Head - Finance - Retail/Fashion

Position: Head Of Finance Location: Dubai Industry: Retail & Fashion Qualification: Chartered Accountants (CA) Job Description: 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.