Manager - Finance; Bede

Zain is the pioneer of mobile telecommunications in the Middle East. We began life in 1983 in Kuwait as the region’s first mobile operator, and since the initiation of our expansion strategy in 2003, we have expanded rapidly. Read more here:

This role will be part of Zain Bahrain's Subsidiary Fintech Company - "Bede"

Bede, the fintech arm of Zain Bahrain, is a dynamic startup revolutionizing personal finance through Bahrain’s first Shariah-compliant Islamic financing app. Licensed and regulated by the Central Bank of Bahrain, Bede is committed to creating an inclusive platform that offers practical solutions tailored to real customer needs.

With a focus on customer centricity, strategic partnerships, and digital innovation, Bede aims to guide individuals toward growth and success by leveling the playing field for all. Bede

The Finance Manager will be overall responsible for the strategic planning, implementation, management, and running of all finance activities for Bede, including business planning, budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and financial operations, as well as providing commercial insight and recommendations across the business to achieve business plan targets. The role covers Bede’s full product portfolio — including microfinance, credit cards, remittances, and future products such as insurance, investment, and wallet services — reporting jointly to the Bede CEO and the Zain Bahrain CFO.

The role is accountable for sound financial management, regulatory compliance with Central Bank of Bahrain requirements, and providing data-driven insight to support business decision‑making. Working closely with Business, Technology, and Operations teams, the Finance Manager will evaluate product-level financial performance, optimize costs, assess technology and app investment opportunities, and support the growth of Bede’s finance function as the business scales.

BSc/BA in Accounting, Finance, or a relevant field; a professional accounting qualification (CA, CPA, ACCA, or CMA) is required.

6+ years of progressive experience in finance, financial planning & analysis, or a related field, ideally within fintech, banking, or financial services.

Proven track record in budgeting, financial performance review, and cost management within a fast-paced or growth-stage business.

Experience working with or alongside product teams to assess financial viability of new products or features is a strong advantage.

Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) regulatory reporting experience and exposure to ERP system integrations are strong advantages.

Manage all financial aspects of Bede, including budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, and reporting.

Develop and implement financial policies, procedures, and controls to ensure proper financial management and compliance with regulatory requirements.

Lead the annual and monthly budgeting process, working with the Director of Business and product/function leads to build realistic, achievable financial plans.

Conduct regular business performance reviews, tracking actual results against budget across all products and functions, and reporting variances with clear commentary.

2. Strategic Planning & Commercial Insight

Collaborate with the senior management team to develop and implement Bede’s financial strategies and long-term financial plans.

Provide financial insights and recommendations to support business decision‑making and drive the company’s growth and profitability.

Provide financial forecasts and scenario analysis to support strategic decision‑making by the CEO and Zain Bahrain CFO.

Own the financial analysis and performance tracking of Bede’s product portfolio, including current products—micro finance, credit cards, and remittances— and future products as they launch, including insurance, investment options, wallet services, and other financial products.

Build and maintain product-level financial models to assess profitability, cost-to-serve, and revenue contribution for each product line.

Work with the Director of Business and product teams to evaluate the financial viability of new product launches and enhancements before…