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Group Financial Controller (IPO Readiness)

African Queen Marketing Management
Dubai, UAE
Full Time
Director
Onsite
2 weeks ago
IFRSConsolidationERP ImplementationFinancial ReportingInternal ControlsBudgeting
Free

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Role Overview

  • We are building a group of technology and infrastructure companies on a defined path toward institutional capital and a potential listing on an international stock exchange.
  • We are looking for a Group Financial Controller to build the Group's financial function from the ground up and run it to the standard expected of a company preparing for public capital markets.

Purpose of the Role

  • To build and operate the financial and accounting system of the company in line with IFRS, corporate governance best practice, and the requirements applicable to companies preparing for institutional investment and a potential listing on an international stock exchange.
  • This is the role of an architect of the financial function, not an executor of individual accounting transactions.

Key Measure of Success

  • The financial function must be built so that, years from now, the first Big4 audit and IPO preparation will not require a material rework of processes, data, or historical reporting.

Reporting Line

  • Initially reports directly to the Executive Chairman; transitions to report to the Group CFO once that role is in place.

What the Controller Does Directly

  • Builds the Group's financial function from scratch: processes, policies, and controls.
  • Participates in designing the Group's financial architecture — corporate structure, financial flows, intra group licensing models, and allocation of functions — together with external legal and tax/transfer pricing advisors.
  • Selects, implements, and develops the Group's ERP and finance systems, ensuring a full audit trail, consolidation, multi level approvals, internal controls, and readiness for international audit.
  • Ensures financial data quality, a single Group Chart of Accounts, master data consistency, and the integrity of financial information (data governance).
  • Consolidates the Group's companies: multi entity, multi currency, with correct elimination of intra group transactions (including intra group licensing royalties).
  • Ensures timely, high quality month end, quarter end, and year end close in line with an approved Financial Close Calendar.
  • Prepares IFRS reporting.
  • Oversees corporate treasury, banking relationships, payment processes, and Group liquidity.
  • Prepares budgets and cash flow forecasts.
  • Prepares materials for the Board of Directors, external auditors and — as it is established — the Audit Committee (board reporting, KPIs, variance analysis).
  • Prepares financial packages and figures for investors (in support of the CFO; ownership of investor relations remains with the CFO).
  • Coordinates external auditors, tax advisors, valuers, and other financial advisors of the Group.

What the Controller Oversees (Outsourced / Local)

  • Primary bookkeeping and journal entries — outsourced; the Controller reviews and closes.
  • Payroll — outsourced.
  • Local tax compliance in individual countries — local accountants.
  • Implementation and maintenance of the transfer pricing model and intra group licensing flows — the model is developed together with external tax/TP advisors; the Controller embeds it into the accounts, documentation, and reporting and ensures compliance.
  • Compliance with Economic Substance Requirements (ESR) and other corporate substance requirements in the Group's relevant jurisdictions.

Audit and IPO Readiness

  • Builds the financial function so that the first Big4 audit will not require a rework.
  • Prepares the Group for annual external audit and manages the relationship with Big4 auditors.
  • Ensures compliance with corporate governance requirements.
  • Prepares processes for scaling and a future IPO.

Requirements

  • Degree in finance or accounting.
  • Professional qualification — ACCA, ACA, or CPA (qualified candidates preferred, all else equal).
  • Strong command of IFRS.
  • Hands on experience preparing consolidated financial statements for an international group (multi entity, multi currency, with intra group eliminations) — assessed via a practical case study.
  • Experience working with external auditors.
  • Hands on experience implementing or substantially transforming ERP / finance systems is a significant advantage.
  • Fluent English.
  • Advantage: Big4 background followed by a move into industry (exposure to both audit and real world close).
  • Advantage: experience in a technology company.
  • Significant advantage: experience preparing a company for IPO.
  • US GAAP is a desirable bonus, not a mandatory requirement (a NASDAQ listing via IFRS as a foreign private issuer is acceptable).

Personal Qualities

  • High accountability, impeccable accuracy, strategic thinking, the ability to build processes from scratch, confidentiality, a systematic approach, initiative, a high standard of professional ethics, and the ability to operate in a fast growing international company.

Compensation

  • We offer a market leading package for the right candidate.
  • Fixed compensation: competitive monthly package (basic salary plus housing and transport allowances), benchmarked to the senior end of the Dubai market.
  • Benefits: comprehensive medical insurance (employee and family), annual home flights, 30 calendar days of paid annual leave, end of service gratuity in accordance with UAE labour law.
  • Variable compensation: annual performance bonus tied to clearly defined KPIs — a clean and timely close, a successful first external audit with no major findings, and on time ERP implementation.
  • Long term / IPO linked incentive: agreed individually with the successful candidate.

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