Regional Financial Controller

Regional Financial Controller – MECALocation: DubaiIndustry: Freight Forwarding / Logistics

Department: Regional FinanceReporting To: Regional Managing Director / Group Finance LeadershipRole OverviewKey Responsibilities1.

Multi-Country Accounting OwnershipEstablish and enforce a regional financial close calendar across all country entities.Ensure timely submission of complete and reconciled trial balances.Apply group accounting policies and chart of accounts consistently across entities.Review and correct accounting deviations and reporting inconsistencies.Own the consolidation process for multiple legal entities and jurisdictions.2. Intercompany & Multi-Currency AccountingManage accounting across multiple currencies including AED, USD, EUR, QAR, SAR and other transaction currencies.Ensure correct foreign exchange rate application and revaluation of monetary balances.Analyse realised and unrealised FX differences and exposures.Monitor intercompany balances between regional entities and group companies.Ensure intercompany transactions are properly reconciled, supported and settled within agreed timelines.3. Cash, Treasury & Financial HealthMaintain daily visibility of cash and bank positions across all entities and currencies.Prepare rolling weekly and monthly cash flow forecasts for individual entities and the region.Ensure adequate liquidity to meet payroll, supplier, carrier, customs, tax and statutory obligations.Plan payment runs and prioritise cash utilisation based on available liquidity.Recommend intercompany funding, cash transfers or financing requirements where necessary.Maintain timely bank and cash reconciliations with no long-outstanding unreconciled items.Manage banking relationships, facilities, guarantees, letters of credit, customs bonds and working capital lines in coordination with Group Treasury.Monitor idle cash balances and ensure efficient utilisation or repatriation in line with treasury policies.Monitor liquidity, working capital, gearing, net asset position, solvency and covenant compliance.Assess financial exposure relating to major customers, agents and suppliers.Escalate early warning indicators relating to cash generation, margins, receivables quality and cost pressures.4. Commercial Finance & Freight Forwarding ControlsEnsure every job file is accurately and completely costed.Ensure revenue and associated costs are recognised in the same accounting period.Monitor profitability by country, branch, product, customer and trade lane.Review unbilled revenue, accrued costs, provisions and revenue leakage.Ensure receivables are collected within agreed credit terms.Partner with operations and commercial teams to improve financial discipline and margin protection.5. Financial Reporting & Management InformationDeliver monthly, quarterly and annual financial reporting packs within group deadlines.Prepare consolidated regional P&L, balance sheet and cash flow reporting.Provide variance analysis against budget, forecast and prior periods.Present commentary explaining operational and commercial drivers behind financial performance.Support regional budgeting and forecasting cycles.Consolidate country-level financial inputs and challenge assumptions.Prepare financial analysis by country, branch, product segment, customer and trade lane as required by management.6. Tax, Statutory & Audit ComplianceEnsure timely and accurate statutory and tax reporting across all jurisdictions.Reconcile tax accounts with the general ledger.Maintain transfer pricing documentation and ensure intercompany charges are properly supported.Coordinate external, internal and group audits across the region.Prepare audit schedules and respond to auditor queries.Track and close audit findings within agreed timelines.Monitor changes in local accounting, tax and regulatory requirements and implement necessary changes.7. Internal Controls & Process ImprovementMaintain and enforce the regional finance internal control framework.Ensure proper segregation of duties, approval matrices and payment authorisation controls.Control finance master data and accounting access rights.Develop and standardise finance SOPs across country entities.Identify control weaknesses and drive corrective actions.Drive ERP and forwarding-system improvements to reduce manual reconciliations and accelerate financial close.Promote automation, process standardisation and reporting efficiency.8. Team Leadership & Stakeholder ManagementLead, supervise and develop accounting teams across multiple countries.Set objectives, review performance and build technical accounting capabilities.Provide functional direction to country accountants reporting administratively to local management.Ensure continuity through cross-training, documented handovers and succession planning.Act as finance business partner to Country Managers, Operations Heads and Regional Management.Represent Regional Finance in management meetings and business reviews.Qualifications & ExperienceEssential RequirementsBachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Commerce or a related discipline.Professional qualification such as CA, ACCA, CPA or CMA, or significant progress toward qualification.Minimum 8–10 years of accounting and finance experience.At least 3 years in a Head of Accounts, Chief Accountant, Financial Controller or Regional Accounting leadership role.Proven experience managing the books and financial reporting of multiple legal entities or countries.Strong knowledge of IFRS and working familiarity with GCC tax and regulatory environments.Hands-on experience in multi-currency accounting, FX revaluation and intercompany reconciliation.Demonstrated experience in cash flow forecasting, treasury coordination, banking and working capital management.Advanced Excel skills including pivot tables, lookups and large-volume reconciliations.Strong hands-on ERP experience.Preferred ExperienceExperience working within a multinational or international group.Experience managing finance teams across different countries.Background in freight forwarding, logistics, shipping or other asset-light, transaction-intensive businesses.Exposure to regional consolidation and multi-jurisdictional financial controls.Experience driving finance automation and ERP process improvements.