MENA Finance Manager

Emperor; Dubai; On-site; AED 250,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading finance firm is seeking a Finance Manager to oversee operations in the Middle East, including Dubai and Saudi Arabia. The ideal candidate will have over 5 years of experience, professional qualifications, and fluency in English and Arabic. Responsibilities include financial reporting, audit coordination, and cash flow management. The role is hybrid, requiring a minimum of 3 days in the office.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in the finance field.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic.
• Experience in both UAE and Saudi markets.
• Excellent knowledge of accounting and tax principles (IFRS).

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day accounting across the Middle East.
• Prepare accurate monthly management accounts.
• Coordinate external audits and tax filings.
• Maintain relationships with account management teams.

Skills

Build effective working relationships

Sound judgment

Excellent interpersonal skills

Can-do attitude

Strong organizational skills

Education

Professional qualification: CMA, ACCA, CA, or equivalent

Tools

Zoho Books

Power BI

Paprika

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Role

Reporting to the Head of Finance in the UK, this role is focused on:

• Leading day-to-day finance operations in the Middle East region – Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Saudi Arabia, an area of significant growth for the business.
• Preparation of accurate and timely local financial and commercial reporting.
• Effective coordination with external audit and tax partners to ensure all statutory reporting deadlines are met.
• Building strong relationships with clients, vendors, and partners within the wider Emperor Group, including working closely and effectively with the London finance team.
• Providing commercial support to the local Middle East management team.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day accounting across the Middle East region – including client invoicing, vendor payments, and reconciliations.
• Prepare accurate and timely monthly management accounts and supporting analysis, working alongside an external bookkeeper for local records.
• Oversee intercompany recharges within the region and wider group in line with transfer pricing regulations.
• Support on commercial finance matters and analysis as required.
• Maintain excellent relationships with account management teams and client procurement teams to ensure smooth submission and payment of client invoices.
• Coordinate external audits, tax filings, and regulatory reporting in cooperation with external advisors and auditors.
• Work effectively with external advisors to obtain ICV certifications and identify score improvements where possible.
• Prepare and submit monthly payroll filings and end-of-service processing.
• Complete accurate and timely VAT and withholding tax submissions in line with local regulations.
• Assist in effective cash flow management across the region and wider group.

Key skills

• Engaging and able to build effective working relationships with all stakeholders.
• Sound judgment and unquestionable business ethics.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• A can-do attitude and a collaborative approach to working in a close-knit team.
• Hands-on and able to self-manage.
• Flexible, adaptable in style and approach.
• An eye for detail, strong organizational skills, and the ability to consistently meet all deadlines.

Requirements for the role:

• Professional qualification: CMA, ACCA, CA, or equivalent (required).
• Minimum 5 years of experience in the finance field (required).
• Fluency in written and spoken English and (business) Arabic languages (required).
• Experience in both the UAE and Saudi markets (required).
• Prior experience in a similar industry (communications agency or service-based industry) is an advantage.
• Previous experience in audit (strongly preferred).
• Excellent knowledge of accounting and tax principles (IFRS) and ability to apply them (required).
• Proficiency in financial software (Zoho Books, Power BI, Paprika), as well as Microsoft Office (required).
• Hybrid role, minimum 3 days in the office.
• The role may be based in the UAE or Saudi Arabia, depending on the candidate, and must be willing to travel.

Next Steps

If you are successfully shortlisted for the role, the recruitment team will contact you via email, and the process will begin from there. We aim to contact applicants within 5 working days of application, though this may vary depending on application volume. Good luck!

As an employer, we are committed to ensuring the representation of people from all backgrounds regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, disability status, or other aspects that make individuals unique. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and encourage you to let us know if there are steps we can take to make the recruitment process more accessible.