Job Title: Head of Finance – Development

Department: Finance & Strategy

Reporting To: Chief Executive Officer / Managing Director

Location: Dubai, UAE

Employment Type: Full-Time

Industry: Real Estate Development / Construction

Position Overview

The Head of Finance – Development will lead the financial management and strategic direction of all development and investment projects within the organization. This role requires a strong financial leader with hands-on expertise in project accounting, budgeting, feasibility analysis, and investment evaluation.

The ideal candidate will balance strategic leadership with close operational oversight, ensuring financial accuracy, compliance, and performance efficiency across all development initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Financial Leadership

Develop and execute financial strategies aligned with development and growth objectives.
Partner closely with the CEO and senior leadership on investment evaluation and financial decision-making.
Oversee project feasibility studies, ROI assessments, and cost–benefit analyses.
Drive long-term financial planning in line with market dynamics and business goals.

Operational & Financial Oversight

Maintain close supervision over day-to-day finance operations, including budgeting, accounting, and reporting.
Review and validate major financial transactions, project costs, and fund utilization.
Enforce financial discipline through strict expenditure controls and approval frameworks.
Identify inefficiencies and implement financial best practices across departments.
Ensure adherence to timelines, accuracy standards, and internal controls.

Budgeting, Forecasting & Control

Lead annual budgeting, project budgeting, and rolling forecasts.
Monitor performance against budgets and provide variance analysis.
Establish robust cost-control systems and project expenditure tracking mechanisms.

Funding & Treasury Management

Structure funding through banks, investors, joint ventures, or alternative financing routes.
Manage liquidity, working capital, and treasury operations.
Optimize financial resource allocation across multiple projects.

Governance, Compliance & Risk

Ensure compliance with UAE regulations, IFRS, and internal audit standards.
Identify financial risks and implement mitigation strategies.
Coordinate with auditors, legal advisors, and relevant authorities.
Maintain transparency and strong governance in financial reporting.

Leadership & Team Development

Lead, mentor, and develop a multi-disciplinary finance team.
Foster accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement.
Build a culture of precision, collaboration, and high performance.

Qualifications & Experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, or Commerce
MBA or professional qualification (CA / CPA / ACCA / CMA) preferred

Experience

12–15 years of progressive finance experience, including 5+ years in senior leadership
Strong exposure to real estate development, infrastructure, or investment-led environments
Proven expertise in project financing, feasibility, budgeting, and cost control
Experience managing group-level or multi-entity finance operations
Hands-on exposure to ERP systems and project accounting tools

Technical Skills

Financial modeling, investment analysis, and cash-flow forecasting
Strong knowledge of IFRS, corporate taxation, and compliance frameworks
Advanced Excel skills; experience with Power BI and ERP platforms (SAP / Oracle / Microsoft Dynamics)

Soft Skills

Strong strategic and analytical mindset
Excellent stakeholder and leadership communication
Detail-oriented with strong operational control capability
High integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality

Key Competencies

Strategic Financial Leadership
Project Feasibility & ROI Evaluation
Budgeting, Forecasting & Cost Control
Capital Structuring & Treasury Management
Risk, Compliance & Governance
Hands-on Operational Oversight
Team Leadership & Development
Stakeholder & Investor Engagement

Head of Finance - Real Estate