Finance Business Partner - ELPEN MEA

On-site · Visa sponsorship provided

About Elpen

ELPEN is a Greek pharmaceutical group founded in 1965, with products in 90+ markets and 2,000 employees. ELPEN MEA, our subsidiary in Dubai, serves the Middle East and Africa region.

The opportunity

This is a newly created position and the first dedicated finance role in our Dubai affiliate. You will build the finance function of a young operation — the reporting, the controls and the planning discipline that support its growth — working day to day with the local leadership team in Dubai and closely with Group Finance in Athens. The role covers the UAE entity today, with scope to extend to the KSA market as the business grows.

The role requires an experienced, hands-on finance professional who is equally comfortable owning the numbers and explaining what they mean for the business.

Reporting line

The role reports functionally to the Group CFO at ELPEN HQ in Greece and operationally to the General Manager in Dubai.

What you do

Business partnering and planning

• Support the General Manager and the local leadership team with financial insight, business cases and decision support.
• Lead the annual budget, rolling forecasts and cash-flow planning.
• Evaluate pricing, tender economics, distributor and customer terms, and marketing and medical spending.
• Monitor revenue, profitability, working capital and key business indicators — and explain variances with a clear view of the actions they call for.

Reporting and control

• Own the monthly closings and the Group reporting package within the Group reporting calendar.
• Maintain a sound internal control environment and safeguard company assets, exercising banking and payment authority within Group policy.
• Manage intercompany reconciliation with HQ and transfer pricing compliance.
• Own the annual statutory audit and the preparation of the financial statements and reconcile Group reporting to the local statutory accounts.

Compliance and operations

• Ensure compliance with UAE corporate tax, VAT, economic substance, transfer pricing and payroll requirements, and prepare the affiliate for the UAE e-invoicing mandate.
• Manage external accounting, tax, audit and professional service providers, holding them to agreed scope, quality and deadlines.
• Manage receivables, credit exposure, collections, inventory and expiry provisioning.
• Uphold ELPEN's compliance standards, including anti-bribery and anti-corruption requirements and transparency in interactions with healthcare professionals.
• Improve finance processes and reporting tools, including practical use of automation and digital solutions.

What we are looking for

• Degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Administration or a related field, plus a professional qualification (ACCA, ACA, CPA, CMA, CIMA or equivalent).
• 5 to 7 years of progressive finance experience, combining core accounting, reporting and controls with financial planning and analysis or business partnering.
• Hands-on UAE experience: corporate tax, VAT, statutory audit and payroll compliance.
• Comfort operating as a standalone finance function — broad in scope, hands-on, with no direct reports initially.
• Solid command of budgeting, forecasting, cash flow, financial reporting and internal controls.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel, including financial analysis and modelling.
• Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills, and the judgement and integrity to hold an independent position.
• Professional fluency in English.

Preferred

• Pharmaceutical, medical device or other regulated-industry experience.
• Experience in a multinational group reporting to an overseas parent.
• Familiarity with ERP and reporting/BI tools, and with AI-enabled analytical tools used with proper regard for data confidentiality.
• Arabic knowledge will be considered as a plus

What we offer

• The opportunity to build the finance function of a growing affiliate rather than inherit one.
• Direct exposure to Group leadership and to decisions that matter.
• An established European pharmaceutical group with a long-term commitment to the region.
• Competitive package, performance bonus, medical cover and annual leave.
• Occasional travel to ELPEN HQ in Greece and within the region.

How to apply

Apply through this listing with your CV. Applications are treated in confidence. We aim to respond to shortlisted candidates within three (3) weeks.

ELPEN is an equal-opportunity employer. Personal data submitted with an application is processed solely for recruitment purposes and handled in accordance with applicable data protection law.