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 costbenefit 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
- 1215 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
