We are looking for a Financial Controller to support the Head of Finance in operating and developing the finance function of a DFSA-authorised financial services entity. The Financial Controller will help maintain accurate financial records, deliver timely financial, tax and regulatory reporting, support audits and strengthen the entity’s finance governance and controls.
Key responsibilities
Financial accounting and month-end close
- Coordinate the month-end and year-end close, maintaining a close calendar and meeting agreed deadlines.
- Prepare and review journal entries, accruals, prepayments, allocations, revenue and expense entries, and other period-end adjustments.
- Reconcile and substantiate balance sheet accounts, including bank, intercompany and other material balances; investigate and resolve differences.
- Maintain accurate general ledger records and support the preparation of financial statements under applicable accounting standards, including IFRS where applicable.
- Oversee or coordinate accounts payable, receivable, expense accounting and payment processes.
Regulatory and statutory reporting
- Prepare and coordinate applicable DFSA prudential and financial returns, including submissions through the DFSA Electronic Prudential Reporting System (EPRS), for review and approval by the appropriate designated signatory.
- Reconcile regulatory reporting data to the general ledger and underlying records.
- Support monitoring of regulatory capital, liquidity and related thresholds, escalating actual or forecast issues promptly.
- Coordinate applicable statutory and entity-level financial filings and maintain a calendar of reporting obligations.
- Work with Compliance and other teams where regulatory submissions require finance information.
Tax compliance
- Coordinate preparation and submission of UAE Corporate Tax and VAT returns, where applicable, including supporting calculations, reconciliations and records.
- Track tax deadlines, payments and supporting documentation, and coordinate with external tax advisers as needed.
- Support the Head of Finance in assessing the financial reporting implications of tax matters.
External audit
- Coordinate audit timelines, requests, schedules, confirmations and supporting evidence.
- Respond to auditor queries and support preparation of the annual financial statements and related audit deliverables.
- Track audit findings and agreed actions through to resolution.
Management reporting, budgeting and forecasting
- Prepare periodic management reports, including profit and loss, balance sheet, cash flow, budget-to-actual analysis and commentary.
- Identify material variances, emerging risks and trends for discussion with the Head of Finance and relevant budget owners.
- Assist with the annual budget, periodic forecasts and scenario analysis.
- Provide reliable financial information to support business planning and management decisions.
Finance governance, controls and systems
- Help build and maintain finance policies, procedures and control documentation, including close, reconciliations, journals, payments, expenses and reporting.
- Support appropriate approval limits, segregation of duties, review controls and retention of supporting records.
- Monitor control issues and remediation actions, and support internal or regulatory reviews as required.
- Help improve finance systems, reporting processes and data quality.
Cash and finance operations
- Assist with cash and liquidity forecasting and monitoring.
- Support banking, payment and cash-management controls.
- Maintain effective working relationships with business teams, auditors, tax advisers and other external stakeholders.
Experience and qualifications
- At least 7 years of relevant accounting or financial control experience, preferably in financial services.
- Experience in a DFSA-authorised firm is strongly preferred; experience in another regulated financial services environment is also relevant.
- Strong practical knowledge of financial accounting, close processes, balance sheet reconciliations and financial controls.
