Business Controller

We are a fast-growing international fashion retail group, historically rooted in Eastern Europe and now expanding globally from our Dubai headquarters.As part of a major transformation and international scaling phase, we are rebuilding our organization and strengthening our Finance capabilities to support business decisions better.We are looking for a Business Controller who will act as a true business partner to the commercial and product teams, with a strong focus on category performance and profitability.This is not a “reporting role” : this is a build, challenge, and drive role.Role ObjectiveAct as a strategic partner to the business by driving performance, improving profitability, and building robust controlling frameworks around product categories.Bring structure where needed, challenge decisions, and support a fast-moving organization with clear, actionable insights.Key ResponsibilitiesBusiness Partnering & Commercial ImpactPartner closely with Buying, Merchandising, and Product teamsAct as a financial co-pilot on category performance (sales, margin, stock, markdowns)Challenge commercial decisions using data and financial insightsSupport pricing, assortment, and promotional strategiesCategory Performance MonitoringMonitor and analyze P&L by product categoryTrack key KPIs: sell-through, gross margin, stock rotation, intake marginsIdentify risks and opportunities across categoriesProvide clear recommendations to improve performancePlanning & ForecastingBuild and drive budget and forecast cycles at category levelTranslate business strategy into financial projectionsContinuously adjust forecasts based on performance and trendsBuild & Structure (Critical)Design and implement controlling tools, reports, and processes from scratchImprove data reliability and reporting clarityBring structure to a fast-scaling, sometimes ambiguous environmentStandardize KPIs and performance trackingHands-on AnalysisDeep-dive into data to understand performance driversWork directly with raw data when needed (not just dashboards)Produce actionable insights, not just reportsProfileExperience4–8+ years in Business Controlling / Commercial FinanceExperience in fashion retail / fast fashion / FMCG retail strongly preferredExposure to category management or merchandising environmentsExperience in fast-paced, evolving environments (scale-up, transformation, turnaround) is a strong plusSkillsStrong financial and analytical skillsDeep understanding of retail KPIs and business driversAbility to connect financial data with operational realityComfortable working with data (Excel, BI tools, etc.)Ability to build from scratch and operate with limited structureMindset (key differentiator)Hands-on and pragmatic — not afraid to go into the detailsBusiness-oriented — understands that finance is there to drive decisionsResilient and comfortable under pressureProactive, structured, and solution-drivenAble to challenge stakeholders while remaining collaborativeWhy joinUnique opportunity to build and shape finance processes in an international expansion phaseHigh exposure to decision-making and top managementFast-paced, entrepreneurial environmentReal impact on business performance