Financial Controller

Job Title: Financial Controller

Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE (with initial travel to London, UK)

Overview:

We are seeking a seasoned Financial Controller to join a leading real estate investment and development firm as they transition their finance function from London to Abu Dhabi. The ideal candidate will be based in Abu Dhabi and will play a key role in managing this transition while continuing to build and lead a high-performing finance team locally.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the financial operations for the UAE entity, including oversight of accounting, reporting, cash flow management, and compliance.
• Ensure financial statements and reporting are fully compliant with IFRS and internal policies.
• Act as a strong business partner to senior leadership, contributing to strategic decision-making and financial planning.
• Build, manage, and mentor a growing finance team in the UAE.
• Oversee and maintain robust banking relationships both locally and internationally.
• Manage budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis across real estate portfolios.
• Coordinate with external auditors and tax advisors as required.
• Lead the transition of finance operations from London to Abu Dhabi, including knowledge transfer and system migration.
• Travel to London for the initial 1–2 months to support transition and onboarding.

Requirements:

• Fluent in Arabic and English (spoken and written).
• Proven experience as a Financial Controller or similar senior finance role within the real estate industry.
• Strong technical accounting knowledge with hands-on experience in IFRS.
• Experience managing and scaling finance teams.
• A strong track record in managing banking relationships and financial institutions.
• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally and influence business decisions.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
• Willingness to travel to the UK as part of the initial setup phase.