Finance Manager

A senior finance professional with strong travel and Tourism**-sector experience**, excellent knowledge of the UAE market, recognized educational/professional qualifications, and a proven track record of leading financial functions at a senior management level.

Mandatory Requirements

• Minimum 5 to years of professional experience in the travel and Tourism / Hospitality Industry.
• Proven experience in a Finance leadership role.
• Arabic Speaker
• Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Professional certification such as CPA, ACCA, CMA, ACA, or equivalent is highly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of UAE regulations and financial requirements.
• Must be currently based in Dubai.
• Strong leadership, analytical, communication, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent knowledge of financial reporting, budgeting, risk management, and corporate

A. Financial Management and Accounting

• Oversee all daily financial and accounting operations of the company.
• Ensure that all financial transactions are accurately recorded, classified, documented, and reconciled.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date accounting records in the company's approved accounting system, including Odoo.
• Review journal entries, general ledger accounts, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and bank reconciliations.
• Ensure that all financial records are supported by appropriate invoices, receipts, payment confirmations, and relevant documents.
• Establish and maintain effective financial controls to prevent errors, unauthorized transactions, and financial losses.
• Ensure the proper recording and reconciliation of customer bookings, supplier invoices, refunds, commissions, and other travel-related transactions.

B. Cash Flow and Treasury Management

• Monitor daily cash flow, bank balances, cash requirements, and financial obligations.
• Prepare and maintain cash flow forecasts to ensure the company can meet its financial commitments on time.
• Monitor incoming customer payments, outstanding receivables, supplier payments, and other liabilities.
• Ensure that sufficient funds are available for approved operational expenses and supplier commitments.
• Identify potential cash flow shortages and report them to management promptly.
• Monitor bank accounts, payment gateways, company cards, and other approved payment channels.

C. Accounts Payable and Supplier Payments

• Supervise the preparation, verification, and processing of supplier payments.
• Ensure that each payment is made against the correct booking, file, invoice, and approved supporting documents.
• Verify payment amounts, supplier details, payment deadlines, and applicable approval requirements before processing payments.
• Maintain accurate payment tracking sheets and ensure all payment deadlines are recorded and monitored.
• Ensure that no supplier payment is missed, delayed, duplicated, or allocated to the wrong booking or file.
• Coordinate with Operations, Reservations, Contracting, and other relevant departments to resolve payment discrepancies.
• Maintain proper records of payment confirmations and outstanding supplier balances.
• Ensure that all payments comply with the company's approved financial procedures and authorization limits.

D. Accounts Receivable and Customer Refunds

• Monitor customer balances, outstanding payments, credit transactions, and overdue receivables.
• Coordinate with Sales and Customer Support to follow up on overdue customer payments.
• Review and process approved customer refunds in accordance with the company's refund SOP.
• Ensure that refunds are accurately calculated, properly documented, approved, and completed within the established deadlines.
• Reconcile customer payments, refunds, credit notes, and outstanding balances.
• Escalate overdue receivables, unresolved discrepancies, and potential financial losses to management.

E. Budgeting, Forecasting, and Profitability

• Prepare annual budgets, periodic forecasts, and financial plans for management approval.
• Monitor actual financial performance against approved budgets and forecasts.
• Analyze revenue, direct costs, operating expenses, gross profit, net profit, and departmental performance.
• Prepare profitability reports by booking, destination, supplier, product, department, or other relevant business categories.
• Identify unnecessary expenses, cost-saving opportunities, financial risks, and opportunities to improve profitability.
• Provide financial analysis to support pricing decisions, business expansion, supplier negotiations, and management planning.
• Monitor the financial impact of cancellations, amendments, refunds, booking errors, and supplier penalties.

F. Financial Reporting and Management Information

• Prepare accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports.
• Present management with the company's financial position, cash flow, outstanding liabilities, receivables, revenue, expenses, and profitability.
• Prepare and submit the Profit and Loss (P&L) report and supporting schedules within the deadlines established by management.
• Ensure financial reports are complete, accurate, reconciled, and supported by verifiable records.
• Highlight significant variances, financial risks, unusual transactions, and deviations from approved budgets.
• Provide management with timely financial information to support business decisions.
• Maintain organized financial records for internal reviews, external audits, and regulatory requirements.

G. Tax Compliance and Regulatory Requirements

• Ensure compliance with applicable UAE financial, accounting, and tax requirements.
• Oversee the preparation and timely submission of VAT returns and other applicable tax filings.
• Ensure that tax invoices, credit notes, expense records, and supporting documents meet applicable requirements.
• Coordinate with external auditors, tax consultants, banks, and relevant authorities when required.
• Monitor changes in applicable financial and tax regulations and recommend necessary adjustments to company procedures.
• Maintain the records required for statutory reporting, audits, and regulatory compliance.

