Head - Finance - Retail/Fashion

Position: Head Of Finance

Location: Dubai

Industry: Retail & Fashion

Qualification: Chartered Accountants (CA)

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Looking for an experienced Head of Finance to lead the finance and accounting function for its retail and fashion business in Dubai.

The ideal candidate will have 10 - 12 years of strong finance and accounting experience, preferably within the retail, fashion, lifestyle, consumer, or multi-store business environment. The role requires a hands-on finance professional with strong expertise in financial accounting, reporting, month-end closing, budgeting, cash flow management, controls, audit, taxation, and team management.

The successful candidate will manage a finance team of approximately 15 - 20 professionals and work closely with the Group CFO and senior management to ensure strong financial governance, accurate reporting, operational efficiency, and business support.

A good understanding of ERP systems, accounting software, financial automation, BI/reporting tools, and technology-enabled finance processes will be an important advantage.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the complete accounting and finance function for the business.
• Ensure accurate and timely monthly, quarterly, and annual financial closing.
• Oversee preparation and review of Profit & Loss statements, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow statements, Trial Balance, Management accounts, and financial analysis/MIS reports.
• Ensure proper accounting of revenue, expenses, accruals, provisions, prepayments, fixed assets, inventory, receivables, payables, and intercompany transactions.
• Review accounting entries, reconciliations, journal postings, provisions and adjustments.
• Ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards and company policies.
• Establish strong financial controls and accounting procedures across the business.

Retail & Fashion Finance:

• Manage finance operations in a retail/fashion environment, preferably involving multiple stores, brands, channels or business units.
• Monitor and analyse store-wise, brand-wise and channel-wise financial performance.
• Oversee accounting and reconciliation of retail sales, POS transactions, online/e-commerce sales, credit card and payment gateway settlements, discounts, promotions, returns, refunds, and gift cards.
• Work closely with the retail and commercial teams to analyse sales, margins, gross profit, operating costs and profitability.
• Monitor inventory accounting, stock valuation, provisions and inventory-related reconciliations.
• Support management in identifying cost-control and profitability improvement opportunities.

Budgeting, Forecasting & Business Planning:

• Lead the annual budgeting and forecasting process.
• Prepare financial budgets in coordination with business heads.
• Develop and monitor monthly forecasts and variance analysis.
• Analyse actual performance against budget and previous periods.
• Provide management with meaningful financial insights and recommendations based on business performance.
• Support business expansion and new-store financial planning, including CAPEX and operating cost analysis.

Cash Flow & Working Capital Management:

• Manage and monitor daily/weekly/monthly cash flow requirements.
• Prepare cash flow forecasts and ensure adequate liquidity.
• Monitor accounts receivable, accounts payable, inventory and working capital.
• Ensure timely collection of receivables and appropriate payment planning.
• Coordinate with banks and financial institutions where required.
• Monitor bank reconciliations and treasury-related activities.

Audit, Tax & Compliance:

• Coordinate with internal and external auditors.
• Ensure timely completion of statutory and financial audits.
• Ensure compliance with applicable UAE VAT, corporate tax and other statutory requirements.

Technology & Finance Transformation:

• Drive effective utilisation of ERP/accounting systems and finance technology.
• Work with IT and business teams to improve finance processes through automation.
• Identify opportunities to reduce manual accounting and reporting activities.

Team Leadership & Development:

• Lead and manage a finance and accounting team of approximately 15 - 20 members.
• Allocate responsibilities and establish clear performance objectives.
• Build a strong culture of accountability, accuracy and process discipline.

Business Partnering:

• Partner with senior management, retail operations, procurement, commercial, HR, IT and other business functions.
• Provide financial insights to support commercial and operational decision-making.
• Support senior management in evaluating new stores, business initiatives, investments, cost structures and profitability.

Candidate Profile:

• 10 - 12 years of overall finance and accounting experience.
• Strong hands-on experience in financial accounting and controllership.
• Experience in Retail, Fashion, Lifestyle, Consumer, FMCG or a similar high-volume business environment.
• Experience managing a finance/accounting team of approximately 15 - 20 professionals.
• CA / ACCA / CMA / CPA or equivalent professional qualification would be an advantage.
• UAE / GCC finance experience is preferred.