Financial Controller

ROLE OVERVIEW

We are looking for a capable and hands-on Financial Controller - someone early in their career but already technically strong, detail-obsessed, and ready to own the full finance and accounting function for a multi-entity technology company. This is a broad and meaningful role. You will handle everything from day-to-day bookkeeping and month-end close to regulatory compliance, payroll, and liaison with our external tax advisors.

You will report directly to the CEO, work closely with the leadership team, and be the financial backbone of the Abu Dhabi operation. The right person is someone who does not need to be chased for numbers, does not make the same mistake twice, and takes quiet pride in clean books and airtight records. You are thorough, reliable, and ready to grow into a senior finance role as the company scales around you.

• Own the full month-end and year-end close process - journal entries, reconciliations, accruals, and prepayments across all entities
• Prepare accurate and timely management accounts - P&L statements, balance sheets, and cash flow reports for leadership review
• Maintain the general ledger and chart of accounts with precision and consistency
• Ensure all financial reporting is IFRS-compliant and audit-ready at all times
• Produce financial schedules, variance analyses, and ad hoc reports as requested by the CEO and leadership team

• Manage accounting across Elile's UAE and US entities, maintaining clean separation and accurate intercompany reconciliations
• Handle intercompany transactions, eliminations, and cross-entity cost allocations
• Support group-level financial consolidation and reporting as required

• Serve as the primary internal point of contact with the company's external tax advisory firm for UAE Corporate Tax, VAT, and international tax matters
• Ensure timely and accurate filing of all regulatory submissions - VAT returns, MOF reporting, and other statutory requirements
• Maintain working knowledge of UAE free zone and mainland regulatory frameworks and applicable US reporting obligation. Monitor and flag tax exposure, compliance risks, and regulatory changes to leadership proactively

• Coordinate the annual external audit - prepare schedules, respond to auditor queries, and manage the audit process to completion
• Manage bank reconciliations across all accounts and entities on a regular basis
• Liaise with banking partners for payments, facilities, and documentation as required

• Process payroll across all entities accurately and on time, in compliance with UAE WPS requirements
• Manage accounts payable and receivable; vendor payments, client invoicing, collections, and reconciliations
• Handle expense claims, petty cash management, and enforce the company's expense policy
• Maintain and improve accounting systems and finance workflows for efficiency and accuracy

• 4-5 years of accounting or finance experience, with a meaningful portion in the UAE
• Professional accounting qualification in progress or recently completed - CA, ACCA, CMA, CPA, or equivalent is strongly preferred
• Solid working knowledge of IFRS and UAE accounting and tax regulations - VAT, Corporate Tax, WPS, and MOF reporting
• Hands-on experience with multi-entity accounting and intercompany reconciliations
• Proficiency with accounting software - Quick Books, Zoho Books, Xero, SAP, or equivalent
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills, comfortable with financial models, pivot tables, and reconciliation workbook
• Exceptional accuracy and attention to detail - your numbers are right because you check them
• Ability to work independently, prioritise under pressure, and meet deadlines without being chased

• Prior experience in a technology company, startup, or multi-jurisdictional corporate structure
• Familiarity with UAE free zone and mainland regulatory environments - ADGM, ADJD, or ADCD frameworks
• Exposure to US entity accounting and Delaware corporate reporting requirement
• Experience coordinating with external auditors and tax advisors
• Arabic language skills are an advantage for banking and regulatory interactions