Group Financial Controller

Location

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Full time

Business

About the Job

Lean is moving fast. We need a Group Financial Controller who can bridge the gap between our current state and the multi-product infrastructure company we are becoming. Reporting to the VP Finance, you’ll be the person ensuring our month-end is tight, our controls are "audit-ready," and our financial reporting across all entities is flawless. Reporting directly to the VP Finance, you will move beyond simple oversight to design, implement, and lead a world-class financial control environment across all Lean entities.

The Moment

Lean has tripled in size over the past twelve months. We’re on track to triple again next year.

What started as the region’s pioneering Open Finance platform is now becoming something bigger: a multi-product infrastructure company powering payments, data, and lending across MENA. We’re expanding into new markets, opening offices, acquiring businesses, and building capabilities that didn’t exist here before.

We’ve processed billions of dollars in transactions. We’re trusted by 300+ clients - from Binance and Careem to Etisalat - and backed by General Catalyst, Sequoia, and Shorooq. Our $67.5M Series B was just the beginning.

What you’ll be doing

• Direct the end-to-end month-end, quarter-end, and year-end closing processes for all group entities, ensuring a seamless and accurate consolidation of global financials.
• Own the full cycle of Accounts Payable (AP), employee expenses, and payroll disbursements, optimizing for both speed and accuracy.
• Identify gaps in current financial workflows and establish robust, scalable internal controls and SOPs that mitigate risk without stifling growth.
• Develop and institutionalize group-wide policies, including Accounting Standards, T&E, and Procurement, ensuring alignment with international best practices.
• Treasury & Tax:
  Support the VP Finance in Treasury management - including FX exposure and liquidity - while overseeing regional tax compliance and submissions.
• Manage and upskill a high-performing team of financial controllers while serving as the primary point of contact for external auditors and banking partners.

What we’re looking for

• ACA, CIMA, ACCA, or CPA qualified (or equivalent).
• Extensive experience in a leadership or controller-level role following your certification.
• Deep understanding of financial control frameworks and a high level of proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Suite.
• Exceptional communication, organizational prowess, and the ability to operate autonomously in a fast-paced environment
• Experience navigating the ambiguity and rapid pace of a high-growth tech startup.
• Familiarity with the MENA Fintech ecosystem is a bonus.
• Proven track record of implementing or optimizing ERP systems (e.g., Net Suite, Oracle, or similar).

NB. While we think the above experience could be important, we’re keen to hear from people that believe they have valuable experience to bring to the role. If you identify with the team and mission, but not all of our requirements, then please still apply!!

We’re building the financial infrastructure for MENA. Not as a slogan, as a fact.

Since 2019, we’ve become the first regulated Open Banking and Open Finance company operating across the UAE and Saudi Arabia. We’ve processed billions of dollars. We connect millions of accounts. We enable companies like Binance, Careem, and Etisalat to build products that were previously impossible in this region.

Our recent $67.5M Series B from General Catalyst and Sequoia isn’t just validation: it’s fuel. We’re expanding into new markets, launching new products, and setting the pace for what financial innovation looks like in MENA.

We solve hard problems. We move fast. We hold ourselves to a high standard. And we’re looking for people who’ve done this before to help us do it right.

If you’re motivated by building something that lasts, not just something that scales, Lean is where you need to be.

Not only do we offer competitive salaries, private healthcare, and flexible office hours, but we also insist that every member of the team hold a meaningful equity stake in the business…