Financial Controller

Our client an established manufacturing business in the UAE is looking to appoint an experienced Financial Controller with strong manufacturing costing expertise and a hands-on approach to financial management Industry: Manufacturing / Industrial Reporting to: Regional Finance Director About the Role The successful candidate will be responsible for financial reporting, cost control, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management and maintaining a strong internal control environment. Working closely with senior management and operational teams, the Financial Controller will play a key role in improving financial performance, managing manufacturing costs and supporting strategic business decisions. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring a strong understanding of manufacturing operations, inventory management, product costing and financial controls. Key Responsibilities: Financial Reporting & Control Oversee the preparation of monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements in accordance with IFRS. Manage the month-end and year-end closing processes, ensuring accurate and timely reporting. Maintain robust financial controls, accounting policies and procedures. Lead the annual external audit process and coordinate with auditors and other external advisers. Ensure compliance with UAE Corporate Tax, VAT and other applicable regulatory requirements. Oversee general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable and fixed asset accounting. Manufacturing Costing & Inventory Management Oversee product costing, standard costing and cost allocation across manufacturing operations. Monitor raw materials, work-in-progress (WIP) and finished goods inventory. Analyse production costs, material usage, labour costs, overhead absorption and manufacturing variances. Work closely with production, procurement and operations teams to identify cost-saving opportunities and improve operational efficiency. Ensure accurate inventory valuation, stock reconciliations and appropriate provisioning for obsolete or slow-moving inventory. Monitor production margins, product profitability and manufacturing KPIs. Budgeting, Forecasting & Commercial Finance Lead the annual budgeting process and prepare periodic financial forecasts. Analyse actual performance against budgets and forecasts, identifying key variances and recommending corrective actions. Provide financial analysis and commercial insights to support management decisions. Support pricing decisions, profitability analysis and capital investment evaluations. Partner with operational management to improve cost efficiency, productivity and profitability. Cash Flow, Working Capital & Treasury Manage cash flow forecasting and monitor the company's liquidity requirements. Optimise working capital through effective management of inventory, receivables and payables. Oversee banking relationships, payment processes and treasury controls. Monitor capital expenditure and evaluate investment returns. Systems, Processes & Team Leadership Lead, manage and develop the finance team, ensuring clear accountability and high performance. Drive improvements in financial reporting, processes and internal controls. Ensure effective utilisation of ERP systems, particularly manufacturing, inventory and costing modules. Identify opportunities for automation and improvements in financial systems and reporting. Work collaboratively with procurement, production, supply chain and commercial teams. Candidate Requirements Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance or a related discipline. Professional accounting qualification such as CA, CPA, ACCA, ACA or CIMA Minimum 10–15 years of progressive finance experience, including at least 5 years in a senior financial management or controllership position. Previous experience within a manufacturing environment is essential, with strong knowledge of manufacturing costing, inventory accounting and production processes. Strong technical accounting knowledge, including IFRS and financial reporting. Demonstrated experience in budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis and cash flow management. Good understanding of standard costing, WIP accounting, variance analysis and inventory valuation. Experience with ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics or similar. Previous experience managing and developing finance teams. Knowledge of UAE Corporate Tax, VAT and local regulatory requirements. UAE or wider GCC experience is preferred. Personal Attributes Hands-on, detail-oriented and comfortable working at both operational and strategic levels. Commercially astute, with the ability to translate financial information into practical business recommendations. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Confident communicator who can work effectively with senior management and non-finance stakeholders. Proactive approach to improving financial processes, controls and business performance. Strong leadership skills with the ability to develop and motivate a finance team. This position offers the opportunity to take ownership of the financial control function within a manufacturing business, working closely with operational and senior leadership teams to strengthen financial discipline, improve cost visibility and support sustainable business growth. Show more Show less