Finance Business Partner – Retail

Purpose

We are seeking a highly motivated Finance Business Partner – Retail to join our Finance team. The Senior Finance Manager will lead the finance function across Retail, Wholesale, and E-commerce channels. The role will be responsible for financial planning & analysis (FP&A), accounting, taxation, and VAT compliance across the GCC region. This position requires a strong blend of strategic thinking, operational finance expertise, and leadership capabilities to support business growth and ensure financial integrity. This is a great opportunity for a highly experienced and commercially driven individual to join our dynamic and growing team.

Title: Finance Business Partner – Retail

Reporting Manager: Chief Financial Officer

Location: Dubai, UAE

Responsibilities

Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A):

• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and long-term financial planning processes across all business channels.

• Provide actionable insights on financial performance, including variance analysis and key drivers.

• Partner with business heads to support strategic decision-making and profitability improvement.

• Develop and monitor KPIs, dashboards, and financial models.

Taxation & VAT Compliance:

• Ensure compliance with UAE VAT regulations and other GCC tax laws

• Manage VAT filings, reconciliations, and audits

• Coordinate with external tax advisors on corporate tax matters and regulatory changes

• Identify tax risks and opportunities for optimization

Business Finance & Commercial Support:

• Support Retail, Wholesale, and E-commerce teams with financial analysis and pricing strategies

• Evaluate new business opportunities, investments, and expansion plans within GCC

• Monitor working capital, inventory, and cash flow across channels

• Drive cost optimization initiatives without compromising business growth

Team Leadership & Stakeholder Management:

• Lead, mentor, and develop the finance team across multiple functions

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including operations, supply chain, and sales

• Act as a key finance business partner to senior leadership

• Manage relationships with auditors, banks, and regulatory authorities

Systems & Process Improvements:

• Lead or support financial system upgrades or ERP implementations.

• Drive automation of routine accounting tasks and enhancement of financial reporting tools.

• Continuously evaluate financial processes for efficiency and control enhancement.

Skills & Experience

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

• Professional accounting qualification (CA, CPA, ACCA, or CMA) is mandatory; an MBA in Finance is an advantage.

• 8 to 12+ years of progressive experience in accounting and financial management, including 3 to 5 years in a leadership role.

• Proven experience within the retail sector, preferably in multi-store, multi-channel, or franchise business environments.

• Experience in the GCC/MENA region, with a strong understanding of relevant tax regulations and commercial laws, is highly desirable.

• Strong proficiency in ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, etc.), advanced Excel, financial modelling, and other MS Office applications.

• Familiarity with business intelligence tools (e.g., Power BI), retail POS systems, and inventory management platforms.

• Strong leadership, team management, and project management capabilities.

• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, communication, and presentation skills.

• Strategic mindset with strong commercial acumen and attention to detail.

• High level of integrity, with the ability to work effectively under pressure and meet tight deadlines.