Job Summary:
We are seeking an experienced and commercially astute Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to lead the financial strategy, governance, and overall financial management of a well-established contracting company in Abu Dhabi.
The ideal candidate must have strong CFO/Finance Director-level experience within a contracting, construction, engineering, or infrastructure company, with a proven track record in project finance, cash-flow management, cost control, financial planning, and commercial decision-making.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop and execute the company's overall financial strategy in alignment with business objectives.
- Lead and oversee all finance, accounting, treasury, taxation, budgeting, and financial reporting functions.
- Provide strategic financial advice to the CEO, Board, and senior management.
- Prepare and monitor annual budgets, forecasts, financial plans, and cash-flow projections.
- Manage working capital, liquidity, cash flow, banking relationships, and financing requirements.
- Oversee project-level financial performance, including project costing, profitability, WIP, revenue recognition, variations, claims, retention, and receivables.
- Establish effective financial controls to monitor project costs and prevent cost overruns.
- Review and assess the financial viability and risks of new projects, tenders, contracts, and major investments.
- Work closely with the commercial and contracts teams on contractual claims, variations, payment certificates, retention, bonds, guarantees, and collections.
- Monitor project margins and provide timely analysis of financial performance against budgets.
- Ensure accurate and timely monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reporting.
- Oversee statutory audits, internal controls, tax compliance, VAT, and other regulatory requirements applicable in the UAE.
- Maintain strong relationships with banks, auditors, financial institutions, investors, and key stakeholders.
- Develop and strengthen financial policies, procedures, controls, and governance frameworks.
- Identify financial and operational risks and implement appropriate mitigation strategies.
- Lead, mentor, and develop the finance and accounting team.
- Provide management with meaningful financial analysis and recommendations to support business decisions.
- Ensure compliance with UAE laws, accounting standards, company policies, and contractual obligations.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related discipline.
- Professional qualification such as CA, ACCA, CPA, CMA, or equivalent is highly preferred.
- 15+ years of progressive finance experience, with significant experience at CFO, Finance Director, or equivalent senior leadership level.
- Mandatory experience within a contracting/construction company, preferably in the UAE or GCC.
- Strong understanding of construction/project accounting and contracting finance.
- Proven experience managing the financial operations of a project-based contracting business.
- Strong knowledge of cash-flow management, project costing, WIP, working capital, budgeting, forecasting, and profitability analysis.
- Experience with banking facilities, performance bonds, advance payment guarantees, letters of credit, and project financing.
- Strong understanding of commercial and contractual aspects of construction projects.
- Experience working closely with QS, Commercial, Contracts, Procurement, Projects, and Operations teams.
- Excellent knowledge of UAE VAT, corporate tax, and applicable financial regulations.
- Strong leadership, negotiation, analytical, and strategic decision-making skills.
