Financial Controller

Overview

Saudi

About Us

The Client

Role Description

Financial Reporting Close

• Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close process, ensuring all entries are complete, accurate, and delivered on schedule.
• Prepare consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS/GAAP and corporate reporting standards.
• Manage the general ledger, chart of accounts, and period-end journal entries including accruals, prepayments, and intercompany eliminations.
• Deliver timely management reporting packages to the Local Finance Director and CFO including P&L, balance sheet, cash flow, and variance analysis versus budget and prior year.
• Coordinate with global finance teams to ensure regional results are properly consolidated into corporate financials.

Accounting Operations Oversight

• Supervise and provide day-to-day direction to the AP/AR Clerk and any additional accounting staff.
• Review and approve journal entries, payment runs, invoices, and reconciliations prepared by the accounting team.
• Oversee fixed asset accounting including capitalization, depreciation, disposals, and periodic physical counts.
• Manage inventory accounting in coordination with operations and supply chain, including standard cost updates, cycle count reconciliations, and inventory reserve analysis.
• Oversee payroll accounting entries and coordinate with HR on headcount cost reporting.

Internal Controls Compliance

• Design, implement, and maintain a robust system of internal controls to safeguard company assets and ensure the accuracy of financial records.
• Ensure full compliance with Saudi VAT (GAZT/ZATCA) regulations, Zakat obligations, and statutory filing requirements.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for external auditors, coordinate audit schedules, prepare supporting documentation, and manage the resolution of audit findings.
• Support internal audit reviews and ensure timely remediation of any control deficiencies identified.
• Maintain compliance with corporate accounting policies, delegation of authority, and approval workflows.

Manufacturing & Cost Accounting

• Oversee cost accounting processes including standard cost development, BOM (bill of materials) review, labor and overhead rate setting, and variance analysis.
• Partner with operations and plant management to analyze manufacturing variances (material, labor, overhead) and identify cost improvement opportunities.
• Manage month-end cost close activities including WIP and finished goods reconciliations.
• Support pricing decisions and new business quoting by providing accurate cost data and margin analysis.
• Lead physical inventory counts and ensure accurate valuation of raw materials, WIP, and finished goods.

Treasury & Cash Management

• Monitor daily cash positions and prepare weekly cash flow forecasts in coordination with the AP/AR team.
• Manage local banking relationships and ensure adequate liquidity for operational requirements.
• Process and record intercompany funding transactions and ensure timely settlement of intercompany balances.
• Support the CFO in foreign currency exposure management and hedging activities where applicable.

Business Partnership & CFO Support

• Provide financial analysis and decision support to operational leaders across manufacturing, supply chain, and engineering.
• Assist the CFO/Finance Director in preparing board-level presentations, budget submissions, and strategic financial models.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives within the finance function, streamlining processes, improving data quality, and enhancing reporting capabilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• CPA, CMA, ACCA, or equivalent professional accounting qualification is strongly preferred.
• MBA or advanced degree in Finance or Business, is a plus experience.
• 7+ years of progressive accounting experience, with at least 3 years in a Controller or Senior Accounting Manager role.
• Demonstrated experience in a manufacturing, automotive supply, or industrial environment is preferred.
• Hands-on cost accounting experience including standard costing, variance analysis, and inventory accounting.
• Experience managing and developing a small accounting team.
• Prior international or expatriate work experience, particularly in the Middle East or GCC region is preferred.
• Familiarity with Saudi VAT/ZATCA regulations, Zakat, and Saudi statutory reporting requirements.
• Deep technical accounting knowledge - IFRS proficiency required; US GAAP familiarity a plus.
• Advanced ERP system skills - SAP strongly preferred; Oracle or Microsoft Dynamics accepted.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills including financial modeling, reconciliation templates, and management reporting.
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to interpret complex financial data and communicate findings clearly.
• Effective people manager - able to set clear expectations, develop team members, and hold staff accountable.
• High attention to detail and a zero-tolerance approach to financial inaccuracy.
• Proven ability to manage competing deadlines in a fast-paced, high-volume manufacturing environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English and Arabic.
• Cultural intelligence and the ability to build effective working relationships across diverse teams.