Deputy Finance Director

Date: Aug 15, 2025

Location:

Dubaï, AE, 114190

Brand: KEOLIS

Contract Type: Permanent contract

The position plays a key role in driving cost efficiency, optimising working capital, and safeguarding the company’s financial integrity while enabling operational excellence and long-term profitability. Reporting directly to the Finance Director, and deputising in their absence, the Deputy Finance Director ensures that financial strategies are aligned with the company’s Grand Plan Strategic (GPS) objectives, supporting both operational and corporate decision-making with accurate, timely, and insight-driven financial analysis.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic

• Support the Finance Director in developing and implementing the company’s financial strategy, ensuring alignment with the GPS, annual budget, and long-term business objectives.
• Lead the preparation and consolidation of multi-year financial plans, ensuring integration with operational and strategic planning cycles.
• Provide strategic financial advice to the Executive Committee, identifying opportunities to enhance profitability, reduce costs, and improve efficiency.
• Support corporate investment and transformation initiatives with financial modelling, risk assessment, and return-on-investment analysis.
• Act as a key contributor to business transformation and change programs requiring financial oversight, ensuring that decisions are financially sustainable and contractually compliant.
  
  

• Oversee the preparation, review, and submission of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements in compliance with IFRS, statutory, and group requirements.
• Monitor company-wide financial performance, ensuring timely identification of variances and corrective action plans.
• Lead the budgeting and forecasting process, ensuring accuracy, transparency, and accountability across all departments.
• Manage cash flow and working capital to ensure liquidity while optimising financing costs.
• Oversee financial controls, internal audit processes, and compliance with RTA and Keolis Group financial governance.
• Support contract management by monitoring the financial implications of KPIs, penalties, and incentive schemes under the O&M Agreement.
  
  

• Act as deputy and alternate representative to the Finance Director in meetings with the RTA, auditors, shareholders, and the Executive Committee.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure alignment on financial performance and priorities.
• Lead the preparation of high-quality financial reports and presentations for the Executive Committee, Board of Directors, and shareholders.
• Support Commercial and Legal teams in evaluating financial risks and opportunities in contract negotiations, amendments, and claims.
  
  

• Manage day-to-day finance operations, including accounting, accounts payable/receivable, payroll, and treasury functions.
• Ensure timely and accurate monthly closing and reporting in line with Keolis Group deadlines and standards.
• Monitor compliance with financial policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Lead the finance team in implementing continuous improvements to systems, processes, and reporting capabilities.
• Support the integration of digital finance tools to enhance reporting efficiency and decision-making.
  
  

• Full managerial authority for the FP&A department and Management oversight of the Accounting Function
• Provide leadership, mentoring, and development to finance team members, ensuring skills and competencies meet organisational needs.
• Champion a culture of financial accountability across the business.
• Promote cross-functional collaboration to ensure finance is a proactive business partner, not just a reporting function.
• Identify and develop high-potential talent within the finance team to support succession planning.
  
  

• Deputises for the Finance Director with decision-making authority in their absence.
• Direct responsibility for managing the finance function’s operational performance, including budgeting, reporting, and compliance.
• Accountable for accurate and timely preparation of statutory accounts, management accounts, and RTA submissions.
• Key contributor to multi-year financial planning and strategic investment decisions.
• Office environment. Occasional travel may be required.
  
  

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Economics
• Master’s degree (MBA or similar)
  
  

• Extensive experience in senior finance roles, including at least 5 years in leadership role within a regulated or contract-based industry; Proven track record in budgeting, forecasting, and financial governance
• Reporting and Compliance:
• Financial Planning and Strategy
• Strong analytical skills
• Ability to create reports
• Business Partnering and Communication:
• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Articulate with excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong leadership with an ability to explain complicated challenges to different areas of the business
• Finance:
• Understanding of accounting principles
• Financial modelling
• IT Skills, Data orientated:
• Excellent skills in Office (Excel and PowerPoint)
• Strong computer skills (ERP, financial planning tool, business intelligence tool)
• Ability to work with large quantities of data
• International experience
• Public transportation sector experience preferred.
  

• Professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CPA, or equivalent)
• Strong command of ERP systems and financial reporting tools
• Fluent in English