Finance Manager – U.A.E. National

Job description / Role

•Oversee the timely, complete and accurate closing of month end process for all regions. You will be a key provider of technical support to the business on all financial accounting matters.
•Ensure all statutory standalone financials are prepared within time including any compliance with all statutory, legal, taxation and insurance requirements.
•Monthly reconciliation of all B/S accounts ensuring signed accountability, reconciliations are filed, updated and reviewed with the CFO each month, providing clear visibility of any exposures ahead of time. All journals requiring CFO sign off are obtained and filed.
•Overview supplier payments and staff reimbursement in a timely manner, ensuring all approvals and disbursement of payments are in accordance with the MAF F DoA and existing policies and procedures and agreed SLA’s.
•Smooth closing of hard close and y/e close in a timely and efficient manner, with full preparation of all requested schedules prior to commencement of field work and the Group Reporting Pack. Act as the first contact point during any internal or external audit and ensure complete follow up on any issues/recommendations raised.
•The Finance Manager along with CFO will be responsible for ensuring scalable robust controls and processes are implemented throughout all regions/business lines including periodic review of existing and new policies.
•Cash flow monitoring – submit accurate fortnightly cash flow statements, including cash in/cash out reports, working capital drivers are clearly understood.
•Assist the CFO with new initiatives, system upgrades and improvement projects across the Finance department.
•Support and encourage the direct reporting team by creating development plans, training programme and ensure job rotation for each of the Accountants. Ensure your direct staff have the skills and knowledge set to carry out their role and they feel empowered and motivated.
•Deliver increased effectiveness of the team which reports directly to you in conjunction with the CFO: providing tangible examples of efficiency improvements in finance work streams across: banking, daily reconciliations, month end close process, leveraging existing systems, automation of processes and interfaces, which demonstrate a move from data input and compilation to a more a value added environment.
•Maintain effective working relationships with Company’s internal and external customers.

Requirements

Person Specification:

•Demonstrate up to date and extensive IFRS, technical knowledge and be commercially astute.
•Experienced Accounting Professional –Financial Reporting, Month end, Half year and Year end reporting.
•Experience of setting up and streamlining key controls and processes.
•Strong organisational skills and the ability to ensure tasks are followed through to completion. You must be able to plan your workload and priorities to ensure that deadlines are always met.
•Effective communicator, fluent in oral and written English
•Firsthand experience of driving change/process improvements
•Highly self-motivated, self-starter, who is energetic, results driven, confident and personable individual
•Strong IT/Excel/ERP skills
•An excellent team player (forming a “one team” approach) able to build relationships across the business. With the ability to lead, encourage and mentor a team.
•Degree holder. A high-calibre professionally qualified candidate with at least 2 - 3 years post-qualified experience, Big 4 background is a must.
•8 years minimum experience in Accounting/finance
•Strong working knowledge of an ERP system
•Excellent Excel, Word and MS office application skills.

About the Company

Majid Al Futtaim Fashion provides a platform for the introduction of world-class fashion and retail brands in the region, developing their presence across the Middle East. Their aim is to be the international retail partner of choice for some of the worlds most desirable brands. The Company believes the strength of a brands success is through the focus of its people. Having the right retail structure, with the right people, ensures that a brands integrity is maintained to the highest level and that the customer experience is aligned to global standards.

The leading retail arm of Majid Al Futtaim Ventures, Majid Al Futtaim Fashion has the rights to operate the internationally renowned Juicy Couture brand throughout the region. Juicy Couture is one of the most popular casual luxury brands in the Middle East and continues to be a retail success with over 18 stores currently open across the region and further plans to expand the into new markets in 2014.

Other brands operated by Majid Al Futtaim Fashion include one of the UKs leading fashion retailers Jane Norman, the metropolitan casual lifestyle brand Mexx and ITSUGAR the US confectionary brand with an attitude.

The eclectic Spanish brand Hoss Intropia, and the iconic fashion brand Halston Heritage, were recently added to Majid Al Futtaim Fashions portfolio. Tremendous demand for both brands is anticipated this year with an aggressive rollout of new stores planned throughout the region.

In early 2013, Majid Al Futtaim Fashion announced a joint ventures agreement with the leading American retailer and casual wear clothing brand, Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (A&F), with respect to its Hollister and Abercrombie & Fitch brands. The agreement is to develop Hollister and Abercrombie & Fitchs presence within the UAE, further supporting the brands international growth. As Abercrombie & Fitch Co.s first physical foray into the Middle East, the landmark joint venture partnership with Majid Al Futtaim Fashion should significantly broaden A&Fs regional potential across the GCC, further adding to the regions offering of exceptional market leading international brands.