Head of Finance GBS

Head of GBS - Finance

Dubai, UAE

FMCG Client hiring

We are looking for an experienced Head – GBS Finance to lead and oversee the finance shared services / Global Business Services function for a large and diversified FMCG organization.

The role will be responsible for driving operational excellence, standardization, governance and service delivery across core finance processes. The successful candidate will lead a large-scale finance operations environment, partnering closely with business finance, corporate finance, controllership and other stakeholders to ensure accurate, timely and efficient delivery of finance services.

The role requires a strong finance leader with deep process knowledge, transformation experience and the ability to build scalable finance operations across multiple entities and geographies. The role will lead the strategic transition of key business processes from an existing outsourced partner to an in-house GBS model, building the capabilities, governance, and operating framework required for a successful insourcing journey

Key Responsibilities

•Lead the overall Finance GBS / shared services function, ensuring efficient, accurate and timely delivery of finance processes.

•Oversee core finance operations including Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, General Ledger, Record-to-Report, financial accounting, reconciliations and related processes.

•Drive standardization, centralization and harmonization of finance processes across businesses and legal entities.

•Establish and monitor service delivery KPIs, SLAs and operational performance metrics across the GBS organization.

•Ensure strong governance, internal controls, compliance and process discipline across all finance operations.

•Partner closely with business finance, controllership, FP&A, tax, treasury, audit and corporate finance teams to ensure seamless end-to-end finance operations.

•Drive process improvement, automation, digitization and finance transformation initiatives across the GBS function.

•Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce costs, strengthen controls and enhance service quality.

•Lead month-end, quarter-end and year-end close processes, ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting.

•Ensure robust balance sheet reconciliations, financial controls, accounting processes and data quality across relevant entities.

•Support statutory, internal and external audit requirements and ensure timely resolution of audit observations.

•Develop and implement standardized policies, procedures, controls and operating models across finance processes.

•Lead finance transformation projects involving ERP systems, workflow automation, reporting tools and digital finance solutions.

•Drive continuous improvement through Lean, process excellence and best-practice methodologies.

•Manage relationships with senior business stakeholders and act as a strategic finance partner on service delivery, process and transformation matters.

•Establish effective governance mechanisms and regular performance reviews with business and finance leadership.

•Lead, develop and mentor a high-performing GBS finance organization, building strong capabilities across finance operations and process excellence.

•Manage organizational capacity, workforce planning, productivity and talent development within the GBS function.

•Ensure the GBS operating model remains scalable and aligned with the evolving requirements of the business.

•Provide regular performance, operational and transformation updates to senior finance leadership.

•Drive a culture of accountability, customer focus, operational excellence and continuous improvement across the GBS organization.

Candidate Profile:

•Chartered Accountant (CA) with 15–20+ years of progressive finance experience, including significant leadership experience in GBS / shared services.

•Strong experience in FMCG, consumer goods or a similarly complex, multi-entity organization, preferably with UAE / GCC exposure.

•Proven expertise across finance operations, R2R, P2P, O2C, controllership, financial reporting and governance.

•Strong track record in finance transformation, process standardization, automation and managing large-scale teams / shared services operations.

•Excellent leadership, stakeholder management, process excellence, analytical and change management capabilities.