Head of Financial Control

BARCLAYS; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial institution in the UAE seeks a Financial Controller VP to manage financial operations and ensure compliance with regulatory reporting requirements. You will be responsible for leading the preparation and submission of regulatory reports to the Central Bank, maintaining strong internal controls, and collaborating with various stakeholders. Ideal candidates should have substantial experience in financial controls and regulatory environments, alongside strong communication skills. This role requires a blend of technical expertise and governance discipline.

Qualifications

• Experience in preparing regulatory reports for the Central Bank of the UAE.
• Background in financial controls and statements preparation.
• Understanding of tax rules and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Manage financial operations ensuring compliance and report accuracy.
• Develop and maintain internal controls for safeguarding assets.
• Lead preparation and submission of regulatory reports to UAE authorities.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders for audits.

Skills

Central Bank UAE regulatory reporting experience

Strong financial control background

Solid understanding of indirect and direct tax

Excellent communication skills

Job description

Job Description

Purpose of the role

To manage the financial operations of the organisation, ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and reliability of financial reporting.

Accountabilities

• Management of the preparation and presentation of accurate and timely financial statements, and other accounting records in accordance with the relevant accounting standards, rules and regulations.
• Support in identification,assessment,and mitigation of financial risks, and report on these financial risks to senior colleagues.
• Development and maintenance of a robust system of internal controls to safeguard assets, ensure that there is no fraudulent misreporting, and ensure the accuracy of financial data, including regular assessment of the effectiveness of internal controls addressing any weaknesses or gaps.
• Development and implementation of up-to-date financial policies and procedures to ensure consistent and effective financial practices across the organisation.
• Management of the selection, implementation, and maintenance of financial systems and software applications, including collaboration with IT colleagues to integrate financial systems with other enterprise systems.
• Preparation and submission of statutory and regulatory reports to authorities, and provision of support to other departments in their preparation and review of regulatory reports.
• Coordination with external auditors and regulatory authorities in support of audits and examinations.

Vice President Expectations

• To contribute or set strategy, drive requirements and make recommendations for change. Plan resources, budgets, and policies; manage and maintain policies/ processes; deliver continuous improvements and escalate breaches of policies/procedures.
• If managing a team, they define jobs and responsibilities, planning for the department’s future needs and operations, counselling employees on performance and contributing to employee pay decisions/changes. They may also lead a number of specialists to influence the operations of a department, in alignment with strategic as well as tactical priorities, while balancing short and long term goals and ensuring that budgets and schedules meet corporate requirements.
• If the position has leadership responsibilities, People Leaders are expected to demonstrate a clear set of leadership behaviours to create an environment for colleagues to thrive and deliver to a consistently excellent standard. The four LEAD behaviours are: L – Listen and be authentic, E – Energise and inspire, A – Align across the enterprise, D – Develop others.
• OR for an individual contributor, they will be a subject matter expert within own discipline and will guide technical direction. They will lead collaborative, multi-year assignments and guide team members through structured assignments, identify the need for the inclusion of other areas of specialisation to complete assignments. They will train, guide and coach less experienced specialists and provide information affecting long term profits, organisational risks and strategic decisions.
• Advise key stakeholders, including functional leadership teams and senior management on functional and cross functional areas of impact and alignment.
• Manage and mitigate risks through assessment, in support of the control and governance agenda.
• Demonstrate leadership and accountability for managing risk and strengthening controls in relation to the work your team does.
• Demonstrate comprehensive understanding of the organisation functions to contribute to achieving the goals of the business.
• Collaborate with other areas of work, for business aligned support areas to keep up to speed with business activity and the business strategies.
• Create solutions based on sophisticated analytical thought comparing and selecting complex alternatives. In-depth analysis with interpretative thinking will be required to define problems and develop innovative solutions.
• Adopt and include the outcomes of extensive research in problem solving processes.
• Seek out, build and maintain trusting relationships and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders in order to accomplish key business objectives, using influencing and negotiating skills to achieve outcomes.

All colleagues will be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Values of Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence and Stewardship – our moral compass, helping us do what we believe is right. They will also be expected to demonstrate the Barclays Mindset – to Empower, Challenge and Drive – the operating manual for how we behave.

As Financial Controller VP, you’ll lead the preparation, analysis, and timely submission of regulatory reports to UAE authorities, including the Central Bank of the UAE. You’ll embed strong control frameworks and operating models, ensuring robust documentation, end-to-end assurance, and consistently high-quality regulatory submissions. You will also oversee core accounting activities, including monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements, along with detailed variance analysis to support strategic planning and informed decision‑making.

In this role, you’ll serve as the primary liaison for senior internal stakeholders, auditors, and oversight committees. This includes interpreting regulatory requirements, addressing queries, and providing clear guidance on complex matters. Your blend of technical expertise, governance discipline, and strong stakeholder management will be essential in maintaining compliance and driving operational excellence.

Essential Criteria

• Central Bank UAE regulatory reporting experience
• Strong financial control background, including Financial Statement preparation
• Solid understanding of indirect and direct tax
• Fluency in English with excellent communication skills