial finance.
• – Deep understanding of IFRS 16 lease accounting and real estate financial analysis.
• – Hands‑on experience with ERP platforms such as Odoo, NetSuite, SAP, or Oracle.