Head - Financial Controller/Commercial Finance

Head of Finance / Commercial Finance Lead

Location: Abu Dhabi

Reporting To: Group CFO

Key Responsibilities:

Commercial Finance & Store Profitability:

• Drive four-wall EBITDA performance across all operating locations through rigorous financial analysis and operational insights.
• Monitor and optimize revenue per square foot, customer spend, utilization rates, and store profitability metrics.
• Partner with operations teams to improve labor productivity, scheduling efficiency, and overall cost management.
• Analyze party, event, cafe, and F&B revenue streams to maximize margins and profitability.

Real Estate Finance & Expansion Strategy:

• Lead financial feasibility assessments for new locations, including IRR, NPV, payback period, and investment return analysis.
• Evaluate lease structures, rental models, landlord contributions, and fit-out economics for new sites.
• Provide financial recommendations on expansion opportunities and capital allocation decisions.
• Manage IFRS 16 lease accounting, lease liability tracking, and compliance requirements.

Capex Governance & Cost Control:

• Establish fit-out budget controls and oversee capital expenditure governance across new store openings.
• Monitor contractor costs, project budgets, and investment performance against approved business cases.
• Ensure disciplined spending and effective return on invested capital.

Treasury, Cash Management & Controls:

• Oversee daily cash reconciliations, POS integrity, bank settlements, and revenue controls across all locations.
• Implement robust treasury and fraud prevention processes.
• Manage petty cash governance and cash handling procedures to ensure financial integrity.

Working Capital & Procurement:

• Optimize working capital through effective vendor payment management and credit term negotiations.
• Implement inventory controls for edutainment materials, merchandise, and F&B supplies.
• Improve cash conversion cycles and operational efficiency.

Financial Reporting, ERP & Audit Management:

• Lead monthly store-level P&L reviews, forecasting, budgeting, and variance analysis.
• Drive reporting automation and data accuracy through ERP platforms such as Odoo or NetSuite.
• Support external audits, financial due diligence, and investor reporting requirements.
• Maintain audit-ready documentation and support Series A fundraising data room preparation.

Key Requirements:

• Qualified CA, ACCA, CPA, CMA, or equivalent finance qualification.
• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related discipline.
• MBA / Executive MBA from a leading institution preferred.
• 10 - 15 years of progressive finance leadership experience, including multi-site consumer-facing businesses.
• Experience within retail, hospitality, leisure, entertainment, cinema, family entertainment centers, or F&B chains.
• Strong expertise in financial modeling, business case evaluation, and commercial finance.
• Deep understanding of IFRS 16 lease accounting and real estate financial analysis.
• Hands-on experience with ERP platforms such as Odoo, NetSuite, SAP, or Oracle.