Financial Controller

Job Description

Context

Veolia UAE consists of 16 entities (8 consolidating, 8 non-consolidating) with an annual turnover exceeding 500M AED. Veolia UAE HQ provides business support and expertise to its various local entities and ensures that the Veolia Group strategy, policies, processes and tools are implemented appropriately and in a timely manner as well as customized to our local needs.  The role of the Financial Controller will be responsible for the consolidation of financial reporting for Veolia UAE Country (actuals, forecasts, budget), performing analysis of reporting of all the entities of the scope allowing business owners to make sound management decisions. Its influence goes far beyond and impacts all corporate functions.

The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the employee(s) in this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and activities required of the position. Therefore and due to the diverse and evolving nature of UAE activities the Financial Controller may be required to perform additional work as instructed by top management.

Job Description

Main Accountabilities:

The position of Financial Controller will be based at the Veolia UAE Country HQ office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It shall reports directly to the UAE Country CFO. 

Detailed Job Description:

Your main responsibilities are:

• To build a strong communication structure within the UAE, collating relevant information impacting profitability and ensuring awareness by key stakeholders of financial performance 

• To ensure financial reporting is accurate and deliverables are submitted within set deadlines

• To provide sound financial / non-financial performance analysis and commentary

• To help drive the financial forecasting and budget exercise and ensure a high level of accuracy

• To actively participate in month end closing to ensure correct revenue and cost allocation by UAE entities and (when required) proposing appropriate accruals

• To assist UAE businesses with HQ level reporting into Veolia consolidation platform to ensure timely reporting 

• To actively participate in cost control projects and propose actions to ensure containment of general overheads, and ensure appropriate communication across all the departments of the organization

• Support other areas of the business in analyzing results and collating information for decision making including involvement in ad-hoc projects. This includes developing reporting tools and dashboards where appropriate

Tasks & Responsibilities

Business Plan, Budgeting and forecasting

• Coordination of budget and forecasts reporting: budget submission (yearly and monthly); two Forecasts per year (forecast) + one Long-Term Plan

• Develop and maintain a budget and forecasting model which can be utilized by all UAE business’ and is compatible with Veolia financial reporting software/ERP

• Coordinate collection, analysis, production, and dissemination of information

• Maintain a detailed working knowledge of the UAE consolidated budget and KPI’s 

Financial Control and Accounting

• Coordination of the closings : ensure accuracy (P&L, Balance sheet, Cash Flow items) and on time submission by subsidiaries in the consolidation software

• Update and improvement of consolidation data and various reports: KFIs, Savings, CAPEX, Segments and bridge analysis on a regular basis

• Control accuracy and completeness of information reported by UAE business’. Provide provisional analysis to UAE Country CFO, of monthly position vs. budget/forecast

• Develop tools to assist teams in analyzing variances against budget, forecast, and previous year in an accurate & efficient manner; linking into financial ERP data 

• Perform quarterly reconciliations between Veolia consolidation platform and Financial ERP to ensure accuracy of Group reporting to underlying books and record

• Oversight of working capital key performance indicators to activate remedial steps as and when necessary including explaining variances to budget, and action needed to improve position in line with target

Taxation

• Assist operating teams with AdHoc questions around VAT and Corporate Income Tax to ensure all entities are compliant with regulatory requirements

Data Analytics & Process Improvements

• Implement group-wide data analytics tools to provide insights and support decision-making

• Lead initiatives to standardize and streamline financial processes across the group

• Optimization of existing tools and systems to ensure reliability and productivity of reporting

This job description outlines the general ways in which it is expected you will meet the overall requirements of this post.

The list of tasks is not an exclusive one and duties may be varied from time to time. This job description is subject to regular review.

Qualifications

Technical Skills and Responsibilities:

• Good knowledge and practice of accounting and financial techniques (IFRS standards and local accounting and tax rules),

• Strong ability to solve complex accounting and tax issues and challenges and with other finance functions or operational departments,

• Good knowledge of accounting and financial processes for both internal control and procedural efficiency,

• Good knowledge of accounting and financial information systems,

• Ability to organize and plan the process of periodic account closings and meet accounting and tax deadlines

Personal Attributes:

• Period of work experience of 8+yrs in relevant finance roles e.g. FP&A, financial planning, controlling, reporting

• Preference to candidates with experience in Multinational Company with matrix reporting structures and a fast-paced service environment

• CPA or international accounting equivalent or Bachelor of Accounting preferred 

• Sector experience in construction, engineering or global multinational or similar, highly preferred

• Proven financial analysis skills experience with month-end review and analysis of P&L and BS

• Experience with budgeting and cash forecasts, and creating financial statements

• Experience with general ledger functions and the month-end/year end close process

• Excellent accounting software and Excel/Google sheet user and administration skills

• Accuracy and attention to detail with high focus on suppliers’ payments 

• Prior experience in BC365/Navision would be an advantage