Finance Director

Identiscents

Role overview

We are looking for an experienced Finance Director with a mandatory experience in the UAE. Reporting to the CEO and working closely with business heads, the Finance Director will define and execute the financial strategy, ensure regulatory compliance, manage treasury and forex exposures, optimise costing and margins, and deliver accurate, insightful financial reporting to support commercial decisions and sustainable growth.

This is a hands-on leadership role for a commercially-minded finance professional with proven experience in trading and manufacturing environments and a demonstrated ability to translate financial analysis into clear business action.

Key responsibilities

Financial planning, budgeting & forecasting

• Lead preparation and delivery of the annual budget, rolling forecasts and long-term financial plans.
• Build scenario models to stress-test plans and guide investment decisions.
• Drive disciplined budget ownership across divisions and monitor performance versus plan.

Management reporting & analysis

• Produce timely, accurate financial statements and management packs (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow) and explain variances against budget/KPIs.
• Deliver actionable analysis on product, customer and channel profitability.
• Synthesize complex data into concise recommendations for the executive team and board.

Costing, margin management & pricing support

• Own product costing methodologies, ensure correct allocation of direct and indirect costs, and support commercial teams on margin optimisation.
• Implement and maintain cost-control initiatives and margin-improvement plans.
• Provide pricing analysis and ROI assessment for new products, customers and projects.

Treasury, cash & forex management

• Oversee cash management, banking relationships and short-term investment policies to safeguard liquidity.
• Manage multi-currency exposures and develop hedging/FX mitigation strategies in coordination with the business.
• Optimise working capital by proactively managing receivables, payables and inventory.

Controls, compliance & risk management

• Ensure compliance with local and international accounting standards (IFRS), tax laws and statutory reporting.
• Liaise with external auditors, tax advisors and legal counsel; coordinate audits and regulatory filings.
• Design and maintain internal controls and policies to mitigate financial and operational risks.

Systems, processes & continuous improvement

• Drive upgrades and optimisation of ERP and financial planning tools (SAP, or equivalent).
• Standardise reporting, automate routine tasks and enhance forecasting accuracy.
• Lead implementation projects and ensure efficient close and consolidation processes.

Leadership & stakeholder management

• Build, mentor and lead a high-performing finance team across accounting, FP&A and treasury.
• Partner with procurement, operations, commercial and logistics to embed financial discipline and cost-conscious decision-making.
• Present clear, concise financial updates to senior management and contribute to strategic planning.

Required qualifications & experience

• Minimum 10/12 years of progressive finance experience, with at least 5 years in a senior finance leadership role within manufacturing, packaging, FMCG, beauty/cosmetics or trading environments.
• Proven track record in planning, budgeting, cost calculations, financial analysis and synthesis with demonstrable examples of driving business decisions. Candidates must be able to provide concrete evidence of relevant analytical work (models, case outcomes or projects).
• Solid experience managing cross-border finance, group consolidations and multi-currency operations, including practical exposure to forex risk management.
• Bachelors degree in Finance, Accounting or Business Administration.
• Professional accounting qualification required (ACCA, CPA, CA or CMA). MBA or advanced finance/business degree is an advantage.
• Deep knowledge of IFRS, tax and regulatory frameworks and strong internal control discipline.
• Hands-on experience with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, Odoo or comparable) and financial planning/reporting tools.
• Excellent analytical, commercial and communication skills; able to present complex financial information to non-financial stakeholders.
• High integrity and ethical standards in financial reporting and resource management.
• Experience in supply chain finance, transfer pricing, intercompany accounting and tax structuring is highly desirable.
• Proven history of implementing or upgrading ERP/financial systems is a plus.

Key competencies

• Strong commercial mindset and ability to align financial planning with strategic business objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to build, manage and coach cross-functional finance teams.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and capacity to synthesise complex data into practical recommendations.
• Comfortable working in fast-paced, evolving environments with a pragmatic, hands-on approach.
• Ability to influence decision-making across functions and drive financial discipline.

What we offer

• Competitive compensation and comprehensive insurance to support your well-being and future.
• A collaborative, high-energy culture where teamwork and individual contribution are recognised.
• A visible role in a growing business where your impact on performance and strategy will be valued.