Financial Controller

Role Purpose

The Financial Controller is responsible for leading the company’s financial planning, corporate finance, financial modelling, operational finance, working-capital management, tax planning and project finance activities.

The role supports senior management in driving financial performance, evaluating investments and new business opportunities, strengthening cash-flow and working-capital discipline, and ensuring that the finance function provides timely, commercially relevant and forward-looking support to business and operational teams.

In addition to overseeing core finance operations including accounts payable, accounts receivable and treasury, the Financial Controller is expected to act as a strong business partner to management, providing financial insights, scenario analysis and commercial evaluation to support strategic and operational decision-making.

The role will support the evaluation, structuring and implementation of strategic investments, including BOO/BOOT projects, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and other new business opportunities, from initial feasibility assessment through approval, financial close and post-investment monitoring.

Key Roles & Responsibilities

1. Financial Planning, Budgeting & Forecasting

• Lead the annual budgeting and business planning process in collaboration with business and operational teams.
• Prepare periodic financial forecasts, rolling forecasts and cash-flow projections.
• Analyze actual financial performance against budget and forecast and provide clear explanations for significant variances.
• Develop financial scenarios, sensitivity analyses and forward-looking projections to support strategic and operational decision-making.
• Monitor financial and operational KPIs and provide early warning of potential performance gaps or emerging risks.
• Support management in developing medium- and long-term financial plans aligned with the company’s strategic objectives.

2. Corporate Finance, Investment Evaluation & Financial Modelling

• Develop, maintain and review financial models for new investments, business ventures, capital expenditure and strategic projects.
• Perform investment appraisal including NPV, IRR, payback period, cash-flow analysis, sensitivity analysis and scenario modelling.
• Evaluate and support the implementation of investment opportunities, including BOO/BOOT projects, strategic investments, potential mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, partnerships and other business expansion opportunities.
• Coordinate the financial and commercial assessment of investment proposals from initial feasibility through due diligence, structuring, approval, negotiation, financial close and implementation.
• Participate in due diligence, valuation, financial assessment and risk evaluation of potential investments, acquisitions and joint ventures.
• Assess appropriate investment and funding structures, including debt, equity, project financing and other financing arrangements.
• Support management in developing commercial and financial structures for long-term infrastructure and energy projects, including BOOT and recurring-revenue business models.
• Prepare investment papers, financial models and recommendations for Senior Management, Investment Committee, Board and other relevant approving authorities.
• Support negotiation of key commercial and financial terms with customers, partners, financiers, investors and other stakeholders.
• Monitor approved investments against original business cases, financial assumptions, budgets and targeted returns.
• Conduct post-investment reviews and recommend corrective actions where actual performance deviates from approved investment assumptions.
• Review major commercial proposals and contracts from a financial, investment and risk perspective.

3. Operational Finance – AP, AR & Treasury

• Oversee the full spectrum of accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger and treasury operations.
• Ensure timely and accurate supplier payments while maintaining appropriate cash-flow and working-capital discipline.
• Monitor customer collections, ageing profiles, credit limits and overdue receivables.
• Work closely with commercial and operational teams to improve collection performance and shorten working-capital cycles.
• Manage daily cash positions, liquidity requirements and cash-flow forecasting.
• Manage banking relationships, banking facilities, and financing arrangements, where applicable.
• Monitor foreign-currency exposure and coordinate appropriate foreign-exchange management strategies.
• Review payment approval processes and ensure appropriate segregation of duties and internal controls.

4. Working Capital & Cash-Flow Management

• Optimize cash conversion through effective management of receivables, payables and inventories.
• Prepare and monitor short- and medium-term cash-flow forecasts.
• Assess liquidity requirements and recommend appropriate funding arrangements when required.
• Establish and monitor working-capital targets across business units.
• Identify opportunities to release cash, improve cash conversion and enhance return on capital employed.
• Support management in strengthening overall cash discipline across the organization.

5. Tax Planning & Compliance

• Oversee corporate income tax, indirect taxes and other applicable tax compliance requirements.
• Coordinate annual tax computations and tax submissions with external tax advisers where applicable.
• Develop appropriate tax-planning strategies to optimize the company’s effective tax position within applicable regulatory requirements.
• Review the tax implications of new investments, corporate exercises and major commercial transactions.
• Manage tax audits, queries and correspondence with tax authorities.
• Ensure compliance with transfer-pricing requirements for related-party transactions.
• Monitor changes in tax legislation and advise management on their potential financial and operational implications.

6. Project & Business Finance

• Partner with business, commercial and project teams in evaluating project profitability, pricing, margins and commercial risks.
• Monitor project revenue, costs, gross margins, committed costs and forecast-to-complete.
• Review project cash flows, billing milestones, collections and contractual financial exposure.
• Ensure appropriate project accounting and revenue recognition in accordance with applicable accounting standards.
• Conduct post-project financial reviews and identify lessons to improve future project profitability and execution.
• Identify and assess key financial risks including credit, liquidity, foreign exchange, taxation and operational risks.
• Provide financial challenge and commercial insight to support project and business decisions.

7. Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach and develop the finance and accounting team.
• Establish clear responsibilities, KPIs and performance expectations.
• Develop succession plans and strengthen the technical, commercial and analytical capabilities of the finance team.
• Promote strong collaboration between finance and operations, commercial, procurement, HR and other departments.
• Build a finance function that acts as a proactive business partner rather than solely as a reporting and compliance function.
• Drive continuous improvement in finance processes, systems and team effectiveness.

Education / Professional Qualification

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business or a related discipline.
• Professional accounting qualification such as MICPA, MIA, ACCA, CPA, ICAEW, CIMA or equivalent is strongly preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of applicable accounting standards, taxation, corporate finance and financial-control requirements.
• Exposure to ERP systems, financial modelling tools and business intelligence or analytics platforms would be advantageous.

Experience

• 8–10 years of progressive finance experience, with a strong track record in financial planning, reporting, operational finance and commercial analysis.
• Preferably at least 3–5 years in a senior finance, financial controller, finance manager, FP&A or business-finance role.
• Hands-on experience in budgeting, forecasting, financial modelling, treasury, working-capital management, taxation and project/business finance.
• Experience in evaluating new investments, capital expenditure, acquisitions, joint ventures or other corporate-finance transactions is preferred.
• Strong exposure to project-based, engineering, manufacturing, EPCC, energy or industrial businesses would be an advantage.
• Experience managing and developing finance teams and working closely with senior management and cross-functional stakeholders.

Key Competencies

Financial & Commercial

• Financial Planning, Budgeting & Forecasting
• Corporate Finance & Financial Modelling
• Investment Appraisal & Business Case Evaluation
• Financial Analysis & Performance Management
• Cash Flow, Treasury & Liquidity Management
• Working Capital Optimization
• Accounts Payable & Accounts Receivable Management
• Tax Planning & Compliance
• Project & Business Finance
• Commercial and Contract Financial Review
• Risk Identification & Financial Controls

Leadership & Business Partnering

• Strategic and Commercial Thinking
• Business Partnering
• Decision Support
• Team Leadership & Development
• Stakeholder Management
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Problem Solving & Analytical Thinking
• Process Improvement
• Succession Planning
• Management Communication

Systems & Analytical Capability

• Advanced Financial Modelling
• ERP Systems
• Management Reporting
• Business Intelligence & Dashboarding
• Scenario and Sensitivity Analysis
• Data Analytics
• Finance Process Automation