Strategic MENA COO & Finance Leader

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP; Dubai; On-site; AED 918,000 - 1,469,000; Full time

Job summary

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP in Dubai is seeking a MENA Chief Operating Officer and Director of Finance to provide strategic and operational leadership across the region, coordinating finance, IT and other operations to support the firm's regional strategy.

This role partners with the MENA Leadership, oversees business continuity, governance, cost control, and real estate, and drives transformation, data analytics, and risk management to protect the firm's reputation and profitability.

Qualifications

• 10–15 years of broad-based business operations leadership experience, including with a major law firm.
• Experience coordinating multiple business functions and mentoring teams.
• Proven success in enterprise change management and strategic execution.
• Strong business, financial and commercial acumen with strategic planning ability.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills; influence-based leadership.
• Strong drive, entrepreneurial spirit and results orientation.
• Undergraduate degree required; MBA or advanced degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across MENA, aligning finance, IT and operations.
• Collaborate with HR and leadership to execute regional strategy and structure.
• Lead business continuity, crisis management and risk governance across MENA.
• Develop regional plans, drive profitability and revenue growth opportunities.
• Drive business transformation and innovations in MENA operations.
• Deliver financial analysis and reporting; enable data-driven decision-making.
• Oversee regulatory governance and compliance, including AML and related regimes.
• Manage regional real estate portfolio and space utilisation strategies.
• Control costs and optimise operational efficiency across offices.

Skills

Leadership

Change management

Strategic planning

Financial acumen

Stakeholder management

Communication

People leadership

Business transformation

Data-driven decision making

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA or advanced degree preferred

Job description

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP in Dubai is seeking a MENA Chief Operating Officer and Director of Finance to provide strategic and operational leadership across the region, coordinating finance, IT and other operations to support the firm's regional strategy.

This role partners with the MENA Leadership, oversees business continuity, governance, cost control, and real estate, and drives transformation, data analytics, and risk management to protect the firm's reputation and profitability.