Finance Manager

About the Art Dubai Group

Art Dubai Group is a public-private partnership with Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) founded in 2007, and has grown to become the most experienced cultural programming company in the Gulf. Comprising more than 30 initiatives, including the region's leading art and design fairs and festivals, it is a provider of industry expertise to the business and government sectors, alongside year-round commissioning and professional development programmes.

The group's flagship initiatives include Art Dubai, the Middle East's pre-eminent international art fair; Downtown Design, the region's leading design fair with a focus on high quality and original design; Dubai Design Week, the region's largest design festival; and Prototypes for Humanity, the world's largest and most diverse assembly of academics addressing social and environmental challenges.

About the Role

The Finance Manager oversees the financial operations of Art Dubai Group, ensuring accurate financial reporting, effective financial planning, and strong internal controls across its programmes and entities.

This is a hands-on role requiring the ability to manage budgets, forecasts, cash flow, and financial reporting, while maintaining compliance with accounting standards and regulatory requirements.

The role also requires the ability to provide strategic financial insights to senior leadership, support business decision-making, and lead end-to-end finance operations, including reconciliations, payroll, and team management, while driving efficiency and continuous improvement across financial processes.

Key Responsibilities:

Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A):

• Develop and manage financial forecasts, budgets, and long-term financial plans.
• Conduct financial analysis and provide actionable insights to senior management to support decision-making.
• Monitor financial performance against budgets and forecasts and recommend corrective actions as needed.

Financial Reporting:

• Prepare and present monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements, ensuring compliance with accounting standards and regulations.
• Manage the preparation of financial reports for internal stakeholders and external auditors.
• Ensure the timely and accurate filing of tax returns and regulatory compliance documents.

Cash Flow & Budget Management:

• Monitor and manage cash flow, ensuring that the organization maintains sufficient liquidity.
• Lead the preparation and maintenance of annual operating and capital budgets.
• Evaluate financial risks and provide strategic recommendations to optimize resource allocation.

Financial Reconciliation and Management:

• Responsible for accounts receivable and accounts payable processes, ensuring accurate monthly reconciliation.
• Liaise with banks for various financial transactions and manage fixed deposit monitoring.

Fixed Asset and Balance Sheet Management:

• Prepare and maintain asset schedules and fixed asset registers, including depreciation calculations.
• Conduct monthly balance sheet reconciliations and ensure the timely resolution of outstanding matters.

Month-End Close and Internal Controls:

• Manage the month-end close process, ensuring compliance with agreed timelines.
• Implement controls and review processes to ensure financial integrity.
• Identify and address internal control weaknesses, proposing actions for improvement.

Payroll and Insurance Management:

• Ensure timely completion of monthly payroll and the maintenance of the payroll register.
• Handle insurance coverage to mitigate business risks, ensuring timely renewals before deadlines.

Financial Analysis and HR Operations:

• Conduct monthly analysis of financial results, providing insights into variances against forecasts and prior periods.
• Work closely with HR to ensure financial impacts of compensation, benefits, and other HR initiatives are accurately tracked and reported.

Team Leadership & Development:

• Manage, mentor, and develop a team of finance professionals.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and drive efficiency in financial processes and systems.
• Encourage a collaborative work environment to enhance cross-functional partnerships.

Strategic Advisory:

• Work closely with senior leadership to develop and implement business strategies that align with the company's financial goals.
• Provide expert advice and financial insights on key business decisions, investments, and operational activities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field.
• 5–8 years of experience in financial management, accounting, or FP&A, preferably within the creative industries, events, or cultural sectors.
• Strong understanding of financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow management.
• Experience preparing financial statements and working with external auditors.
• Solid knowledge of accounting standards and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Proficiency in financial systems and tools (e.g. Excel, ERP systems, accounting software).
• Experience managing accounts receivable, accounts payable, and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret financial data and provide actionable insights.
• Experience working cross-functionally, particularly with HR on payroll and cost tracking.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Leadership experience with the ability to manage and develop a finance team.
• Proactive, detail-oriented, and solutions-focused approach.

How to apply

Please submit your CV via this job posting.

Please note that this is an on-site role requiring office attendance five days a week.