Project Finance Business Partner

TAIT; Dubai Emirate; On-site; AED 420,000 - 650,000; Full time

Job summary

TAIT is seeking a Project Finance Business Partner in the UAE to independently validate and assure the accuracy of project forecasts in construction and large, complex environments. You will work with Project Management and Operations to confirm values, costs to complete, margins and risks.

Beyond traditional accounting, the role engages upstream with project teams to strengthen governance, forecast reliability, and financial discipline across the project lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, or related field with professional accreditation.
• 8+ years in finance, including 5+ years in project finance or related areas.
• Hands-on with site visits and project valuations (percent complete, earned value, cost-to-complete).
• Strong grasp of contracts, change orders, cost forecasting, and margin management.
• IFRS 15 knowledge for long-term contracts.

Responsibilities

• Review project forecasts including contract value, revenue, cost-to-complete and margin.
• Challenge Project Manager assumptions with supporting data from contracts and progress.
• Identify gaps, inconsistencies and emerging financial risks in forecasts.
• Reconcile on-site progress with reported financial performance.
• Flag risks affecting cost, margin or schedule.
• Support bid stage with cost build-ups, margin analysis and payment milestones.
• Review contracts, variations and change orders against financial projections.
• Validate IFRS 15 revenue recognition and project accounting inputs.
• Produce monthly project portfolio reports and feed forecasts into budgets.
• Present performance and recommendations to Finance Director and leadership.

Skills

IFRS 15 knowledge

Project finance

Contract risk management

Financial modeling

Advanced Excel

Education

Bachelor's degree in finance/accounting

ACCA/ACA/CPA/CMA

Tools

Epicor ERP

ERP project costing

Job description

TAIT partners with artists, brands, IP holders and place makers to bring culture-defining, never-before-seen experiences to life. With a legacy of innovation spanning over 45 years, TAIT has grown from pioneering in rock 'n' roll concert staging to setting the global standard for extraordinary live events and experiences through cutting-edge technology, precision engineering, and creative design. TAIT’s 20 global offices have developed iconic productions and experiences in over 30 countries, all seven continents, and even outer space for renowned performers, theme parks, exhibits, and venues across the globe, including partnerships with Taylor Swift, Cirque Du Soleil, Royal Opera House, Nike, NASA, Bloomberg, Google, Beyoncé, and The Olympics.

Position Purpose

The Project Finance Business Partner acts as a trusted financial partner to Project Management and Operations, with a primary focus on independently validating and assuring the accuracy of project financial forecasts in construction and large, complex project environments.

This role partners closely with Project Managers throughout the project lifecycle to confirm projected contract values, costs to complete, margins, and financial risks. Through financial review, site engagement, and valuation analysis, the role ensures leadership has a clear, unbiased view of project financial performance and emerging risks.

Unlike traditional project accounting roles focused on month-end close, this position operates upstream and alongside project teams, strengthening financial discipline, governance, and forecast reliability. It reviews project-related accounting and month-end inputs, while the accounting team handles transactional accounting.

Responsibilities

Project forecasting and financial assurance

• Independently review project forecasts: contract value, revenue, cost-to-complete and margin.
• Challenge Project Manager assumptions so forecasts are supported by contract terms, scope, progress and cost data.
• Identify gaps, inconsistencies and emerging financial risks in project forecasts and escalates them early.
• Compare actual project performance with budget and forecast and investigate material variances.
• Set consistent project forecasting methods, templates and documentation standards.

Site engagement and valuation

• Review and validate project valuations: percent complete, earned value, and cost-to-complete.
• Reconcile on-site progress with reported financial performance.
• Flag productivity, sequencing, subcontractor and site risks that may affect cost, margin or schedule.

Commercial and contract oversight

• Support the Finance Director at bid stage with cost build-ups, margin analysis and payment milestone structures.
• Review contracts, variations and change orders to confirm they align with financial projections.
• Help Project Managers understand the financial impact of scope changes, change orders and execution risks.
• Partner with Project Management from award through close-out, providing insight and constructive challenge.

Revenue recognition and project accounting

• Validate project revenue recognition under IFRS 15 (percentage of completion), working with Project Management and Project Accounting to ensure inputs are complete and accurate.
• Review month-end project cost capture, accrued revenue, deferred revenue and project provisions.
• Ensure billing milestones, progress and recognized revenue stay aligned.

Project cash and working capital

• Track project billing, collections, retentions and payment milestones against contract terms.
• Support Project and Sales teams in resolving overdue project receivables.
• Provide project cash inputs to the MENA cash forecast.

Project reporting and planning

• Produce the monthly project portfolio report: margins, forecast movements, risks and opportunities, and backlog.
• Feed validated project forecasts into the company budget and forecasts.
• Present project performance and recommendations to the Finance Director and regional leadership.

Accounting, close and compliance support

• Review project-related month-end journals and reconciliations, providing input to the accounting team as required.
• Support the year-end audit on contract revenue, work in progress, and project balances.
• Support the Finance Director and accounting team with the VAT and WHT treatment of project invoices and subcontractor payments.

Position Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, or a related field, plus ACCA, ACA, CPA, or CMA.
• 8+ years in finance, including 5+ years in project finance, project controls, or commercial finance in construction, events, or other project-based businesses.
• Hands-on experience with site visits and project valuations (percent complete, earned value, cost-to-complete).
• Strong grasp of project contracts, change orders, cost forecasting, and margin management.
• Working knowledge of IFRS 15 for long-term contracts.

Preferred

• Experience with Epicor or a similar ERP and project costing system.
• Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills.
• Experience in live entertainment or events production.
• Working knowledge of UAE and KSA VAT and WHT.

#LI-LT1

TAIT is an equal opportunity employer fully committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran or any other protected characteristic as outlined by international, national, state, or local laws.