Group Controller

Location: DubaiFunction: Group FinanceScope: Multi-country Group / Operating CompaniesJob PurposeWe are looking for an experienced Group Controller to strengthen Group-level accounting governance, consolidation, financial controls, IFRS compliance, audit coordination, and statutory, tax, and transfer-pricing oversight across our multi-country operations.This is a Group-level role, operating above individual operating-company finance teams.

The successful candidate will ensure that Group accounting policies, closing disciplines, controls, and reporting requirements are consistently applied across all entities.Key ResponsibilitiesLead and coordinate the Group consolidation process across multiple subsidiaries and legal entities.Manage intercompany reconciliations, eliminations, investment/equity eliminations, and consolidation adjustments.Oversee accounting for foreign subsidiaries and foreign-currency translation.Ensure timely and accurate preparation of Group reporting packs and consolidated financial statements.Manage and maintain the Group Chart of Accounts.Drive strong month-end and year-end closing governance across all operating companies.Ensure balance-sheet reconciliations, account certifications, accruals, provisions, estimates, cut-off, and journal controls are properly maintained.Establish, implement, and monitor Group accounting policies and financial-control standards.Research and implement new IFRS accounting standards.Prepare technical accounting position papers for complex transactions.Act as a key technical accounting contact for external auditors.Coordinate Group external audits, statutory reporting, and related finance requirements.Monitor intercompany accounting and resolution of outstanding balances.Support oversight of tax and transfer-pricing compliance across multiple jurisdictions.Manage and further develop the Group consolidation software and related reporting tools.Identify material accounting and control issues and escalate Group-level risks to senior finance leadership.Work closely with local finance teams to ensure timely closure of identified issues and consistent application of Group standards.Candidate ProfileBachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.Preferably professionally qualified: ACCA, ACA/ICAEW, CA, or equivalent internationally recognized qualification.Minimum 10 years of relevant finance/accounting experience.At least 3–5 years in a Group, Regional, multi-entity controllership, consolidation, or reporting role.Strong practical knowledge of IFRS.Proven experience working with multiple subsidiaries and legal entities.Strong hands-on experience in Group consolidation.Strong understanding of month-end/year-end closing processes and balance-sheet governance.Experience with intercompany reconciliations and eliminations.Experience coordinating external audits and statutory reporting.Exposure to tax and transfer-pricing governance within a multi-entity environment.Experience working across multiple countries or jurisdictions is strongly preferred.Experience in Africa, the Middle East, or other emerging markets would be an advantage.Technical SkillsStrong practical knowledge of:Multi-entity consolidationConsolidated financial statementsIntercompany reconciliation and eliminationForeign-currency translationGroup reportingGeneral-ledger integrityBalance-sheet reconciliationsClosing controlsAccruals and provisionsAccounting estimates and cut-offJournal-entry controlsChart-of-accounts governanceAudit trails and financial-control frameworksIFRS technical accountingTransfer-pricing governanceStrong ERP and Excel skills are required. Experience with consolidation software, BI tools, and AI-enabled financial reporting tools would be advantageous.Leadership ProfileThe ideal candidate will be technically strong, highly structured, and disciplined around deadlines. They should be comfortable working between Group Finance leadership and local finance teams, challenging senior finance personnel when required, and enforcing Group standards without directly managing every local accounting activity.The successful candidate should also demonstrate strong follow-up, sound judgment, the ability to identify material risks quickly, and the ability to communicate and escalate issues clearly and concisely.