Regional Financial Controller
No salary listed
Expert
Dubai - United Arab Emirates
In Person
AccountingFinancial Accounting
About the job
Requirements
- A qualified accountant with a minimum of ten years of relevant finance experience.
- Significant financial controllership experience in a multi-entity and multi-currency environment in the Middle East, particularly across the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
- Strong knowledge of IFRS, statutory and management reporting, audit, tax compliance, treasury and working capital management.
- Experience in a project-based services business is essential.
- Practical experience using automation or AI tools to improve finance processes and analysis would be beneficial.
- Hands-on ability to move between detailed accounting matters and wider regional business priorities.
- Commercial awareness and confidence to challenge assumptions and recommend practical solutions.
- Ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines in a fast-moving environment.
- Ability to communicate financial issues as straightforward actions for non-finance colleagues.
- High integrity, sound judgement and a strong sense of ownership.
- Ability to work collaboratively across different cultures, entities and locations.
Responsibilities
- Own the monthly, quarterly and year-end close across the MENA entities, ensuring accurate results, appropriate cut-off and timely reporting to regional and Group stakeholders.
- Prepare and review management accounts, balance sheet reconciliations, cash flow reports and supporting schedules, with commentary on material movements, risks and required actions.
- Maintain the integrity of the general ledger, chart of accounts, master data and intercompany balances, and review work produced by the finance team.
- Ensure Group accounting policies and IFRS requirements are applied consistently across all MENA entities, providing guidance on complex or judgemental matters.
- Lead regional statutory audits and coordinate completion of financial statements and other external reporting.
- Work with the Finance Business Partner to resolve accounting issues affecting project reporting, and review revenue recognition, contract arrangements and margin treatment.
- Support assessment of accounting, tax and entity implications of new contracts, bids and cross-border activity, working with external advisers where needed.
- Maintain short- and medium-term cash flow forecasts across the region, and support the Regional Finance Director on funding and liquidity decisions.
- Review accounts receivable, collections, billing and accounts payable, focusing on reducing unbilled revenue and overdue receivables.
- Oversee payments, bank reconciliations, bank mandates and treasury controls, including cross-border and intercompany transactions.
- Ensure compliance with accounting, tax and regulatory requirements across MENA, manage statutory obligations, and coordinate with local advisers to ensure complete records, accurate submissions and timely payments.
- Maintain and improve controls over purchasing, supplier onboarding, expenses, payroll inputs, payments and balance sheet accounts.
- Identify control gaps and close them in ways that protect the business while enabling commercial activity to move efficiently.
- Own effective use and ongoing development of NetSuite across the MENA finance function.
- Automate finance processes to reduce manual work and allow the team to focus on review, analysis and decision support.
- Establish clear documentation for key finance processes, controls and system procedures.
- Lead, coach and develop a team of three, setting clear responsibilities, priorities and performance expectations.
- Ensure the team has the knowledge and cross-cover to sustain all key finance activities.
- Build a collaborative finance function that supports the business while maintaining appropriate challenge, accountability and control.
- Develop effective relationships across regional leadership, business unit heads, project teams, Group Finance, HR, Operations, banks, auditors and advisers.
Desired Qualifications
- Experience in sports, entertainment, events, sponsorship, marketing, media or agency businesses.
- Arabic language skills.
About the company
RISE Group Middle East is an independent consultancy that helps asset and rights owners maximize returns on investments through marketing and commercial services. It works with clients to design long-term commercial roadmaps, identify monetizable assets, and implement solutions such as naming rights, sponsorships, and strategic partnerships. Its approach combines asset development and brand-rights advisory across transport, infrastructure, recreation, sports, and culture, drawing on experience from major regional projects. The company aims to generate sustainable revenue growth for asset owners by creating collaborative revenue models and monetizing brand rights.
Company Size
51-200
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
Saudi Arabia
Founded
2014
Get referred to RISE Group Middle East
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Elevate added about 60 RISE employees and expanded into Riyadh, Jeddah, Abu Dhabi.
- RISE won arts and culture work in May 2025, broadening beyond sports.
- Its Qiddiya-Al Hilal and Al Nassr partnership implementation proves premium commercialization capability.
What critics are saying
- Elevate acquired RISE in May 2025, ending independence and forcing integration risk.
- Rebranding into Elevate can trigger senior departures, client confusion, and delivery disruption by 2026.
- Saudi spending concentration creates existential exposure if NEOM, Qiddiya, or SPL budgets slow.
What makes RISE Group Middle East unique
- RISE built Middle East sports, culture, and entertainment commercialization expertise over a decade.
- It monetizes assets through naming rights, sponsorships, and rights-holder advisory for governments.
- Its client list includes NEOM, Qiddiya, Saudi Pro League, and Abu Dhabi institutions.
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Benefits
- Remote Work Options