Manager - Financial Controls

Role Purpose 

The Finance Controls Manager will play a critical leadership role in strengthening the Firm’s financial control environment across the Middle East region. The role is responsible for designing, assessing, and continuously monitoring financial controls across multiple countries, business units, and service delivery models. 

Operating within a highly matrixed, multi‑country environment, the role requires not only deep technical expertise in internal controls and risk management, but also strong stakeholder coordination, influence, and communication skills. The Finance Controls Manager will act as a trusted advisor to Finance Leadership, Country Finance teams, and Internal Audit, providing independent assurance and driving consistent, scalable control practices across the region. 

Key Responsibilities

Controls Framework & Governance 

• Lead the development, enhancement, and ongoing maintenance of the regional financial controls framework, ensuring clarity, consistency, and alignment across countries 

• Own and maintain Risk & Control Matrices (RCMs) for key end‑to‑end financial processes, tailored to local regulatory and operating realities while maintaining regional standards 

• Ensure controls are aligned to key financial risks, regulatory requirements, and firm policies, highlighting overlaps, gaps, and dependencies across countries 

• Drive standardisation and harmonisation of controls across multiple jurisdictions balancing regional consistency with local requirements 

Controls Assessment & Testing 

• Design and execute controls testing programs programs covering both design and operating effectiveness, across countries and processes  

• Perform independent reviews and controls health checks providing objective assessment and clear, actionable insights  

• Identify control deficiencies and improvement opportunities, and coordinate remediation actions across multiple stakeholders and jurisdictions  

• Establish and monitor Key Controls KPIs, and exception reporting mechanisms, providing regional visibility to Finance Leadership 

 Risk & Fraud Management 

• Conduct fraud risk assessments across the region, considering country‑specific risks and operational complexity  

• Evaluate existing controls to mitigate fraud risks and recommend enhancements where required  

• Support investigation and remediation of control failures, incidents, and high-risk issues, ensuring structured root cause analysis and follow-through 

Internal Audit & Assurance Liaison 

• Act as the primary finance point of contact for Internal Audit, coordinating audit activity across multiple countries 

• Support internal and external audits by coordinating responses, consolidating documentation, and ensuring consistent messaging across jurisdictions  

• Drive timely closure of audit findings and  management actions through proactive monitoring and stakeholder engagement 

• Build audit readiness through continuous control monitoring  

 Advisory & Continuous Improvement 

• Provide advisory support to Finance and business stakeholders on control design, risk mitigation and process improvements 

• Constructively challenge existing practices bringing a risk‑based and commercially pragmatic perspective  

• Support transformation and change initiatives by ensuring that controls are embedded by design 

Stakeholder Management 

• Partner with Country Finance Leads and LoS stakeholders to embed a strong and consistent controls culture  

• Influence senior stakeholders to ensuring clear ownership and accountability for controls and remediation actions 

• Promote awareness and understanding of financial controls through clear communication, practical guidance, and coaching  

 Education & Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field  

• Professional qualification preferred (e.g., ACA, ACCA, CPA, CIA)  

• Internal Audit / Risk certifications (e.g., CIA, CISA) are highly desirable  

Experience 

• 8+ years of experience in internal audit, financial controls, or risk management with at least 3+ years in a management role 

• Proven experience in controls frameworks, RCMs, and controls testing  

• Strong experience working with or within internal/external audit functions  

• Exposure to large, complex, multi-country organizations with an understanding of regional coordination  

Technical Skills 

Strong understanding of:  

• Internal control frameworks (e.g., COSO) 
• Core financial processes and reporting cycles
• Risk assessment and control design methodologies  
• Hands-on experience in controls testing (design & operating effectiveness) 
• Strong analytical, problem-solving capabilities and documentation skills
• Advanced Excel skills; experience with ERP systems is an advantage  

 Key Competencies 

• Strong risk and controls mindset with professional skepticism  

• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills in a matrixed environment 

• Ability to coordinate across multiple countries and cultures, balancing firmness with diplomacy 

• High attention to detail with a strong focus on quality and consistency 

• Clear, confident communicator able to translate technical issues for senior stakeholders  

• Ability to balance control discipline with business practicality