Chief Financial Officer, Middle East

Edelman is a global communications firm that partners with businesses and organizations to evolve, promote and protect their brands and reputations. Our 6,000 people in more than 60 offices deliver communications strategies that give our clients the confidence to lead and act with certainty, earning the trust of their stakeholders. Our honors include the Cannes Lions Grand Prix for PR; Advertising Age’s 2019 A-List; the Holmes Report’s 2018 Global Digital Agency of the Year; and, five times, Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work. Since our founding in 1952, we have remained an independent, family-run business. Edelman owns specialty companies Edelman Data & Intelligence (DxI) and United Entertainment Group (entertainment, sports, lifestyle).

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The Role:

Edelman is seeking a CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, MIDDLE EAST, reporting to the CFO, EMEA, who will be a Trusted Advisor and Business Partner to the CEOs and the leadership team across the region.

We’re looking for an individual who is curious about the communications business, confident in strategic thinking, brings ideas and insights to the leadership team and the business leaders and has the ability to influence and create change. They are passionate about leading, coaching and inspiring the finance team, believe in maintaining high standards of financial reporting and integrity and are equipped with an infectious energy and drive to achieve desired business outcomes.

Key Roles And Responsibilities

• Part of the leadership team for the region, play a key role in both setting and delivering the strategy for profitable growth.
• Lead the finance team and function, working in close collaboration with colleagues in EMEA and across the world as part of the global finance community, managing the full spectrum of day-to-day finance and accounts operations, ensuring compliance with UAE and Saudi regulations.
• Play a key regional role in the Regional HQ, including securing Saudi Iqama if necessary, with support of Edelman. Work with the regional and local teams to ensure that we remain compliant with all necessary roles and activities.
• Business partnership- Form and maintain strong and healthy relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Be known for fairness, transparency, a high level of integrity, active listening to understand the context behind a question and open collaboration on agreed ways forward.
• Market management reporting, budgeting and forecasting- Lead the budgeting and rolling forecast in accordance with regional and global processes. Identify areas of revenue and margin growth, and highlight potential barriers to this, to discuss with leadership team.
• Cashflow and working capital management- Actively manage to meet annual targets, with particular focus on setting up client contracts for positive cashflow and keeping on top of debtors, forming relationships with clients and procurement to enable strong commercial results.
• Oversee cash management and collections. Monitor adequacy of cash for operational needs including liquidity planning, banking relationships, and foreign exchange management to support operational and strategic objectives.
• Client pricing, legal and negotiations- Strengthen commercial financial literacy of the business consultants to enable healthy, profitable client relationships.
• Strengthen commercial financial literacy of the business consultants to enable healthy, profitable client relationships
• Client and project management- Know the client base and the client’s procurement policy.
• Identify issues on contribution margin and overservice and propose solutions, calling for additional senior support where necessary.
• Financial reporting, audit and compliance- Ensure timely and accurate financial information that complies with US GAAP and local FRS, working with auditors, advisors and internal teams as necessary.
• Responsible for ensuring that accounting procedures and processes and sound control mechanisms are constantly reviewed and updated, with goals of clean balance sheets and clear internal and external audits.
• Taxation- Manage all tax-related matters including provision and compliance process and ensure all tax reporting are made in accordance with statutory requirements.
• Communicate to global/regional on changes in local tax laws. Work closely with regional tax team to respond appropriately to any local tax audits.
• Leadership and team management- Lead a team of (7-8) finance staff with 2-3 direct reports. Motivate, coach and train.
  
  
  

Knowledge And Skills

• University degree in Accounting/Finance and/or professional qualifications such as ACCA.
• 15+ years relevant working experience in client finance, project accounting, financial planning and analysis with at least 7 years of managerial/supervisory experience.
• Understanding of the key drivers of financial performance and ability to take action that positively influences the profitability of the client accounts and the overall business.
• Ability to share key business and financial insights to inform leadership and to influence positive behavior.
• Proven track record of forming strong relationships with stakeholders, both internally with management and consultants and externally, with the client and procurement teams.
• Ability to navigate a complex, multi-market environment, proactively set up systems and processes and develop pricing strategies that work in a streamlined manner within this environment.
• Keen business acumen, strategic thinking and strong analytical skills.
• Effective leadership skills and capabilities.
• Excellent communications skill.
• Strong sense of compliance and integrity.
• Excellent business partnering skill and ability to work with business teams in a collaborative manner.