Head of Finance - Middle East

This firm is predominantly an allocator with a bias towards investment managers involved in private equity / credit / debt. As such, their ideal candidate will have had good exposure to illiquid asset classes.

This opportunity will afford the successful candidate considerable responsibility within a globally recognised, diverse and dynamic investment manager. There is a highly competitive compensation package on offer, which includes relocation costs, good bonus potential and a highly favourable tax environment

Responsibilities include:

• Provides leadership, direction and management of the finance and accounting team, currently comprising 12 qualified accountants.
• Establishing and developing relationships with senior management and external partners and stakeholders.
• Exercises financial authority at the level established by management for the position.
• Ensure compliance with all rules and regulations issued by local financial authorities and in jurisdictions where the fund or its SPV's operate.
• Reviewing and approving all formal finance related procedures.
• Recommends changes to existing procedure to improve accuracy and efficiency of work activity. Active involvement in committees that are set to review and/or implement financial systems and procedures.
• Appoints third party service providers as per standard vendor selection and approval process; supervises and monitors the quality of their services and deliverables as per stated KPIs.
• Directs and supervises the preparation of financial statements for the company and its SPV's, in all jurisdictions.
• Ensures that all financial and accounting transactions relating to the various investments of the company are properly recorded. Includes ensuring that all transactions are properly completed, and accounting entries are timely posted.
• Provides requested information to parent organization within required timelines. Coordinates throughout the year with the parent organization and subsidiaries to ensure there are no surprises during the year end audits.
• Answers audit exceptions related to his area of financial accounts.
• Responsible for all fund accounting functions.
• Ensures appropriate valuations are carried within accounting records at all times.
• Provides overall supervision over reconciliation activities. Includes analysing and following up on difference in reconciliations between the business' accounts and third parties and resolving such differences, reviewing reconciliations of accounts and weekly and monthly accounts with Portfolio Managers.
• Provides all requested reporting to the organization including cash forecasts, liquidity positions, management and performance fee reporting, foreign exchange exposure, etc.
• Responsible for data integrity of all information stored within the company with respect to the finance function.
• Reviews, authorizes and approves payments for management and performance fees. Constantly reviews and forecasts future information technology requirements, and appropriately presents this to senior management.

The Candidate:

• University degree from a leading University
• Accountancy Qualification (ACCA, ACA or CPA etc.)
• CFA / CAIA qualification ‐ preferred
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in corporate controlling/ finance, including experience with financial systems and MIS at a tier 1 global asset manager / pension fund / SWF
• Sound knowledge of fund accounting and NAV calculations
• Sound knowledge of illiquid asset classes (eg private equity, infrastructure, hedge funds and real estate investments).