Finance Manager, UAE

Spencer Stuart is looking for a Finance Manager UAE to work directly with office management and the corporate accounting team to assist with all facets of financial transactions and business analysis. The individual will be responsible for the general accounting, financial reporting, payroll, and being a business partner to the local Office Manager to help drive the success of the Dubai office.

Key relationships

Reports to

Regional Finance Director EMEA

Other key relationships

EMEA Region Controller

Worldwide Office Accountants

Office Manager, Consultants, Executive Assistants, Associates

Human Resources

Key responsibilities

• Responsible for financial strategy, financial planning and analysis, financial reports, company audits and managing the Finance function for UAE.
• Acting as key interface and point of contact to local management.
• Responsible for the overall end-to-end finance function in the UAE including the monthly financial close, budget, forecast, year-end close, statutory and tax audits and cash management.
• Sparring partner for the Office Manager at all levels (operationally, tactically, and strategically) and supports the Office Manager in planning and creation of budgets and forecasts.
• Analyses and challenges assumptions for decision making and provide financial analysis / guidance on all activities.
• Analyze and review financial and business information effectively to extract useful business insights.
• Work closely with the Global Financial Center in Poland that handles transactional work such as Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable and expense reimbursements to ensure accuracy and timeliness.
• Participate in miscellaneous finance and office related projects or assignments as needed.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

The Finance Manager is a highly motivated individual who is self-disciplined with tremendous attention to detail. This individual has a demonstrated ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines in a fast-paced professional environment. He or she will have strong organizational skills and the ability to proactively work with other departments, colleagues and clients in an international environment.

Ideal experience

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting required as a minimum, master’s degree preferred.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in the financial accounting department of an international professional services company, preferably within a Big Four firm or a law firm.
• Demonstrated work experience in Dubai’s International Financial Centre (DIFC).
• Proven track record in payroll & benefit topics
• Fluency in English is a must, Fluency in Arabic as a plus.
• Proven experience with IFRS, and local GAAP is a strong advantage.
• Understanding of the key drivers and KPIs of performance and can explain variances versus budget / forecast related to underlying business activities.

Critical capabilities

Accountancy

In a fast-paced environment with competing goals and priorities, the ideal candidate will prepare accurate financial reports using our proprietary database (Quest), Workday and Tableau by:

• Conducting all day-to-day accounting activities for all entities.
• Evaluate general ledger accounts and prepare journal entries.
• Balance sheet reconciliations including accruals and prepayments.
• Preparing monthly and quarterly reports (financial reviews, monthly variance explanations and cash and P&L forecast reports).
• Prepare forecasts and budgets for each fiscal year.
• Maintain balance sheet reconciliations including accruals and prepayments.
• Manage fixed assets.
• Review accounting procedures to improve efficiency.
• Manage any taxes as required as well as all tax declarations, and all other required reports by local law.
• Main point of contact for external audits, and tax audits.

Business Analytics and Insights

Synthesize financial data and provide an accurate, detailed financial view of the business by:

• Maintain and deliver high quality financial and business analysis including recommendations to solve business problems as well as influence and challenge current decisions.
• Analyze and review financial and business information effectively to extract useful business insights.
• Monitor the actual performance against plan and monthly update of risks & opportunities against plan. Suggest mitigating measures and ensuring execution of measures based on decisions of the local management and ensuring tight cost control.
• Provide ad-hoc financial analysis regarding costs and revenue for the local management and the consultants. Structuring financial data to allow for efficient reporting and analyses to drive fact-based decision making.

Payroll & Benefits

• Running the monthly payroll.
• Handling all year-end activities related to personnel and submitting all necessary reports to local authorities in a timely manner.
• Process all tasks in relation to Dubai Employment Welfare Scheme.

Legal developments/organization structures

Remain fully abreast of all legal developments in the Region regarding the above-mentioned responsibilities and tasks. Keep track of organization structures and the underlying requirements

Personal characteristics

• Strong written and verbal communication skills: ability to explain financial information to non-financial colleagues and sparring partners.
• Very good time management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities to meet tight deadlines.
• Very good problem-solving skills with a continuous improvement mind-set.
• Result oriented to achieve a high level of quality.
• Willing to take ownership, hardworking, persistent and team-oriented personality.
• Very good software skills, preferably used to work with Workday, and High IT affinity and interest in Software related questions.
• High level of integrity and adaptability, team-oriented personality, willingness to take ownership.
• Flexible and stress-resistant, able to stand the hectic pressure of a project-based activity.