Head of Finance

About the Role
We are seeking a Head of Finance for our operations in Kuwait. This position is a senior finance leadership role responsible for the financial oversight of the Kuwait entity. You will ensure accurate financial records, statutory reporting, and maintain a robust financial control environment. A focus on controllership and effective financial reporting is crucial to this role, as we aim to scale in Kuwait without building up reporting debt from the outset.

Key Responsibilities

1. Financial Reporting and Controllership (Primary Focus)

• Own the Kuwait books: Full accountability for the general ledger, chart of accounts, accounting manual, and month-end close for the Kuwait entity, in alignment with Group policy and the group accounting platform.
• Deliver the monthly close: Manage a disciplined close calendar with defined cut-offs, task ownership, and dependencies; provide the Kuwait reporting pack to Group Finance on schedule, which includes variance commentary and balance sheet substantiation.
• Prepare statutory financial statements: Develop the Kuwait statutory financial statements and notes to a publication standard, including Arabic-language requirements, statutory reserve transfers, and thorough checks before issue.
• Group consolidation: Ensure accurate integration of Kuwait reports into the group consolidation, managing intercompany reconciliation, transfer pricing support, and consistent application of group accounting policies.
• Reconciliation and substantiation: Implement a complete reconciliation framework covering bank settlements, receivables subledger to general ledger, merchant payables, collections, and suspense clearing with a focus on resolving aged items.

2. Regulatory, Tax and Statutory Compliance

• Central Bank of Kuwait Reporting: Oversee the preparation and timely submission of all regulatory returns and prudential reporting required for the licensed entity and be a finance counterpart concerning regulatory queries and inspections.
• Licensing and capital: Aid in the licensing process with financial projections, capital adequacy analysis, and ensure compliance with capital ratios. Note that appointments to senior positions are subjected to regulatory assessments.
• Tax Management: Handle Kuwait tax obligations and filings, including corporate income tax, Zakat, KFAS contributions, and ensure compliance with withholding and retention requirements.
• Statutory and Corporate Filings: Ensure compliance for all statutory filings and renewals with relevant authorities.

3. Controls, Audit and Risk

• Control Environment: Design and operate the financial control framework, ensuring proper delegation of authority and responsibility within workflows.
• External Audit: Manage the annual audit process, from planning to resolution of findings and ensuring timely delivery of signed accounts.
• Documentation: Maintain written accounting policies and process narratives to support audit compliance and knowledge retention.

4. Market Entry, Build-Out and Leadership

• Build the Team: Recruit and nurture a high-caliber finance team as the market scales, ensuring local capabilities rather than dependence on individual roles.
• Stakeholder Management: Serve as a trusted finance representative in the Kuwait leadership team and maintain positive relations with Group Finance, Legal, Compliance, Risk and Treasury.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CPA, CA or equivalent).
• 8–12+ years of progressive finance experience, including audit or advisory practice experience (preferably Big Four) with ownership of a controllership function.
• Extensive practical IFRS knowledge with experience in preparing financial statements and technical documents under scrutiny.
• Hands-on experience with IFRS 9 expected credit loss, preferably in lending or finance sectors.
• Familiarity with a regulated financial-services environment and regulatory reporting to central banks.
• Solid understanding of the regulatory and tax landscape in Kuwait or transferable GCC experience.
• Proven skills in month-end close processes and reconciliation management.
• Ability to work with limited infrastructure; experience in policy design and reconciliation.
• Fluent in English; professional proficiency in Arabic is essential.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience launching a new legal entity or market, including oversight of incorporation and first audit.
• Background in fintech, payments, or high-growth technology sectors.
• Familiarity with multi-entity group reporting and consolidation processes.
• Exposure to receivables financing and reporting in compliance with covenants.
• Strong systems capability, including ERP implementation and data reporting automation.