Director – Finance, Risk Management, and Compliance

Azizi Developments stands as one of the UAE’s leading private real estate developers. Behind our iconic projects is a high-performing corporate team that drives strategy, innovation, and growth. Our professionals, spanning finance, HR, marketing, legal, and operations, play a vital role in shaping the future of our business. We operate with a keen sense of purpose, transparency, and integrity, committed to creating value at every level. If you seek to be part of a results-oriented, fast-paced environment where your contributions truly matter, Azizi is the ideal place to advance your career.

Role Description:

Azizi Developments is seeking a highly experienced and strategic Director – Finance, Risk Management, and Compliance within the Internal Audit function, focused primarily on driving excellence in Finance Operations, Risk Management, and Compliance audits. This leadership role demands a results-driven professional with a deep understanding of finance processes, risk-based auditing, internal controls, and regulatory compliance within finance operations.

The Director will report to the Executive Director – Internal Audit, who in turn reports to the Chief Internal Audit . The role involves overseeing the auditing of finance-related operations, ensuring robust internal controls, compliance, and risk frameworks are implemented and maintained. The Director will support transitioning the finance audit function from a traditional compliance approach to a strategic advisory role, driving operational efficiencies and enhanced governance across financial processes.

Responsibilities:

• Lead, plan, and execute comprehensive audits focused on finance operations, covering critical areas such as accounts payable and receivable, treasury management, financial reporting, budgeting, taxation, payroll, and financial systems. Ensure all audits assess both the efficiency of processes and the integrity of financial data.
• Oversee risk management and compliance audits related to finance, ensuring strict alignment with applicable regulatory requirements, internal policies, and international standards, with a focus on mitigating financial risks and strengthening control environments.
• Collaborate closely with and report directly to the Executive Director – Internal Audit to ensure that audit plans, execution, and findings are aligned with the broader Internal Audit strategy and organizational priorities.
• Support the Executive Director – Internal Audit and Chief Audit Officer in transforming the finance audit function from a traditional compliance-driven role to a strategic risk advisory and governance-focused model that promotes continuous process improvement and value addition.
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve robust audit methodologies, frameworks, and tools specifically designed to address finance operational risks, regulatory compliance, and control effectiveness.
• Provide independent assurance on the effectiveness of internal controls over financial transactions and reporting, ensuring compliance with accounting standards (IFRS), regulatory frameworks, and best practices. Drive and oversee the implementation of the Internal Controls over Financial Reporting (ICFR) framework to safeguard accuracy and reliability in financial disclosures.
• Liaise effectively with external auditors to facilitate audits, address control gaps, and ensure accuracy, completeness, and transparency in financial reporting processes. Foster a collaborative relationship that supports timely and accurate statutory and regulatory financial disclosures.
• Identify and assess key finance-related business risks, operational inefficiencies, and control weaknesses, providing actionable recommendations and mitigation strategies to enhance operational resilience and safeguard company assets.
• Maintain active operational involvement with finance teams to ensure the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of financial reporting and management information systems (MIS). Oversee the integrity and reliability of in-house MIS to support informed decision-making and regulatory compliance.
• Collaborate extensively with finance leadership and other senior management stakeholders to translate audit findings into effective process improvements and risk mitigation actions, driving operational excellence and financial discipline across the organization.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with UAE financial regulations, international accounting and auditing standards, and corporate governance principles within all finance audit activities.
• Mentor, coach, and lead a team of internal auditors specializing in finance, fostering a culture of high performance, continuous learning, and professional development.
• Prepare and present clear, concise, and impactful audit reports and insights to the Executive Director – Internal Audit and senior management, emphasizing finance operation risks, control gaps, and improvement opportunities.
• Partner closely with finance, legal, risk management, and compliance functions to develop and implement an integrated governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) framework that strengthens the overall control environment and supports strategic business objectives.
• Stay abreast of evolving financial regulations, audit standards, industry best practices, and emerging technologies, proactively adapting audit approaches and leveraging data analytics to enhance audit effectiveness and operational value.
• Champion the adoption of technology, automation, and data analytics in audit processes to drive efficiency, improve risk detection, and enable deeper insights into finance operations.

Here's what you'll need:

• Chartered Accountant (CA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), CPA, ACCA, or equivalent professional certification is mandatory.
• Advanced training or certification in Internal Controls over Financial Reporting (ICFR), risk management, or financial compliance is highly desirable.
• Minimum 15 to 20 years of progressive internal audit experience with a strong focus on finance operations auditing, including at least 5 years in a senior leadership role overseeing finance risk, compliance, and controls.
• Proven track record of leading finance audits covering accounts payable/receivable, treasury, financial reporting, budgeting, taxation, payroll, and financial systems.
• Demonstrated experience in managing the implementation and continuous improvement of ICFR frameworks within complex organizations.
• Significant operational involvement in ensuring accurate financial reporting and management information systems (MIS) reliability.
• Experience liaising effectively with external auditors to support statutory audits and enhance financial reporting accuracy.
• Strong background in risk assessment, internal controls, compliance monitoring, and corporate governance frameworks.
• Experience working in construction, real estate, finance, or large-scale project-based industries is preferred