Financial Controller II

About the company

Azadea Group is a premier lifestyle retail company that owns and operates more than 40 leading international franchise concepts in fashion and accessories, food and beverage, home furnishings, sporting goods, multimedia and beauty and cosmetics across the Middle East and Africa spread across 13 countries overseeing more than 700 stores.

Job purpose

The financial controller is responsible for developing, maintaining, and improving division-wide financial controls, accounting, and reporting policies and practices.

Responsibilities

• Formulate, develop, and implement finance and accounting plans, policies, and procedures in alignment with the corporate finance strategy, and conduct cost-benefit analyses for projects and programs.
• Monitor and verify the availability of funds for operational needs, including proper cash flow management and forecasting, to anticipate financial requirements in terms of amount and type.
• Oversee financial and accounting procedural compliance by subordinates and employees to ensure all systems are followed and business objectives are achieved.
• Ensure adherence to all contractual obligations and commitments by monitoring compliance, reporting any deviations, and implementing corrective actions as needed to maintain contractual integrity and meet obligations.
• Coordinate with the treasury team to secure adequate financing from financial institutions, evaluate the competitiveness of financial costs, negotiate terms to reduce expenses, and actively seek opportunities to improve the entity's operational and financial performance.
• Supervise the production of key financial statements and own the process for coordinating internal and annual statutory audits according to agreed schedules. Ensure accuracy and company compliance with statutory reporting requirements and obligations.
• Approve the annual budget in collaboration with the FP&A team, including reviewing and analyzing budget proposals, ensuring alignment with strategic goals, and finalizing the budget based on comprehensive evaluations and discussions.
• Guarantee adherence to the company's tax regulations and laws affecting the business, and consult with tax advisors, preferably the assigned auditor, to stay up-to-date with newly published laws.
• Ensure compliance with group policies and procedures by monitoring adherence, enforcing standards, and implementing continuous improvement measures to address any gaps or updates required.
• Specific to multimedia & lifestyle: develop the annual budget for the multimedia division, encompassing back offices and stores across the entire region.
• Recruit, train, motivate, and evaluate the team to ensure that the department has the necessary skill base, and that staff are optimally motivated and enabled to maximize their potential and contribution to the company.

Qualifications

Language & technical skills

Language proficiency

• Fluency in English.
• Fluency in Arabic is a plus.

Technical skills

• Proficiency in MS Office and ERP systems.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis on accounting, or finance, or a related field.

MBA or CFA, CPA/CA is a plus.

Experience

General experience

Eight to ten years of experience in a similar role.

Managerial experience

Five years of experience in a managerial role.

Behavioral competencies

Business insight
Applies knowledge of business and the marketplace to advance the organization's goals. For example, clearly understands how own activities relate to critical business drivers. Monitors business news and market changes for impact on the business or on own expertise area; uses this to shape decisions.

Financial acumen
Interprets and applies key financial indicators to make better business decisions. For example, provides rich and rigorous forecasts of the financial implications of ideas and opportunities. Makes well-balanced decisions regarding expenditures that take into account multiple considerations.

Action oriented
Takes on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm. For example, takes timely action on important or difficult issues. Identifies and pursues new opportunities that benefit the organization.

Ensures accountability
Holds self and others accountable to meet commitments. For example, accepts responsibility for own work, both successes and failures. Handles fair share and does not make excuses for problems. Usually meets commitments to others.

Manages conflict
Handles conflict situations effectively, with a minimum of noise. For example, seeks out a variety of opinions and options; maintains an open mind; takes steps to ensure conflict remains constructive; avoids polarized or unilateral decisions; seeks agreement on critical issues.

Develops talent
Develops people to meet both their career goals and the organization's goals. For example, shares own experience and expertise with others if asked. Provides constructive feedback and other support for other people's development.

Nimble learning
Learns through experimentation when tackling new problems, using both successes and failures as learning fodder. For example, swiftly incorporates new concepts and principles into own expertise; skillfully uses these fresh insights to solve problems. Shares learning from own mistakes with others.

Azadea Group is an equal employment employer – all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or any other characteristic protected by relevant local laws.