Senior Finance Manager

Job Objective

This role is for the Senior Finance Manager in the Middle East, Africa & Caspian (MEAC) region, a business with $0.5Bn+ revenues across multiple geographies. The MEAC business is part of the wider Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) Business Group (BG) which sits within the Operations BU. The global Operations BU comprises of 3 BG’s - EMEA, Operations Americas and Operations APAC. 

The position has dual reporting responsibilities to the MEAC Operational SVP and the EMEA Finance VP and is therefore a key part of both operational and functional leadership teams. 

Business partnering is a key element of the role in providing finance and decision-making support through building relationships and promoting close links with operational leadership. The business partner element to the role is to provide analysis, insight and views in respect of the financial performance of the business, be a trusted advisor and to add value that will assist in broader business decision making. 

The role carries profit and loss, working capital responsibility, and broader balance sheet accountability across the various entities in the region. Other main aspects of the role include governance, financial control, internal and external reporting, financial forecasting and cash collection. 

The role will include direct / indirect responsibility for finance teams supporting activities in the UAE, Iraq, Qatar, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Equatorial Guinea - team management and development are an essential element of the role. 

This role has responsibility for ensuring that all Group requirements are adhered to and that any financial risks are understood and mitigated as appropriate. 

Full responsibility for all financial matters including accurate and timely completion of monthly reporting, optimising financial performance; provide stewardship over profit improvement plans 

Report business / country / contract portfolio financial performance to senior management including variance analysis, accounts receivables, DSO, accruals / provisions and unbilled analysis 

Ownership / co-ordination of annual budget, forecasts and rolling forecasts in conjunction with senior operational 

Ensure forecasting accuracy and predictability through the rolling forecast v monthly actual result process 

Overall ownership of monthly customer billing to ensure invoices are prepared in accordance with the commercial terms of the contract 

Responsible for driving sustainable working capital improvements and/or maintaining performance working with operational management, project managers, supply chain and other relevant areas to optimise cash collection and minimise DSO, including customer relationships and reporting 

Leadership and management of business / country / region finance team including recruitment, staff development, performance management and the setting of objectives 

Challenge management to drive the highest levels of financial performance which includes understanding the cost base, allocated costs, revenue base and associated budget/forecast, support the business through actionable insights 

Engagement with commercial teams on the pre award phase in terms of bids, rates, and relevant analysis and a key contact and team participant for such, including input to financial terms contained in contracts and bids where appropriate 

Engagement with commercial teams on post contract award phase in terms of margin analysis looking for opportunities to drive improvements and commercial efficiencies, and attending key project reviews to ensure that reported financials are appropriate 

Lead engagement with external and internal auditors to successfully complete relevant audits 

Ownership of implementation and financial adherence with the finance operating model and support Finance function initiatives  

Ensure that an effective control environment exists through compliance with all Group control frameworks, policies and procedures as relevant 

Responsibility for relevant project accounting, including monthly reviews, analysis and project set up, accounting judgements and provisioning while working with relevant functions such as Commercial, Legal and Tax 

Work with Operations and serve as a conduit between the business and Legal, Tax and Treasury, IT, Shared Services and Supply Chain 

Strong HSE focus including leadership engagements 

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS 

Internal: Finance leadership, Operational leadership, Commercial, Supply Chain, P&O, wider corporate functions, Auditors 

External: Auditors, customers, professional advisors, peer group 

LEVEL OF INFLUENCE & DECISIONMAKING AUTHORITY 

• High level of influence with a role in both business and functional leadership teams 
• Team management and relevant performance management 
• Decision making role for relevant business with level of DOA 
• Significant influencing role as manager of large multi-geographical and cultural team 
• Influencer as part of relevant finance and business leadership teams 

Qualifications: 

Professionally qualified accountant 

Knowledge, skills and experience: 

Minimum of 10 years relevant accounting experience 

Strong experience of business partnering 

Excellent track record in people management 

Demonstrable commercial experience 

Previous experience of leading and developing a team 

Good IT / Systems knowledge 

Sound knowledge of Oil & Gas services business and accounting methodology 

Personal attributes: 

Sets example and fully participates in the company values building strong relationships across the business 

Strong people skills and desire to develop the team, look to recruit the best 

Manages with honesty and commitment 

Ability to discuss issues clearly and concisely at all levels in the organisation 

Ability to work proactively to analyse problems/issues and identify solutions