MENA Chief Operating Officer & Director of Finance

Position overview

Regional leadership and operations

• Lead regional operations and administrative functions, coordinating finance, IT, and other operational areas.
• Support regional strategy development and execution with the MENA Head of HR and leadership team.
• Lead business continuity and crisis management planning, response, and recovery arrangements.
• Develop operating policies, direct office operations, monitor service effectiveness, and support continuous improvement.
• Represent MENA across the global firm and advance regional initiatives aligned with global strategies.
• Manage the MENA real estate portfolio and support real estate strategy, including space utilisation.
• Manage local business services teams, resource allocation, and service delivery.
• Promote an inclusive, collaborative work environment and support employee wellbeing, professional growth, and engagement.

Finance, transformation, and risk

• Identify financial, profitability, and revenue growth opportunities and promote operational excellence.
• Drive business transformation, innovation, organisational change, and adoption of professional-services management practices.
• Deliver actionable financial analysis and reporting and develop data-driven decision-making capabilities.
• Lead regional governance, compliance, and operational risk frameworks; serve as Deputy MLRO overseeing AML and financial crime prevention matters.
• Oversee cost control, spending, savings opportunities, and operational efficiency across MENA offices.

Qualifications

• 10 to 15 years of broad-based business operations leadership experience, including a proven record with major law firms.
• Experience coordinating business functions and managing, mentoring, and developing high-performing teams.
• Proven success leading enterprise change management and related communications and operational deployments.
• Strong business, financial, and commercial acumen and ability to develop strategic plans and manage conflicting priorities.
• Strong interpersonal, relationship-building, presentation, writing, and verbal communication skills.
• An undergraduate degree is required; an MBA or other advanced degree is preferred.

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