Finance Partner - MENA

• Partner and guide the GM and leadership team to deliver sustainable business growth (bringing expert FP&A skills to the team as well as core accounting)
• Drive forecast and Plan Gross Margin and Overhead forecast accuracy improvement.
• Drive automation and streamlining of finance and accounting processes
• Ensure the financial integrity of all transactions and invoices and ensure compliance with all statutory requirements
• Prepare and submit the orders/sales forecast into Cognos TM1 on a weekly basis in conjunction with Sales Managers and GM, ensuring challenge and commentary is robust
• Complete and submit the month end reporting Pack to the MENA Regional Finance Partner providing analysis and insight on the performance of the business and highlighting areas for focus
• In conjunction with the GM prepare and submit the quarterly forecast and annual plan. Preparation of the reports and presentations to the MENA Regional General Manager (RGM)
• Drive continuous improvement within OpCo and the wider MENA finance team
• Support on the new ERP implementation ensuring its safe delivery.
• Ensure robust contracts and customer records are in place and maintained
• Balance sheet responsibility in cash/banking and cash forecasting (Optimising DSO and driving management action)
• Management of internal and external audits
• Support growth plans by leading the establishment of new branches as needed in a compliant and safe manner
  

The Candidate

• Demonstrable Qualified Accountant/via Degree/Masters etc.
• Adaptable and comfortable with managing change
• Self-starter but also Team-player with strong inter-personal skills and cultural awareness
• Confident to stand their ground particularly on financial control issues
• Strong analytical skills which forms the basis of strategic thinking
• Strong commercial skills, able to drive results in a complex environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to write and present to the highest level on both financial and operational topics
• Ability to manage set up of new branch offices navigating and complying to all local legal requirements
• Ability to drive results from a multi country OpCo
• >5 years in a commercial environment
• Working in an international business reporting outside country
• Working autonomously as a self-starter driving financial process improvements
• Providing insight on the data and thinking critically
• Challenging business leaders around financial performance
• Experience of local and international accounting practices