Vice President Payments (UAE National)

About the role

Mark Williams Recruitment is seeking a Vice President Payments for a well‑known financial services organisation in Dubai. Reporting to the CFO, this newly created senior position leads a centralised payments function that serves multiple entities and locations.

Key responsibilities

• Oversee high‑volume payments to external suppliers, service providers and employees, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Review and approve payment requests, maintaining robust controls to prevent duplicate or unauthorised transactions.
• Manage month‑end activities, including accruals, provisions, cost allocations and expense analysis.
• Lead reconciliations across accounts, entities and locations, resolving outstanding items promptly.
• Supervise suspense accounts, pre‑payments, supplier advances and other balance‑sheet items.
• Support quarterly and annual financial reporting, balance‑sheet schedules, variance analysis and audit requirements.
• Ensure VAT compliance and manage related transactions.
• Collaborate with Finance, Operations, HR, IT and other departments to resolve payment and accounting issues.
• Identify automation opportunities, lead system enhancements and implement new finance/ERP solutions.
• Manage outsourced finance activities, maintaining service levels and performance standards.

Required profile

• Minimum 10 years of experience in finance and accounting, with strong expertise in accounts payable, payments, general ledger and fixed assets.
• Proven track record managing high‑volume, multi‑entity finance environments and implementing robust financial controls.
• Experience leading finance teams and driving process improvement and automation.
• Solid understanding of accounting policies, procedures, governance and financial compliance.
• Excellent analytical, problem‑solving and stakeholder‑management skills.

What we offer

This senior finance leadership role provides the opportunity to shape payments processes, controls, systems and automation across a large organisation, influencing the financial function at a strategic level.