About the Role
The Senior Business Controller is responsible for analyzing P&L performance and reporting above EBITA across various entities within the MENA Cluster, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of financial information. This role provides support to the Cluster Head of Air & Sea, MENA, as well as country finance teams and country management by delivering clear, objective, and insightful analysis of daily business matters. Through performance monitoring and financial insights, the Senior Business Controller aids operational decision-making and supports the achievement of business objectives. The selected candidate will be based in Dubai, UAE.
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Reporting Line
- Reports to: Manager
- Direct subordinates: No
Detailed Responsibilities
- Support function to the Cluster MENA Head for Air & Sea, Country Managing Directors, and Country Finance teams.
- Prepare and present internal reporting (management accounts based on SAP SAC and TMS reports) to business and provide detailed comments on the main events that occurred during the month (variance analysis).
- Analyze the site/branch/product results and propose different initiatives to improve profitability and productivity.
- Organize, support, and guide the target process with local finance and business. Prepare the P&L budget based on SAP SAC tools.
- Reconcile targets and forecasts in AFO against final country submissions and RtR inputs to ensure consistency and accuracy across systems.
- Support local finance with rolling forecasts and report to Group or Cluster/Regional Management.
- Analyze and improve various processes regarding the estimations of work in progress (run-offs), unbilled work in progress, cost center reporting, functional area, and overall gross profit.
- Monitor and report on global KPIs for A&S to ensure compliance with key controls and support continuous improvement.
- Reconcile billing data from the Transportation Management System (TMS) with financial records in SAP/CW1 (or other finance systems) to ensure completeness, accuracy, and proper revenue recognition.
- Follow up on the evolution of gross profit in terms of volumes/margin and deliver a forecast for month-end while verifying the Gross Profit number.
- Prepare and present reports to local finance/business, such as sales reports, client profitability/returns, product reports, and daily GP dashboards.
- Act as the point of contact between the Regional Shared Service Centre and Operations/Country finance.
- Ensure the SAP Controlling structure (cost centres) is validated by local finance and business and updated in the relevant systems.
- Analyze and report on staff costs (detailed review) and FTEs.
- Participate in Local Management meetings representing the RSSC Controlling team.
- Ensure that different financial processes are respected locally, not only by Finance employees but also by Operations.
- Assist with Group and Local Statutory audits (IFRS) by providing relevant local information requested by auditors.
- Support in preparing and presenting special reporting required by business/local finance (Board presentations/business cases/ROIC).
- Facilitate finance training for business.
- Perform ad-hoc duties as required.
Communication
- Internal: Regional Shared Service Center, Group Finance, the company network offices, Operations, and Management teams (Regional, Cluster, and Country) and local CFO.
- External: Clients, the company vendors, External Auditors.
Qualifications & Characteristics
- Minimum of 3 years’ experience in a business controlling/financial manager role.
- Minimum 2 years’ experience in a shared services finance environment dealing with controlling, finance, and credit functions.
- Minimum 2 years’ experience in operational finance management function in the Air & Sea environment.
- High attention to detail and accuracy.
- Strong analytical skills.
- Ability to indirectly supervise and influence other department employees.
- Must be controls and process focused.
- Ability to work well under pressure and meet deadlines.
- Good understanding of financial statements, balance sheet reconciliations, and reports.
- Must be a team player.
- Strong time management skills.
- Available to work long hours of overtime when necessary.
- Self-starter capable of using initiative.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Creative and problem-solving approach.
- Ability to interact with various managerial levels within the company.
- Effective communication skills.
