Financial Controller

Cisco; Riyadh; On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Cisco is seeking a Senior Financial Controller in Riyadh, tasked with overseeing compliance and financial reporting for multiple entities. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in accounting within an international setting, exceptional analytical skills, and fluency in Arabic. This role supports a collaborative environment aimed at continuous improvement and strategic financial management.

Benefits

Hybrid work support

Community engagement opportunities

Diversity and inclusion initiatives

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of relevant accounting experience, preferably in an international setting.
• Strong knowledge of US GAAP, Saudi regulations, and IFRS expected.
• Bilingual communication skills (English and Arabic) are required.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Group Accounting and Reporting for the country.
• Ensure compliance with local and US accounting standards across Cisco entities.
• Manage statutory and internal audits, coordinating with stakeholders.

Skills

Data analysis skills

Effective communication

Problem-solving skills

Strong business acumen

Education

Recognized accounting qualification

Tools

Oracle

Hyperion

MS Excel

PowerPoint

Word

Job description

The job ad is for a senior financial controller (individual contributor) – a new role / an addition to the existing team. The finalist must be a fluent / bilingual Arabic speaker.

Role Overview

The Financial Controller position covers ownership and accountability for the Record to Report (R2R) figures reported in country for both local GAAP and US GAAP. The Controller is expected to ensure the Company’s compliance with all local finance and accounting statutes. The role provides accounting oversight supported by outsourced operations. This position will have financial control over Cisco entities in Saudi Arabia. A successful Controller will build and maintain excellent working relationships with other Finance functions such as Tax, Treasury, Sales, and Service Finance, as well as with Business leaders and third-party professional firms like external auditors.

Who We Are

We change the World. Everything is converging on the Internet, making networked connections more meaningful than ever. Our employees' innovative ideas impact all aspects of life. Cisco is evolving a rich portfolio of next-generation software, hardware, and services to meet the needs of our customers in the digital age.

What You’ll Do

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Group Accounting and Reporting Organization for the country.
• Own and be accountable for the R2R figures reported in Cisco legal entities, ensuring effective delivery and compliance with Cisco policies.
• Serve as the escalation point at the entity level, resolving or escalating critical Global Accounting and Reporting issues promptly, with root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Ensure statutory and tax compliance for three entities in the country.
• Manage Cisco internal audits and controls (ICS, GRC, SOX).
• Coordinate with the close consolidation team to ensure accurate closing of entities.
• Handle tasks requiring physical presence in the country, such as releasing bank payments and managing physical documents.

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Oversee dispute resolution processes.
• Supervise outsourced accounting teams for accuracy.
• Collaborate with peers and external auditors, providing final sign-off on statutory accounts.
• Coordinate with authorities during physical visits.
• Conduct country reviews of the balance sheet with management.
• Work with cross-financial partners on corporate finance initiatives.
• Act as the main contact for the FP&A team regarding actuals and forecasts.

Continuous Improvement

• Update Cisco policies in response to legislative changes.
• Participate in significant model changes.
• Identify opportunities for innovation and scalability.
• Address cross-region improvement areas.
• Lead projects related to processes and accounting requirements.

Minimum Qualifications

• Recognized accounting qualification.
• At least 8 years of relevant experience, preferably in an international and cross-functional environment.
• Strong knowledge of US GAAP, Saudi regulations, IFRS, and Saudi Local Content Score requirements.
• Excellent communication skills in English and full fluency in Arabic.
• Experience dealing with local authorities.

Technical Skills

• Data analysis skills.
• Knowledge of Oracle, Hyperion (advantageous), MS Excel, PowerPoint, Word.

Personal Attributes

• Effective communicator and listener.
• Strong business acumen.
• Team player with problem-solving skills.
• Proactive in driving best practices and initiatives.
• Ability to interpret local and US GAAP requirements.
• Independent worker capable of managing vendors.

Why Cisco

#WeAreCisco celebrates diversity and inclusion, fostering a culture of learning, development, and innovation. We support hybrid work, community engagement, and making a difference through our inclusive communities and volunteer programs. Join us to power an inclusive future and be your authentic self.