Head of Commercial Finance

Job description / Role

Head of Commercial Finance - 12-month contract

THE CLIENT:

Our client is a MNC in the Professional Services / Legal industry, one of the top 3 in their field of work. FCSearch have been given the mandate to recruit a Senior role for a limited contract position (12 months min.) for the Client’s Commercial Finance team. This is an excellent opportunity for someone from a similar MNC background to join a company in rapid growth with an excellent, international working culture in a leadership position.

ROLE SUMMARY:

As Commercial Finance Senior Manager, you will manage a team of 10 (senior and mid-level in commercial finance) and have the responsibility for the Client’s Commercial Analyst Team, including planning, forecasting and all aspects of the Lead to Invoicing workflow. The Commercial Finance Senior Manager is able to recognize issues and risks to the system and is able to effectively raise and explain these issues and concerns with the office leadership in a manner that facilitates decision making.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide Finance commercial support through the team of Lead Commercial Analysts to the stakeholders (guided by the Commercial Finance Director), ensuring early detection of issues and an efficient process.
• Manage the day-to-day activities of team members, ensuring team alignment to common team objectives and goals, while implementing processes for effective team collaboration and communication
• Guide the business on large complex RfPs and in pricing – working with Commercial Directors and Legal and ensuring appropriate investment approvals are in place
• Oversee team financial control and analysis of client cases, taking timely corrective measures on absorptions, provisions and reserves where needed to ensure revenue recognition is appropriate and results effectively communicated to and understood by Leadership
• Owns system WIP/AR weekly reporting, driving best practices in contracting, and invoicing processes to decrease DSO, maximize cash balances and improve price realization. Review pricing trends and leakages e.g. expense, making recommendations on ways to improve profitability by:

• Manage the coordination of the annual revenue credit process with the Group
• Drive and communicate DSO programmatic actions, escalating and resolving as needed - Embed risk management in commercial finance, ensuring adequate controls and compliance with the Client’s policies and local regulatory requirements
• Support the annual audit process and internal risk reviews
• Mentor and coach team members, actively seeking opportunities to further develop skills and providing feedback on performance
• Advance the professional development of team members, through training curriculum, internal projects and team building activities
• Proactively identify and address areas for improvement to the local commercial processes to gain efficiencies, which is inclusive of, but not limited to assisting with local development and implementation of financial applications
• Report to ME leadership on exposure and risk status of all cases monthly
• Liaise with the internal and external audit teams
• Oversee implementation of various ongoing projects within commercial finance

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS:

• University degree required, Accounting or Finance Qualification/MBA preferred
• Supervisory or management experience in multinational environments with the ability to lead a wide range of people preferred
• Strong commercial acumen
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Strong organization skills, orientation to detail and initiative
• Proficiency to work with systems and willingness to learn more as require

About the Company

FCSearch is a trusted search and recruitment partner, specialising in the permanent recruitment of hard-to-find talent for progressive businesses across the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar.

Founded by industry-renowned search specialist Frances Chang Sparling, we call upon our extensive experience and vast network of skilled professionals to head-hunt in-demand talent, seeking out the best candidates in the market, not just on the market.

In order to set ourselves apart from the competition and build enduring, trustworthy relationships with the companies and candidates we work with, we make it a priority to listen and truly understand needs and requirements.