A confidential, founder-led technology business delivering advanced solutions to government, defence, and critical infrastructure organisations across the GCC and international markets is seeking a Head of Finance to join its Executive Leadership Team in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Partnering directly with the CEO as a trusted strategic advisor, this exceptional role offers an executive compensation package, genuine influence over commercial strategy, and the rare opportunity to build a world-class finance function from the ground up as the business enters its next phase of international expansion.
Executive Package Highlights
- Exceptional executive compensation package reflecting seniority, experience, and business impact
- Direct CEO partnership as a trusted strategic advisor and Executive Leadership Team member
- Genuine influence over commercial strategy, investment decisions, and international growth planning
- Medical insurance, annual leave, and full UAE statutory benefits
- Minimal international travel as required for a senior executive role
About the Company — Founder-Led Technology Business Abu Dhabi
Sector: Advanced technology solutions for government, defence, and critical infrastructure organisations
Markets: GCC and international — an ambitious, globally-oriented expansion trajectory
Structure: Founder-led, privately owned — agile, entrepreneurial, and fast-moving at every level
Stage: Established platform entering an exciting new phase of international growth and scaling
Culture: Ideas valued, decisions made quickly, contributions visibly impacting the company’s future
Career Opportunity & Why This Role in Abu Dhabi UAE
Strategic Influence: Partner the CEO directly — your advice shapes commercial strategy and investment decisions
Build Something: Design and build a world-class finance function from the ground up for international scale
Executive Seniority: Executive Leadership Team member with a seat at the strategic decision-making table
International Ambition: Lead finance across multiple global entities as the business expands internationally
Position Overview
The Head of Finance at this Abu Dhabi technology business is a C-suite level executive role that goes far beyond traditional finance leadership. As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, you will partner directly with the CEO to provide strategic financial guidance, lead the global finance function across multiple international entities, and build the scalable processes, governance frameworks, and reporting infrastructure that will support the company’s next phase of ambitious international expansion. This is not a role for a finance professional who manages the status quo — it is a role for a commercially astute, strategically minded finance leader with deep UAE experience, IFRS expertise, and the credibility to influence, challenge, and guide executive decision-making at the highest level of a high-growth technology business.
Why This Role Matters: As Head of Finance at this Abu Dhabi founder-led technology company, you are not just running the numbers — you are helping shape the future of an internationally ambitious business. You will advise the CEO on every major commercial decision, build the financial controls and governance that enable safe international expansion, lead finance across multiple global entities with full IFRS and UAE Corporate Tax responsibility, mentor and develop the finance team while managing relationships with banking partners, auditors, and regulators, and define your legacy as a senior finance leader who helped build something genuinely extraordinary in Abu Dhabi.
Key Responsibilities
CEO Partnership & Strategic Financial Leadership
- Partner directly with the CEO as a trusted advisor — providing strategic financial guidance that meaningfully supports business growth and high-stakes commercial decision-making
- Contribute as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team — actively shaping commercial strategy, guiding investment decisions, and influencing the company’s international direction
- Provide clear, commercially minded financial analysis that helps the CEO and executive team make faster, better-informed decisions with confidence
- Remain willing and able to be hands-on when required — balancing strategic advisory with practical operational finance leadership in a fast-moving entrepreneurial environment
Global Finance Function Leadership
- Lead the global finance function across multiple international entities — overseeing all reporting, forecasting, cash flow management, audit, tax, compliance, and financial governance
- Ensure full compliance with IFRS reporting standards, UAE Corporate Tax obligations, and all applicable regulatory requirements across international business entities
- Build scalable financial processes, internal controls, and reporting frameworks that can support the company’s sustainable international expansion with confidence and rigour
- Oversee consolidated financial reporting and management accounts that give leadership a clear, accurate, and timely view of group financial performance across all entities
Finance Function Development & Stakeholder Management
- Mentor and develop the existing finance team — building capability, elevating standards, and creating a high-performing finance function fit for international scale
- Build and maintain trusted relationships with the company’s banking partners, external auditors, tax advisors, regulators, and other key external stakeholders
- Manage treasury and cash flow across multiple currencies and international entities — ensuring adequate liquidity and optimal working capital management at all times
- Lead the preparation and delivery of financial reporting packages for the CEO, Board, investors, and banking partners as required
Governance, Controls & Commercial Insight
- Build robust financial governance frameworks, internal control systems, and risk management processes that protect the business as it scales internationally
- Provide deep commercial insight and financial modelling that supports investment evaluation, pricing decisions, contract negotiations, and strategic planning
- Identify and address financial risks proactively — advising leadership on mitigation strategies before issues become material business concerns
- Champion a culture of financial discipline and commercial awareness across the business — embedding sound financial thinking beyond the finance function itself
Qualifications & Requirements
Qualifications
- Professional finance qualification — CA, CPA, ACCA, CMA, or an internationally recognised equivalent — is mandatory for this executive-level role
- Minimum 15 years of senior finance experience, including significant and demonstrable UAE-based financial leadership exposure
Experience Requirements
- Proven experience within a founder-led, privately owned, or high-growth business where you have acted as a trusted commercial advisor to founders or CEOs
- Demonstrable success leading finance across multiple international entities with strong global exposure — including IFRS expertise and UAE Corporate Tax knowledge
- Track record of building scalable finance functions, governance frameworks, and reporting systems from the ground up in entrepreneurial business environments
- UAE-based applicants only — significant and verifiable UAE financial regulatory and market experience is a non-negotiable requirement for this role
Leadership Style & Competencies
- Commercially minded leadership approach — confident to challenge, influence, and guide executive decision-making while remaining grounded and hands-on as needed
- Entrepreneurial mindset and agility — thriving in a founder-led environment where speed, pragmatism, and direct impact matter more than corporate process
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills — able to present financial complexity with clarity to both technical finance colleagues and non-finance executives
- Genuine passion for building something meaningful — energised by the opportunity to help shape a business with real international ambition and purpose
About the Head of Finance Opportunity in Abu Dhabi UAE
Abu Dhabi is one of the world’s fastest-growing technology and government services markets — and this Head of Finance role sits at the strategic centre of a business building meaningful solutions for government, defence, and critical infrastructure clients across the GCC and internationally. Placed through Walker Lovell, this confidential executive search represents a rare opportunity for an experienced, commercially astute finance leader to join a founder-led technology company’s Executive Leadership Team at precisely the right moment — as the business prepares for its next ambitious phase of international growth.
Career Excellence: Join the Executive Leadership Team of an ambitious Abu Dhabi technology business as Head of Finance and help build something extraordinary — shaping commercial strategy, international expansion, and a world-class finance function from the ground up.
Who Should Apply?
- Senior Finance Directors in UAE: With CA, CPA, ACCA, or CMA qualifications and 15+ years including significant founder-led or high-growth business experience
- CFO or Deputy CFO Professionals: Currently based in the UAE and ready to step into an Executive Leadership Team role with full strategic influence
- IFRS-Qualified Finance Leaders: With multi-entity international finance experience and deep knowledge of UAE Corporate Tax and GCC regulatory requirements
- Strategic Finance Advisors: Who have worked alongside founders or CEOs and have a track record of commercial advisory beyond traditional finance reporting roles
- Technology Sector Finance Executives: With experience in government, defence, critical infrastructure, or advanced technology sectors — seeking a confidential, high-impact Abu Dhabi opportunity
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