Senior Finance Manager – UAE

The Role

The Finance Manager will oversee all Finance operations in UAE including Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Sharjah, ensuring full compliance with IFRS and Group policies. This role is pivotal in driving budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting while acting as a strategic partner to senior leadership. The ideal candidate is a proactive leader with strong technical expertise, analytical acumen, and a proven ability to lead high-performing finance teams.

Key Responsibilities

Financial/Operational Oversight

• Ensure AR and AP processes adhere to company policies and controls.
• Maintain accurate customer reconciliations and revenue recognition.
• Manage regional expenditures and monthly recharges to Group.
• Conduct regular intercompany reconciliations.
• Manage payroll, commission review & payments and employee provisions in coordination with HR.
• Lead weekly/monthly credit control meetings and ensure timely collections.
• Maintain and reconcile monthly balance sheet schedules.

Financial Reporting & Compliance

• Lead the monthly closing process in line with IFRS and Group standards.
• Submit accurate and timely Hyperion reports to Group Finance.
• Ensure proper accounting treatment and accurate posting of all transactions.
• Align provisions with Group ECL policy and communicate updates to the Director of Finance.
• Analyze P&L variances against budget/forecast and prior years, providing actionable insights.

Budgeting & Forecasting

• Drive the annual Budgeting process and quarterly Rolling Forecasts (RFs).
• Maintain dynamic working files for scenario planning and regular reviews.

Treasury & Cash Management

• Oversee daily cash management, bank reconciliations, and liquidity planning across all UAE entities.
• Manage banking relationships and negotiate terms to optimize cash flow and financing arrangements.
• Ensure optimal utilization of working capital and maintain robust treasury controls.
• Support treasury reporting requirements for Group Finance and ensure alignment with global policies.

Audit & Controls

• Coordinate with internal and external auditors to ensure timely and accurate audits.
• Strengthen internal financial controls and champion process improvements.
• Oversee CT/VAT filings and ensure compliance through coordination with third-party providers.

Business Partnering & Strategic Support

• Serve as a trusted advisor to stakeholders and Heads of Departments.
• Lead project-based financial forecasting in collaboration with department heads.
• Deliver monthly cash flow forecasts and proactively flag funding requirements across entities.
• Mentor and develop finance team members to enhance performance and career growth.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• Strong technical accounting knowledge, ideally in a service-based, multi-division, multi-currency environment.
• Proficiency in managing finance systems and applications.
• Demonstrated success in process improvement and automation.
• Advanced analytical skills for interpreting complex financial data.
• Effective leadership and mentoring capabilities.
• Minimum 7 years of experience, including at least 4 years in a Finance Manager role.
• Strong regional experience in the UAE or GCC
• A professional qualification such as CMA, CPA, ACCA, or CA
• Prior experience with one of the Big 4 audit firms
• Experience with SUN Systems, Hyperion & D365 is a plus.