Financial Controller; Shipping - Maritime - Commodity Trading

Financial Controller (Shipping - Maritime - Commodity Trading)

Our client is a leading ship owner and operator in the dry bulk area and is seeking a financial controller to manage the entire finance and accounting team based in Dubai.

To lead the commercial finance function by driving strategic growth, ensuring financial integrity, and delivering actionable insights that support business objectives. This role is responsible for managing core financial operations including reporting, compliance, and cash management while acting as a key strategic partner to internal and external stakeholders. The Finance Controller will translate complex financial data into commercial strategies, optimize profitability, and coordinate business planning and forecasting processes to ensure the organization achieves its short and long‑term financial targets.

• Manage daily/weekly/monthly financial tasks such as accounts receivable, accounts payable, inventory management, banking, and cash management
• Responsible for statutory audits, tax compliance, and other regulatory compliance
• Coordinate the monthly operational finance close within the business unit
• Ensure that efficient and reliable reporting systems are in place that will ensure accurate reporting from source data
• Perform comparative analyses of results to business plan, forecast and last year to test accuracy and reasonableness
• Oversee prompt resolution of queries / reconciling items
• Assess the level of accruals held for operational expenditure each month to cover timing differences
• Weekly and monthly flash and reporting of financial performance in the agreed format which will include commentary on key performance areas.
• Identify opportunities for value added reporting to improve the quality and content of reporting and message management.
• Provide sustained support to customers and principals, particularly those who raise specific queries.
• Compile and review results of the business plan and sales forecasting processes, including volume and distribution revenue analysis.
• Profitability reporting, benchmarking and providing insights.

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or related field
• Professional certification such as CA(SA), CIMA, ACCA, or equivalent with at‑least 12 years of over all experience within the finance and accounting space.
• Must be from a Shipping, Maritime or Commodity trading house where there is voyage accounting a part of the overall business.
• Experience engaging with external customers, principals, and senior internal stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience in profitability analysis, cost management, and commercial strategy support.
• Track record of involvement in business planning, forecasting, and 5 year business valuations.