Project Finance Lead

Company Overview

Throughout our worldwide network of experts, clients and communities, we are renowned for our leadership in fire protection engineering – a legacy of responsibility we have proudly upheld since 1939. Today, our expertise extends broadly across closely related security and risk-based fields – from accessibility consulting and risk analysis to process safety, forensic investigations, security risk consulting, emergency management, digital innovation and more. Our engineers and consultants collaborate to solve complex safety and security challenges, ensuring our clients can protect what matters most. For over 80 years, we have helped mitigate risks that threaten lives, property and reputations. Through technology, expertise and industry-leading research, we remain dedicated to our purpose of making our world safe, secure and resilient. At Jensen Hughes, we believe that creating and sustaining a culture of trust, integrity and professional growth starts with putting our people first. Our employees are our greatest strength, and we value the unique perspectives and talents they bring to our organization. Our wide range of Global Employee Networks connect people from across the organization, supporting career development and providing forums for individuals to share experiences on topics theyre passionate about. Together, we are cultivating a connected culture where everyone has the opportunity to learn, grow and succeed together.

Job Overview

Jensen Hughes is seeking a highly motivated Project Finance Lead, to play a crucial role within the Project Finance Department. In this role you will be highly visible within the organization while reporting to a US-based Project Financial Manager. The Project Finance Department oversees the financial performance of more than 20,000 projects across varied geographies on an annual basis acting as the business advisor to project managers, operations management, and executive leadership. The departments focus is on providing three key items to the company (1) providing business advisory to all levels of the organization in relation to financial projects, (2) focusing on transactional excellence in supporting financial projects, and (3) ensuring adequate compliance and controls regarding policies and procedures.

This role will be based out of Dubai and offers hybrid/remote working options in a flexible work environment

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of Project Financial Analysts, setting clear expectations driving accountability, and fostering a high-performance culture, owning and overseeing month-end close process across Middle East and India portfolios ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliances while acting as a strategic finance partner to business operations and regional leadership, providing actionable insights and influencing decision-making
• Take full ownership of project financial health across the portfolio, including revenue, margin, unbilled, AR, and backlog and partner closely with project managers and operations leaders to proactively identify risks, challenge assumptions, and drive improved financial outcomes
• Interpret and manage complex contract terms to ensure accurate revenue recognition and compliance with company policy and local requirements overseeing end-to-end project lifecycle from contract review and system setup through billing, collections, and project close-out
• Lead monthly financial reviews with project managers and senior leadership team, delivering clear, concise insights and recommendations
• Drive a high sense of urgency in resolving financial issues (e.g., aged unbilled, AR, margin erosion), ensuring timely action and follow-through providing oversight and coordination of regional statutory audits, ensuring readiness, accuracy, and alignment with local regulatory requirements (Middle East required, India a strong plus)
  
  

Requirements and Qualifications

• Bachelors Degree in Accounting or Finance along with 7+ years of relevant experience (project accounting, finance business partnering, audit, or similar), including experience leading or mentoring a team and a strong understanding of revenue recognition principles and project-based accounting preferably in a global, matrixed organization
• Demonstrated ability to analyze & interpret project financial performance translating insights into actions and experience supporting or working within Middle East markets; exposure to statutory audit requirements strongly preferred; and experience with India finance operations (statutory audit, tax, billing practices) will be significant advantage
• Excellent communication skills—able to influence, challenge, and build partnerships with PMs and senior operational leaders
• Proven ability to operate with a high sense of urgency and drive results in a fast-paced, complex environment and a strong attention to detail with a passion for accuracy, compliance, and doing things the right way along with an ability to balance hands-on execution with strategic thinking
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills and experience working with large ERP systems along with experience in process improvement, including identifying issues and implementing scalable solutions
• Experience operating in high-growth or evolving environments where structure is still being built and ability to balance compliance with commercial practicality working with senior stakeholders (MDs, Regional Leaders, CFO) and comfortable being the "go-to" finance voice in a region
• Strong judgement—knows when to escalate vs. resolve independently
  
  

What Were Looking For

• Hands-on operator with leadership presence: Someone who is equally comfortable diving into the details (project-level issues, billing mechanics, contract nuances) and stepping back to communicate clear, structured insights to senior leadership. This is not a "review from a distance" role
• High ownership mindset: Takes full accountability for their portfolio
• Naturally curious and insight-driven: Looks beyond the numbers to understand why things are happening. Able to identify patterns, risks, and opportunities that arent immediately obvious and translate them into actionable recommendations
• Comfortable challenging with tact: Able to push back on PMs and operations leaders when needed
• Bias for action and urgency: Moves quickly and expects the same from their team
• Builder of teams and standards: Sets a high bar for quality, accountability, and responsiveness. Coaches and develops team members while also holding them accountable to expectations
• Process-minded but pragmatic: Can identify where structure and consistency are needed but avoids over-engineering. Focuses on scalable, practical improvements that actually get adopted by the business.
• Comfortable in ambiguity and complexity: Thrives in environments where processes may not be fully standardized
• Strong communication across cultures and regions: Understands how to navigate regional differences in ways of working, communication styles, and regulatory environments. Can effectively partner across Middle East, India, and global stakeholders
  
  

Why you should join Jensen Hughes

• You will work on exciting, challenging and at times groundbreaking designs and projects with market-leading clients whilst having the backing of a leading international firm
• Access to training and development programs to enhance your expertise
• Career advancement with an established framework is in place – clearly defining expectations and outlining opportunities for advancement
  
  

Jensen Hughes is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.

At Jensen Hughes, we embrace innovation and understand that people are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT and other generative platforms to learn, prepare and communicate. We have provided some guidelines regarding the responsible use of AI in the recruitment process. Please click here to review.

The security of your personal data is important to us. Jensen Hughes has implemented reasonable physical, technical, and administrative security standards to protect personal data from loss, misuse, alteration, or destruction. We protect your personal data against unauthorized access, use, or disclosure, using security technologies and procedures, such as encryption and limited access. Only authorized individuals may access your personal data for the purpose for which it was collected, and these individuals receive training about the importance of protecting personal data. Jensen Hughes is committed to compliance with all relevant data privacy laws in all areas where we do business, including, but not limited to, the GDPR and the CCPA. Additionally, our service providers are contractually bound to maintain the confidentiality of personal data and may not use the information for any unauthorized purpose.

• Policy on use of 3rd party recruiting agency for direct placements
  
  

Jensen Hughes will occasionally augment a recruiting search through agencies for certain positions when business conditions warrant. Jensen Hughes will not accept resumes, inquiries or proposals from recruiting agencies as an acceptable method to consider a candidate. 3rd party recruiting agencies must sign a standard Jensen Hughes agreement after being evaluated and accepted by a Human Resources or Talent Acquisition manager, or member of the talent acquisition team. Hiring managers and employees of Jensen Hughes are not authorized to accept resumes, engage in fee-based searches through recruiting firms or sign a search agreement. Please note this policy does not apply to "staffing firms" or firms that are involved with hiring temporary staff. Any recruiting agency interested in being considered may contact our recruiting team at jensenhughesrecruiting.com.

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