Assistant Manager Account and Finance

Job description / Role

Key responsibilities

1. Financial reporting:
- Assist in the preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements (income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow).
- Ensure accuracy and completeness of journal entries, account reconciliations, and financial reports.
- Support compliance with accounting standards (IFRS, GAAP, or other relevant local standards).

2. Accounting operations:
- Oversee day-to-day accounting activities, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and general ledger functions.
- Support the implementation of internal controls to safeguard company assets and financial data.
- Assist in managing monthly and year-end closing procedures.

3. Budgeting & forecasting:
- Contribute to the preparation of the company's annual budget and periodic financial forecasts.
- Monitor actual performance versus budget and prepare variance analysis.
- Identify and recommend cost-saving opportunities and risk mitigation strategies.

4. Compliance & audit:
- Ensure adherence to tax laws, financial regulations, and internal policies.
- Assist in coordinating with external auditors for statutory audits and ensuring timely completion.
- Monitor compliance with financial policies, procedures, and reporting requirements.

5. Financial analysis:
- Support financial analysis and reporting to aid management in decision-making.
- Assist in profitability analysis and cost control strategies.
- Evaluate financial trends and recommend optimization strategies.

6. Cash flow management:
- Monitor cash flow to ensure adequate funds for operational requirements.
- Support bank relationship management, cash position tracking, and liquidity management.

7. Team collaboration & leadership:
- Assist in guiding and mentoring junior finance team members.
- Work closely with cross-functional teams to ensure smooth financial operations and alignment with business goals.

8. Ad-hoc duties & special projects:
- Support special financial projects and process improvements as required.
- Stay updated with financial regulations, industry trends, and best practices.

Desired experience

The ideal candidate will have over 5 years of experience in accounting and finance, preferably within retail or corporate environments. Proficiency in accounting software and ERP systems such as SAP or Oracle is required. A bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field is essential; professional qualifications such as CA, CMA, or an MBA in finance are preferred.

Key relationships

Collaboration with accounts and finance teams as well as other support functions across the organization to ensure effective financial management and operations.

About the Company

The Apparel Group is a global fashion and lifestyle brand conglomerate residing on the crossroads of a modern economy - Dubai, UAE. The mercurial growth in the last 17 years has been by acquiring a host of world class fashion labels from around the world - Nine West, Tommy Hilfiger, Kenneth Cole, Aldo & Tim Hortons just to name a few.

Today the group caters to thousands of eager shoppers through its over 1530 stores, 75 International brands and employing 12,000 multi cultural staff in over 4 continents. Apparel believes in turning dreams in to reality and we give everyone - our customers, our stakeholders, our employees - an equal opportunity to do so.

Apparel group has carved its strong presence not only in the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and Saudi Arabia but opened thriving gateways to market in India, South Africa, Poland, Singapore, Jordan, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. Additionally, clear strategies are in place to enter emerging markets such as Hungary, Pakistan, Egypt and Philippines.