Financial Controller - MENA

About the role

Freshfields is looking for a Financial Controller for the MENA region, reporting to the Global Head of Financial Control with around 4-5 direct reports. The team manages Financial Control, FP&A and Tax Operations in the MENA region in line with the Firm's policies and local legislation, and supports the MENA COO and Regional Office Managing Partner. The role is based in Dubai.

Key responsibilities

• Month-end and year-end close and reporting, including ledger review, stakeholder reporting and balance sheet reconciliations (including with colleagues in Bratislava)
• Local GAAP accounting and oversight of the annual budget and full-year re-forecasts
• Partner drawings, distribution statements, partner tax returns and new partner finance inductions
• Cash and banking: lead bank relationships, approve payments, review cash flow forecasts and liaise with Global Treasury
• Payroll review, local audits (Bahrain, Abu Dhabi ICV, UAE and KSA), regional intercompany accounting and approval of expenses and payments
• Tax liaison with external advisors on corporate tax/Zakat, VAT returns, and regional transfer pricing policy
• Risk management and compliance: management accounts policies, cost and expense policies, controls, license renewals, AML returns and statutory filings
• Continuous improvement through automation, and acting as Local Subject Matter Expert for firmwide strategic projects
• Negotiating supplier contracts and landlord matters with facility services colleagues

Required profile

• A qualified accountant with extensive experience of statutory and regulatory frameworks across the MENA region (UAE, KSA, Bahrain)
• Demonstrable experience managing and developing teams
• Ability to communicate and influence across all levels and build relationships with external stakeholders
• Fluent business English
• Desirable: Professional Services or legal industry experience, experience as a customer of Global Shared Services

Required skills

• Basic understanding of legal and finance systems, ideally the Intapp suite and Elite 3e