Role Summary:
The Finance Operations Manager will be the day-to-day finance lead and business
partner to senior stakeholders in a growing, partner-led environment. This role
ensures financial reporting integrity and strong governance, while translating
performance data into clear, decision-ready insights that drive accountability across
the business.
The successful candidate thrives in a lean structure, takes full ownership of
outcomes, and is confident partnering with non-finance leaders to improve
commercial decision-making within a regulated framework.
The Role
The Finance Operations Manager serves as the central oversight function across
finance operations and performance reporting, acting as the link between business
leaders and senior leadership. You will combine operational grip (controls,
processes, reporting cadence) with proactive business partnering (insights,
recommendations, follow-through).
This is a hands-on role requiring strong attention to detail, sound judgement and the ability to operate independently within a dynamic setting.
Key Responsibilities:
1) Business Partnering & Performance Management
- Act as a finance partner to Partners and Department Heads, providing structured insights and clear recommendations to support decisions.
- Lead budgeting and forecasting cycles in collaboration with senior leadership; challenge assumptions and ensure plans are realistic and measurable.
- Translate financial data into meaningful narratives for non-finance stakeholders.
- Collaborate on budgeting and forecasting.
- Build and run a consistent performance rhythm (e.g., weekly/monthly touchpoints), ensuring actions are tracked and outcomes are delivered.
- Support commercial decision-making through price strategies, margin analysis and profitability assessments.
- Drive financial awareness and accountability across departments.
2) Finance Operations Oversight & Governance
- Review and validate monthly management accounts prepared by Accountant, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and timeliness.
- Strengthen internal controls and enhance governance frameworks to support a regulated environment.
- Oversee payroll coordination and expense management controls, ensuring compliance with internal policies and required approvals.
- Monitor cash flow and support financial planning activities, escalating risks early with proposed solutions.
- Maintain robust documentation and reporting standards aligned with regulatory expectations.
Candidate Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field.
- Professional qualification (ACCA, CPA, CA, or equivalent) preferred.
- 3–5 years of relevant experience in finance operations, management accounting, and performance reporting.
- Demonstrated ability to partner with senior stakeholders and influence decisions using data and sound judgement.
- Strong understanding of internal controls, governance practices, and financial reporting standards.
- Exposure to regulated environments (ADGM, DIFC, asset management, investment firms, family offices) is an advantage.
- Strong analytical capability with the confidence to challenge financial information constructively.
- Comfortable operating in a lean organisational structure
- Excellent communication skills; able to simplify complex financial topics and build credibility with non-finance stakeholders.