MSELECT is looking to hire a Finance and Planning Director for a major construction client in Erbil. Candidates must have a Chartered Accountant/CPA with 8+ years’ experience in financial operations management and be fluent in English, Kurdish and Arabic is an advantage.
The Director, Finance and Planning is a key member of the administration reporting to the Chief Executive Officer. The Director has overall responsibility for financial operations management, accounting, financial reporting, financial planning, budgeting and cost control in line with the internal and statutory regulations.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Director, Finance and Planning will:
- Set up comprehensive financial operations management function, including but not limited to cost-centre based accounting, budgeting and forecasting, financial reporting, management information systems, regulatory and internal compliance, insurance management, cost control, policy development, financial planning, treasury management, revenue cycle management, receivables management, payables management, contract management and internal auditing
- Be responsible for the financial operations management, and lead the finance and accounting functions
- Provide technical and professional support to the F&A heads of the subsidiaries and associated business units
- Contribute to strategic decision making, provide technical financial advice, develop business plans and financial forecasts, and evaluate new business proposals
- Prepare budgets and monitor the compliance thereof, analyse variances, and advise the management about corrective action
- Supervise the periodic closing, prepare monthly and annual financial statements, and prepare consolidated financial statements, in line with the International Financial Reporting Standards
- Map the accounts with the Iraqi Unified Accounting System (IUAS) so as to be able to provide financial statements in accordance with the IUAS, if and when required
- Set costing standards, monitor the costs, and advice the management regarding cost control
- Develop and implement Management Information System, prepare and provide timely and accurate management reports on the financial and operating performance, and meet the information needs of the Board and senior management, and for this purpose establish secure and confidential databases and accounting systems for all aspects of financial management
- Develop and implement internal control systems, frame and regularly update policies, procedures and regulations relating to accounting, finance, procurement, and financial matters following best practices
- Assess financial risks across the organization, keep the management apprised of such risks, and prepare and update financial risk register
- Implement ERP system, and ensure that requisite internal controls are built into the system
- Update the management about the funding requirements at regular intervals, and for this purpose maintain adequate records to determine cash flow
- Ensure consistent compliance with the internal regulations, policies and procedures
- Ensure compliance with the applicable laws of the Kurdistan Regional Government, and other statutory bodies in so far as it relates to the finance and accounting functions
- Analyze contracts, agreements and MOUs from financial and accounting perspective, and ensure compliance thereof in so far as it relates to the finance and accounting functions
- Prepare reports and other documentation, as may be required in terms of the agreements and contracts, or by the statutory bodies
- Liaise with key internal and external stakeholders, subsidiaries, associated business units, business partners, auditors, banks and government authorities
- Advise all the stakeholders about the applicable financial and accounting policies, procedures and regulations, and provide training to the supervisory staff of the other departments
- Represent the department in inter-departmental and other committees
- Provide leadership to the team members, and ensure effective management, development and mentoring of the subordinate staff
- Remain competent and maintain knowledge of trends, best practices, regulatory changes, and new technologies in the field, and apply this knowledge to make changes in policies and procedures, and update the senior management about such changes
- Prepare annual plan for the Finance Department, and ensure compliance thereof
- Develop and implement departmental budget
- Ensure confidentiality at all times in line with the organizational policy and the instructions of the management
- Take on additional areas of responsibility, as may be required by the Line Manager from time to time.
PERSON SPECIFICATIONS
- Chartered Accountant/Certified Public Accountant with 8+ years’ experience in financial operations management, out of which 3+ recent years in leadership position in a mid-level multi-business organization; experience in setting-up the department in a start-up is an advantage; experience in a holding company or Group is desirable; experience in the Middle East is an advantage
- Utmost integrity, and ability to keep confidentiality
- Expert knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS); experience in first-time adoption of IFRS is an advantage
- Ability to work closely with the Board and senior management
- Excellent analytical skills, and an eye for detail
- Excellent command of English, including writing analytical management reports; knowledge of Kurdish and/or Arabic is an advantage
- Expertise in instituting internal controls, and framing policies and procedures
- Expert knowledge of budgeting, cost-center accounting and financial modelling
- Good experience in working with ERP systems (Oracle is preferred) and MS Office Suite; experience in first-time implementation of ERP systems is highly desirable
- Excellent leadership skills
- Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills, organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to communicate effectively
- Ability to interpret laws, understand nuances, and analyze contracts
- Ability to lead and manage change, multitasking and work under pressure
*Only applicants meeting the strict criteria outlined above will be contacted as part of the shortlisting process