Job Description
Roles & Responsibilities
We are seeking a fully qualified, commercially astute Finance Manager to lead the finance function of our Fitout division. The successful candidate will own end-to-end financial reporting, planning, compliance and treasury, while partnering closely with project managers and operational stakeholders to protect project margins and drive sound financial decision-making. This is a hands-on leadership role suited to a professional who combines strong technical accounting expertise with practical experience in a construction, fitout or contracting environment.
Financial Reporting & Compliance
- Prepare timely and accurate financial statements and management accounts in full compliance with IFRS.
- Ensure correct application of contracting-specific standards, including IFRS 15 (revenue recognition / percentage-of-completion) and work-in-progress (WIP) accounting.
- Maintain robust internal controls, accounting policies and month-end / year-end close processes.
- Lead the annual audit; act as primary liaison with external auditors, tax consultants and banks.
Tax & Regulatory
- Manage compliance with UAE Corporate Tax, Transfer Pricing and VAT regulations, including filings, documentation and advisory coordination.
- Keep the business current on evolving UAE tax and regulatory requirements and assess their impact.
Planning, Budgeting & MIS
- Own the budgeting, forecasting and financial planning cycle across the division and at project level.
- Produce insightful MIS and management reporting for leadership, including variance analysis and profitability by project.
- Provide financial analysis to support bids, tenders and commercial decisions.
Project & Cost Finance (Fitout / Contracting)
- Oversee project cost accounting, job costing, WIP and cost-to-complete estimates.
- Manage progress billing / interim payment certificates (IPCs), retention accounting (receivable and payable), and variation orders / claims.
- Monitor project cash flows, margin erosion and cost overruns; partner with PMs to protect profitability.
- Administer bonds and guarantees (performance bonds, advance payment guarantees) and related trade finance.
Treasury, Cash Flow & Working Capital
- Lead cash flow management and forecasting, critical to a project-driven, retention-heavy business.
- Manage treasury operations, banking relationships, facilities, letters of credit and working-capital optimisation.
Transactional Finance
- Oversee Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable, including subcontractor and supplier payments and collections.
- Ensure disciplined credit control and healthy DSO / DPO performance.
Business Partnering & Operations
- Partner with project managers and cross-functional stakeholders to embed financial discipline into operations.
- Act as a trusted finance advisor to divisional leadership.
Systems & Digital Transformation
- Drive digital initiatives, upgrading finance systems, processes and controls.
- Leverage ERP capabilities and emerging AI tools to improve efficiency, reporting and forecasting accuracy.
Leadership
- Lead, develop and mentor the divisional finance team.
Desired Candidate Profile
- Fully qualified Chartered Accountant – CA / ACCA / CIMA (or equivalent recognised professional accounting body). (Mandatory)
- Minimum 7 years post-qualification experience in a finance role.
- Minimum 3 years UAE / Gulf (GCC) experience.
- Prior experience in construction / fitout / contracting – strongly preferred.
- Background with a Big 4 / large audit firm – added advantage.
- Hands-on experience with ERP systems and familiarity with AI-enabled finance tools.
Skills & Competencies
- Strong technical command of IFRS and relevant contracting standards.
- Practical knowledge of UAE Corporate Tax, Transfer Pricing and VAT.
- Excellent financial modelling, budgeting, forecasting and MIS capabilities.
- Solid grasp of treasury, cash flow and working-capital management.
- Confident with ERP platforms and digitalisation of finance processes.
- Strong leadership, people-management and stakeholder-management skills.
- Excellent communication skills – able to translate financial data for non-finance stakeholders such as project managers.
- Commercial mindset, high attention to detail, and ability to perform under deadline pressure across multiple concurrent projects.
Preferred / Added Advantage
- Big 4 or large audit-firm training.
- Direct fitout / interior contracting exposure.
- Experience implementing or upgrading ERP systems.
Employment Type