ABOUT DEPARTER - THE KNOW-WHO PEOPLE
Departer is a leading German Executive Search firm with over 20 years of experience in global leadership recruitment. We specialize in placing executives in medium-sized enterprises and private equity portfolio firms across DACH, MEAI, ASIA, and ANZ regions. With a deep understanding of the DACH economy, we facilitate successful placements within global management teams across corporate headquarters and entities abroad.
Our German client is a leading international provider of industrial cooling and heating solutions, operating across multiple global markets with a strong focus on engineering excellence, innovation, and sustainable technologies. They are currently seeking a Head of Finance (m/f/d) to oversee the entire finance function across the Middle East region, including accounting operations, liquidity monitoring, financial planning, and strategic commercial support. Reporting directly to the Managing Director and working in close alignment with the headquarters in Germany, this position acts as a key business partner to senior leadership. The role combines hands-on operational responsibility with active involvement in strategic business planning within a dynamic international environment.
Your duties and responsibilities will include:
- Lead, manage, and further develop the accounting and finance team across all Middle East entities
- Ensure compliant, efficient, and well-structured accounting processes as well as strong internal control procedures across the organization
- Prepare, review, and oversee monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and reporting packages in accordance with company and Group requirements
- Manage year-end closing activities, inventory valuation processes, and work-in-progress accounting for ongoing projects
- Supervise cash flow management, liquidity planning, and working capital optimization to support operational and strategic business objectives
- Coordinate external audits, tax inspections, and ensure compliance with UAE financial, tax, and regulatory requirements
- Oversee payroll processing, end-of-service benefits administration, and travel expense management
- Prepare annual budgets, rolling forecasts, and financial planning analyses to support management decision-making
- Support costing, pricing strategies, and profitability analysis for projects, tenders, and business opportunities
- Act as a key finance business partner to regional management and Group Finance stakeholders, providing commercial and strategic financial insights
To be successful in this role, you should have the following skills and experiences:
- University degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field
- Minimum 7–10 years of experience in finance and accounting, including leadership responsibility
- Strong experience in preparing annual financial statements independently
- Background in manufacturing, engineering, or project-driven industrial environments preferred
- Solid knowledge of IFRS, UAE Corporate Tax, VAT, and UAE Labour Law regulations
- Experience with inventory valuation, work-in-progress accounting, and margin management
- Strong ERP systems knowledge and advanced MS Excel capabilities
- Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
- Strong communication skills with the ability to work in international organizations
- Fluency in English; German language skills are considered a strong advantage