H. Internal Controls and Financial Policies

• Develop, implement, and maintain financial policies, procedures, approval workflows, and internal controls.
• Ensure that all financial transactions follow the company's approved authorization matrix.
• Prevent unauthorized payments, duplicate payments, inaccurate entries, misuse of company funds, and inadequate documentation.
• Ensure segregation of duties wherever practicable and conduct periodic reviews of financial processes.
• Monitor compliance with approved payment procedures, expense policies, refund procedures, and financial reporting deadlines.
• Report suspected fraud, irregularities, control weaknesses, and financial misconduct to management immediately.
• Maintain the confidentiality and security of all financial information and company records.

I. Team Management and Interdepartmental Coordination

• Supervise, guide, and evaluate Finance Department employees.
• Assign responsibilities, establish priorities, monitor performance, and ensure timely completion of financial tasks.
• Train team members on accounting procedures, payment controls, reporting standards, and company policies.
• Coordinate with Operations, Sales, Customer Support, HR, and management to ensure accurate financial information and smooth business operations.
• Ensure proper handovers, documentation, and continuity of financial activities during employee absence or transitions.
• Escalate unresolved operational and financial issues to the appropriate management level.

J. Systems, Reconciliation, and Process Improvement

• Ensure the accurate and consistent use of Odoo and other company-approved financial systems.
• Review financial data entered into the system and resolve missing, incorrect, duplicated, or unreconciled transactions.
• Ensure that booking records, supplier invoices, payment records, customer receipts, and financial reports are aligned.
• Recommend improvements to financial workflows, automation, reporting, and internal controls.
• Maintain appropriate access controls and ensure that financial data is handled securely.
• Support management in implementing improved financial processes and performance monitoring tools.

3. AUTHORITY AND APPROVAL LIMITS

• The Finance Manager may review, verify, recommend, and process financial transactions within the limits of the company's approved policies and delegated authority.
• No payment, refund, expense, or financial commitment may be approved beyond the Finance Manager's authorized limits.
• Transactions requiring approval from the Company Manager, Chairman, or other authorized personnel must receive the required approval before execution.
• The Finance Manager must not independently change approved budgets, payment terms, financial policies, or authorization limits without the required management approval.
• Any suspected fraud, material financial discrepancy, unauthorized transaction, or significant financial risk must be escalated promptly to management.

4. KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (KPIs)

The Finance Manager's performance will be evaluated based on the following measurable indicators:

• Financial Reporting Accuracy: Timely submission of complete and accurate financial reports, including monthly P&L reports.
• Payment Timeliness: All approved supplier payments completed within their established deadlines, with no avoidable missed or delayed payments.
• Payment Accuracy: No avoidable duplicate payments, incorrect payment allocations, or unauthorized transactions.
• Reconciliation Completion: Timely reconciliation of bank accounts, customer balances, supplier balances, and financial records.
• Cash Flow Management: Accurate cash flow forecasting and timely escalation of anticipated cash shortages.
• Refund Processing: Approved refunds processed within the company's established deadlines.
• Receivables Management: Effective monitoring and follow-up of overdue customer balances.
• Tax and Regulatory Compliance: Timely and accurate completion of applicable tax filings and compliance obligations.
• Budgetary Control: Regular monitoring of actual expenses against approved budgets and timely reporting of variances.
• Financial Data Accuracy: Accurate and complete financial records in Odoo and other approved systems.
• Internal Control Compliance: Consistent adherence to approved financial procedures and authorization requirements.
• Process Improvement: Implementation of approved measures that improve financial efficiency, reporting quality, and cost control.

Specific targets and evaluation periods will be established and approved by management.

5. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Professional accounting qualifications such as ACCA, CPA, CMA, or an equivalent qualification are preferred.
• Minimum 5–7 years of relevant finance and accounting experience, including managerial or supervisory responsibilities.
• Experience in the travel and tourism industry, hospitality, or another transaction-intensive service business is strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of accounting principles, financial reporting, budgeting, cash flow management, and internal controls.
• Practical knowledge of UAE VAT and applicable corporate tax requirements.
• Experience with accounting software and ERP systems; Odoo experience is an advantage.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and financial reporting tools.
• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• High standards of accuracy, integrity, confidentiality, accountability, and professional conduct.

6. PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND CONFIDENTIALITY

The Finance Manager must:

• Maintain the highest standards of honesty, integrity, and professional ethics.
• Protect the confidentiality of the company's financial records, bank information, customer information, supplier agreements, and business data.
• Use company funds, financial systems, accounts, and payment instruments exclusively for authorized company purposes.
• Avoid conflicts of interest and disclose any potential conflict to management.
• Maintain complete and accurate financial documentation and ensure that records are available to authorized personnel when required.
• Comply with all company policies, procedures, management instructions, and applicable UAE laws.
• Take accountability for the accuracy, timeliness, and completeness of all assigned financial responsibilities.

7. GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Perform other finance-related duties reasonably assigned by the Company Manager or Chairman.
• Cooperate with internal and external auditors and provide requested records and explanations.
• Ensure proper handover of financial responsibilities, documents, passwords, access rights, and company assets when required.
• Continuously identify opportunities to improve financial performance, operational efficiency, and the company's financial stability.

Experience:

• Finance Manager: 10 years (Required)
• Travel and tourism: 10 years (Required)

Language:

• Arabic (Required)

Location:

• Dubai (Required)

Work Location: In person