Director of Financial Reporting (Emirati)

Position: Director Financial Reporting (R2R)
Location: Dubai
Client: Group of Companies

The Director Financial Reporting R2R is responsible for leading the end-to-end Record to Report process, ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting, compliance, stakeholder engagement, and process optimization. This role focuses on managing financial close activities, general ledger accounting, reconciliations, management reporting, internal and external audits, and statutory reporting while driving process improvements and automation initiatives strategic planning, ensuring operational excellence, governance, and driving service excellence. They will drive strategic improvements in the operational and financial processes related to reporting, GL and consolidation. The Director will lead a team of professionals and collaborate across departments to ensure seamless financial operations. The role will also support the Vice President Record to Report in enabling value creation within the company Finance sub-function through continuous improvement and optimization of existing processes. The role will lead own team to foster customer centricity and service excellence, aligned to company shared vision.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Close & Reporting

• Lead month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Review journal entries, accruals, provisions, and adjustments.
• Ensure compliance with IFRS and local regulatory standards.
• Develop and oversee financial control frameworks and governance policies.
• Track KPIs, identify gaps, and guide teams to achieve reporting targets.

General Ledger Management

• Govern month-end closing activities and maintain accuracy of the general ledger.
• Ensure trial balance accuracy and monitor sub-ledger reconciliations (AP, AR, Intercompany).
• Ensure proper classification of transactions in line with IFRS.

Reconciliation & Controls

• Supervise and review balance sheet, bank, and other reconciliations.
• Establish and monitor strong internal controls to mitigate risk.
• Investigate and resolve discrepancies in account balances.

Operational Leadership & Process Improvement

• Drive effective delivery of all R2R activities in line with KPIs and SLAs.
• Lead standardization, automation, and efficiency initiatives.
• Implement continuous improvement programs leveraging tools like Oracle Fusion, ARCS, FCCS, RPA, and AI-driven analytics.

Stakeholder Management

• Act as primary liaison with finance business partners, CFOs, auditors, and other stakeholders.
• Ensure high service levels and stakeholder satisfaction.
• Serve as escalation point for critical issues and coordinate with IT/other functions for resolution.

Internal Controls & Governance

• Ensure compliance with internal controls, policies, and external regulations.
• Monitor and enhance risk management frameworks.
• Provide inputs into anti-fraud policies and support investigations into suspected fraudulent activities.

Continuous Improvement & Process Optimization

• Align R2R processes across subsidiaries, ensuring efficiency and cost effectiveness.
• Review and improve reporting, reconciliation, and fixed asset accounting processes.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to deliver improvements.

People Management

• Lead, supervise, and support the finance team in achieving operational goals.
• Foster a culture of customer-centric service, innovation, and performance.
• Monitor team capability building, training, and continuous development.

Job Requirements:

• 8+ years experience, ideally more (preferably in senior finance roles)
• Big 4 background or equivalent multinational audit experience (at least 5 years)
• Professional qualification required: CA, CPA, ACCA or CFA (Must have)
• In-depth knowledge of IFRS (Must have)
• Proven leadership and team management experience
• Experience handling complex consolidations and working within shared services or large group environments
• Stakeholder engagement capabilities with CFOs, audit teams, and cross-functional departments

Preferred Experience

• Strong understanding of Oracle Fusion, ARCS, FCCS
• Background in real estate or investment holding companies is a plus
• Track record of service excellence and process optimization