Senior Finance Manager

Wood PLC; Al Bihouth; On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A global engineering firm is seeking a Senior Finance Manager in the UAE to oversee financial operations and support decision-making processes. The role demands extensive experience in managing finance teams across various regions and provides a significant influence in business strategy and financial performance. Candidates should have at least 10 years of accounting experience and be professionally qualified. This position emphasizes strong business partnering and leadership skills.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of relevant accounting experience.
• Strong experience in business partnering.
• Excellent track record in people management.
• Demonstrable commercial experience.

Responsibilities

• Manage all financial matters including month-end reporting.
• Drive profit improvement and financial performance.
• Ownership of budgets and forecasts.
• Lead finance team across multiple countries.

Skills

Business partnering

People management

Commercial awareness

Financial analysis

Problem-solving

Education

Professionally qualified accountant

Tools

Financial systems knowledge

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Objective

This role is for the Senior Finance Manager in the Middle East, Africa & Caspian (MEAC) region, a business with $0.5Bn+ revenues across multiple geographies. The MEAC business is part of the wider Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) Business Group (BG) which sits within the Operations BU. The global Operations BU comprises of 3 BG's - EMEA, Operations Americas and Operations APAC.

The position has dual reporting responsibilities to the MEAC Operational SVP and the EMEA Finance VP and is therefore a key part of both operational and functional leadership teams.

Business partnering is a key element of the role in providing finance and decision-making support through building relationships and promoting close links with operational leadership. The business partner element to the role is to provide analysis, insight and views in respect of the financial performance of the business, be a trusted advisor and to add value that will assist in broader business decision making.

The role carries profit and loss, working capital responsibility, and broader balance sheet accountability across the various entities in the region. Other main aspects of the role include governance, financial control, internal and external reporting, financial forecasting and cash collection.

The role will include direct / indirect responsibility for finance teams supporting activities in the UAE, Iraq, Qatar, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Equatorial Guinea - team management and development are an essential element of the role.

This role has responsibility for ensuring that all Group requirements are adhered to and that any financial risks are understood and mitigated as appropriate.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Full responsibility for all financial matters including accurate and timely completion of monthly reporting, optimising financial performance; provide stewardship over profit improvement plans

Report business / country / contract portfolio financial performance to senior management including variance analysis, accounts receivables, DSO, accruals / provisions and unbilled analysis

Ownership / co-ordination of annual budget, forecasts and rolling forecasts in conjunction with senior operational

Ensure forecasting accuracy and predictability through the rolling forecast v monthly actual result process

Overall ownership of monthly customer billing to ensure invoices are prepared in accordance with the commercial terms of the contract

Responsible for driving sustainable working capital improvements and / or maintaining performance working with operational management, project managers, supply chain and other relevant areas to optimise cash collection and minimise DSO, including customer relationships and reporting

Leadership and management of business / country / region finance team including recruitment, staff development, performance management and the setting of objectives

Challenge management to drive the highest levels of financial performance which includes understanding the cost base, allocated costs, revenue base and associated budget / forecast, support the business through actionable insights

Engagement with commercial teams on the pre award phase in terms of bids, rates, and relevant analysis and a key contact and team participant for such, including input to financial terms contained in contracts and bids where appropriate

Engagement with commercial teams on post contract award phase in terms of margin analysis looking for opportunities to drive improvements and commercial efficiencies, and attending key project reviews to ensure that reported financials are appropriate

Lead engagement with external and internal auditors to successfully complete relevant audits

Ownership of implementation and financial adherence with the finance operating model and support Finance function initiatives

Ensure that an effective control environment exists through compliance with all Group control frameworks, policies and procedures as relevant

Responsibility for relevant project accounting, including monthly reviews, analysis and project set up, accounting judgements and provisioning while working with relevant functions such as Commercial, Legal and Tax

Work with Operations and serve as a conduit between the business and Legal, Tax and Treasury, IT, Shared Services and Supply Chain

Strong HSE focus including leadership engagements

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Internal : Finance leadership, Operational leadership, Commercial, Supply Chain, P&O, wider corporate functions, Auditors

External : Auditors, customers, professional advisors, peer group

LEVEL OF INFLUENCE & DECISIONMAKING AUTHORITY

• High level of influence with a role in both business and functional leadership teams
• Team management and relevant performance management
• Decision making role for relevant business with level of DOA
• Significant influencing role as manager of large multi-geographical and cultural team
• Influencer as part of relevant finance and business leadership teams

QUALIFICATIONS

Qualifications :

Professionally qualified accountant

Knowledge, skills and experience :

Minimum of 10 years relevant accounting experience

Strong experience of business partnering

Excellent track record in people management

Demonstrable commercial experience

Previous experience of leading and developing a team

Good IT / Systems knowledge

Sound knowledge of Oil & Gas services business and accounting methodology

Personal attributes :

Sets example and fully participates in the company values building strong relationships across the business

Strong people skills and desire to develop the team, look to recruit the best

Manages with honesty and commitment

Ability to discuss issues clearly and concisely at all levels in the organisation

Ability to work proactively to analyse problems / issues and identify solutions

ABOUT US

Wood is a global leader in consulting and engineering, helping to unlock solutions to critical challenges in energy and materials markets. We provide consulting, projects and operations solutions in 60 countries, employing around 35,000 people.

Diversity Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer that recognises the value of a diverse workforce. All suitably qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment on the basis of objective criteria and without regard to the following (which is a non-exhaustive list) : race, colour, age, religion, gender, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or other characteristics in accordance with the relevant governing laws.