Finance Director, dnata Catering Ireland

dnata; Dublin; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

dnata Catering & Retail Ireland is seeking a Finance Director to provide strategic financial leadership across budgeting, forecasting, governance, and reporting for Ireland operations, in close partnership with the Managing Director and regional finance leadership.

Based in Dublin, this role oversees IT, drives cost optimisation, capital management, compliance and risk, while building a high-performance finance team and delivering sustainable value.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 5+ years in end-to-end operational financial processes.
• 2+ years reporting to CFO/CEO/Board of Directors or equivalent.
• ACA, CPA, ACCA or CIMA certifications.
• Advanced IT proficiency including ERP systems and reporting tools.
• Strong organizational, communication and analytical skills.
• Delivery-focused with a drive for continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Shape and drive strategic financial leadership for Ireland operations.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting and long-range planning.
• Oversee governance, compliance, tax and audit functions.
• Drive cost optimisation and revenue growth opportunities.
• Lead cash flow, treasury and working capital management.
• Develop and mentor the finance team and IT lead.

Skills

Strategic finance

Stakeholder mgmt

ERP systems

Financial reporting

Education

ACA/CPA/ACCA/CIMA certifications

Tools

Microsoft Office

ERP systems

Reporting tools

Job description

dnata is more than a global air and travel services provider. We connect people with possibilities and opportunities across 130+ airports in 34 countries through ground handling, cargo, travel, and catering & retail services. Our purpose is clear: to deliver on the promises our customers make. We are powered by a bold vision to be the world’s most admired air and travel services provider, which guides our strategy, culture, and every role across our teams. Our core values fuel everything we do: we are safe, we play to win, we respect everyone and work together as a team, and we are future thinking. At dnata, we foster diversity, nurture ambition, and celebrate achievement. If you're inspired by purpose and motivated to be part of a global team shaping the future of aviation and travel, we’d love to have you onboard.

Based in Dublin Airport Logistics Park, dnata Catering & Retail Ireland provides catering and inflight services to several international airlines operating from Dublin, Cork & Shannon Airport. We deliver high quality inflight catering and innovative onboard retail programmes to airline partners across Ireland, with a culture anchored in dnata’s values. In September 2020, we expanded operations with a state-of-the art facility that quadrupled our catering capacity to enable the delivery of 40,000 quality inflight meals a day. Covering an area of 6,300m², our new facility is equipped with the latest technologies.

As a Finance Director, you will be a key member of the dnata Catering & Retail Ireland Executive Leadership Team, providing strategic financial leadership to drive business performance, growth and sustainable results. You will lead the finance function across financial planning, reporting, governance, compliance, risk management and commercial decision support, while ensuring robust financial controls and performance improvement.

Working closely with the Managing Director and regional finance leadership, you will provide insight and challenge to support strategic decision-making within a complex operational environment serving airline customers across Ireland. The role also has accountability for the Head of IT.

This role is based in Dublin, Ireland.

In this role, you will

• Partner with the Managing Director and leadership team to shape and execute business strategy, translating objectives into financial plans, targets and actionable insights
• Provide strategic financial and commercial advice, identifying opportunities to drive revenue growth, profitability, cost optimisation and operational efficiency
• Lead annual budgeting, forecasting, long-range planning and financial performance management, providing clear KPIs and dashboards to drive accountability
• Deliver accurate and timely financial reporting and analysis to local, regional and Group stakeholders, challenging assumptions and enabling data-driven decision-making
• Support commercial decision-making, including pricing, contract negotiations, customer profitability, investment proposals, capital expenditure, strategic partnerships and potential acquisitions
• Provide strategic oversight of the IT function, ensuring technology, digital transformation, infrastructure and systems are aligned with business priorities
• Lead and sponsor technology-enabled continuous improvement across ERP, HR, finance and operational systems, ensuring strong governance, risk and compliance
• Ensure robust financial controls, governance, policies and procedures are maintained, with oversight of statutory, tax, regulatory and corporate compliance and audit requirements
• Lead cash flow forecasting, treasury and working capital management, ensuring effective capital allocation, balance sheet management and sustainable cash generation
• Identify and mitigate financial, operational and commercial risks, maintaining appropriate risk management and insurance frameworks
• Act as a trusted advisor to operational and functional leaders, promoting strong financial stewardship and continuous improvement across the organisation
• Lead, coach and develop the finance team and Head of IT, building organisational capability through talent development, succession planning and a high-performance, collaborative and customer-focused culture

To be considered for the role, you must meet the below requirements

• Bachelor's degree, 5+ years’ experience with end-to-end operational financial processes, implementing financial and system controls in a medium size business
• At least 2 years’ experience in a role reporting to Senior Stakeholders (i.e. CFO, CEO, Board of Directors)
• Certifications such as ACA, CPA, ACCA, CIMA
• Advanced IT proficiency, including Microsoft Office, ERP systems and reporting tools
• Strong organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritise effectively and meet tight deadlines
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across functions
• Strong analytical and numerical capability, with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Results-driven, with a strong focus on delivery, quality and continuous improvement