VP Finance & Head of Finance – Digital Start-up

Overview

Job Summary

Qualifications

• CPA, ACCA, CMA, or MBA (Finance), at least one professional qualification is essential.
• Degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related discipline.

Experience

• 10–15 years in finance, with at least 4 years in a senior finance leadership role.
• Demonstrable track record of leading a finance transformation, designing and deploying systems, not inheriting them.
• Experience in a high-transaction digital business: fintech, payments, e-commerce, digital distribution, SaaS, or a similar model is strongly preferred.
• Has worked in companies of 50–500 employees and understands the dynamics and pace of a lean, high-growth business.
• GCC/UAE experience is a significant advantage, knowledge of local tax, VAT, Corporate Tax, and banking environments is important.
• Experience working in a B2B business with API-driven revenue streams or platform economics is a meaningful plus.

Systems & Technology

• Hands-on implementation experience with a modern ERP (NetSuite, SAP Business One, Microsoft Dynamics 365, or Oracle Fusion).
• Experience with AP/AR automation platforms (Tipalti, Bill.com, Basware, or similar).
• Familiarity with close automation tools (BlackLine, FloQast, Trintech, or similar).
• Experience with modern FP&A platforms (Pigment, Cube, Mosaic, Anaplan, or similar).
• Proficiency in BI and reporting tools (Power BI, Tableau, Looker, or similar).
• Strong Excel skills as a baseline, but the mindset to replace it where it creates bottlenecks.
• KEY COMPETENCIES & ATTRIBUTES - COMPETENCY WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:
• Process-first mindset First instinct when something is slow is to fix the system, not hire a person.
• Builder mentality Has created SOPs, built workflows, and left clean, documented systems behind.
• Digital business acumen Understands transaction economics, API-driven revenue, and margin dynamics in a digital platform business.
• Change management Can lead a team through restructuring with clarity, empathy, and authority.
• Tech fluency Evaluates, selects, and deploys software. Doesn't just use what's already there
• CEO-level communication Translates complex financials into decision-ready narratives for a non-finance CEO.
• Ownership & urgency Treats the business as their own. Moves fast without cutting corners.
• Multi-currency thinking Comfortable managing FX risk and treasury in a multi-country, multi-currency business
• Job responsibilities:

Finance Transformation & Automation

• Lead an end-to-end audit of the current finance function, workflows, tools, headcount, and output quality, within your first 60 days.
• Design and implement a target operating model that replaces manual, repetitive tasks with automated systems and intelligent workflows.
• Select, implement, and embed the right ERP and finance automation stack suited to a high- transaction digital distribution business.
• Reduce month-end close cycle to under 5 business days within 12 months.
• Build self-serve financial reporting dashboards so the CEO and commercial teams own their data without routing every request through finance.

Commercial Finance & FP&A

• Own budgeting, forecasting, and re-forecasting, moving it from spreadsheets to a dedicated FP&A platform.
• Deliver monthly P&L, cash flow, and balance sheet reporting with forward-looking commentary relevant to a digital gifting business.
• Develop financial models specific to Bamboo Card's business: transaction economics, margin per brand, API revenue contribution, client cohort profitability, and working capital dynamics.
• Partner directly with the CEO to provide commercial insight that supports pricing decisions, new market entry, brand negotiations, and platform investment.
• Monitor and report on KPIs that matter: transaction volume, gross margin by product and region, client acquisition cost, and revenue concentration risk.

Accounting, Controls & UAE Compliance

• Ensure accurate and timely statutory reporting in compliance with UAE regulations including Corporate Tax, VAT, and any applicable free zone or mainland requirements.
• Manage relationships with external auditors, UAE banks, and regulatory authorities.
• Design and embed a robust internal controls framework as the team restructures, with particular attention to prepaid product float management and reconciliation.
• Oversee treasury and cash management, including payment runs to brand partners, FX exposure management (multi-currency business), and bank facility management.
• Ensure financial processes support the company's API-driven, high-volume transaction model with appropriate controls and audit trails.

Team Leadership & Restructuring

• Assess the skills and capacity of the existing 10-person finance team within the first 60 days.
• Define the target team structure post-automation and create a clear, people-first transition plan.
• Retain and retrain the right people — elevating them from transactional roles into analytical, business-partnering functions.
• Build a finance culture grounded in process ownership, continuous improvement, and commercial curiosity.
• Job benefits:
• A direct line to the CEO with a real mandate to transform, not just manage.
• The opportunity to own and redesign a finance function in a fast-growing, globally operating digital platform.
• A high-growth environment where your decisions will have immediate and visible commercial impact.
• Competitive salary and benefits package aligned to the UAE senior leadership market (visa, health insurance, and additional benefits).
• A diverse, entrepreneurial team that moves fast and values people who take ownership.
• The chance to be part of Bamboo Card's next chapter as we scale our brand catalogue, grow our API client base, and expand across new markets.