Requirements
Qualified accountant with significant post-qualification experience in controllership, financial reporting, accounting advisory, finance transformation, or transaction/integration environments. Experience working within a large US-headquartered or US GAAP-driven multinational organization is essential. Demonstrated experience leading or supporting finance integration, acquisition, carve-out, transformation, or system-consolidation initiatives, along with managing multi-entity, multi-country month-end close and reporting processes, is required. Strong trial-balance analysis, reconciliation, account-mapping, and financial-control assessment capabilities, coupled with the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, ambiguous integration environment and influence stakeholders without direct authority, are key. Excellent written and verbal English communication skills are necessary.
Description
The Finance Integration Lead will lead and coordinate the finance workstream for the integration of a newly acquired business into a large US GAAP-driven multinational corporation. Based in Abu Dhabi, the role will work closely with the acquired business's finance leadership and their teams and the parent company's controllership, reporting, systems, tax and internal-control stakeholders.The role will establish a reliable, timely and controlled financial reporting environment across the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The Finance Integration Lead will assess the acquired business's books and processes, drive convergence to US GAAP and parent-company policies, support reporting-system mapping into OneStream, and coordinate an effective multi-entity month-end close process.Key ResponsibilitiesConsolidation and reporting systems integrationDeliver the mapping of local ERP trial-balance accounts and reporting dimensions to the parent-company chart of accounts and OneStream reporting structure.Coordinate data extraction, validation, mapping design, test loads, reconciliations and sign-off for OneStream reporting;Work with API OneStream team to ensure account-mapping governance, including mapping documentation, change control, ownership and validation procedures.Reconcile local trial balances to OneStream submissions and investigate, resolve or appropriately escalate data, mapping and consolidation differences.Month-end close and operating modelDesign, implement and coordinate a standardized month-end close calendar and reporting timetable across all four countries.Work with local finance teams to ensure timely completion of reconciliations, journals, accruals, intercompany confirmations, balance-sheet reviews, reporting submissions and management explanations.Monitor close quality, timeliness and recurring issues, and drive sustainable process improvements.Stakeholder management and deliveryAct as the primary finance integration contact on site in Abu Dhabi and provide clear, regular updates to the Global Controller – API International.Work collaboratively with acquired-business leadership, regional finance teams and corporate controllership and FP&A teams.Prepare concise status reporting covering milestones, key decisions, risks, dependencies, resource needs and escalation items.Finance diagnostic and accounting assessmentConduct an initial diagnostic of the legal entities and finance operations across the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, including the general ledger, trial balance, chart of accounts, sub-ledgers, reconciliations and reporting packs.Assess the quality, completeness and supportability of financial records, including the identification of historical issues, aged balances, unsupported journal entries, intercompany balances and potential close or reporting risks.US GAAP and policy alignmentPerform a structured gap assessment between local accounting practices, IFRS/local statutory requirements where applicable, US GAAP, and parent-company accounting policies.Identify, quantify and document required accounting adjustments, including recurring close adjustments and transition entries.Drive implementation of parent-company accounting policies, accounting manuals, approval requirements and standardized documentation across the acquired entities.Coordinate with relevant specialists on complex areas such as revenue recognition, leases, financial instruments, impairments, insurance-related accounting (if applicable), tax accounting and foreign-currency matters.Controls and governanceAssess the design and operating effectiveness of key finance controls, including journal-entry controls, account reconciliations, close controls, segregation of duties and delegated authorities.Identify control gaps against parent-company internal-control and SOX-aligned requirements, where applicable, and implement pragmatic remediation plans.Key Deliverables and Success MeasuresCompleted finance diagnostic and prioritized integration roadmap covering all entities in UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.Documented US GAAP and parent-company policy gap assessment, with agreed accounting adjustments and remediation actions.Validated trial-balance and reporting-dimension mapping from the local ERP(s) to OneStream, supported by reconciliations and sign-off.Standardized, documented and operating month-end close calendar, checklist and governance process across the acquired entities.Controls assessment and remediation plan, with ownership, evidence requirements and implementation progress clearly tracked.Timely and accurate monthly reporting submissions with clear explanations of material variances, open items and risks.Candidate ProfileEssential qualifications and experienceQualified accountant (e.g., ACA, ACCA, CPA, CA, CIMA or equivalent).Significant post-qualification experience in controllership, financial reporting, accounting advisory, finance transformation or transaction/integration environments.Experience working within a large US-headquartered or US GAAP-driven multinational organization.Strong technical knowledge of US GAAP and experience translating local accounting practices and statutory requirements into group reporting requirements.Demonstrated experience leading or materially supporting finance integration, acquisition, carve-out, transformation or system-consolidation initiatives.Experience managing multi-entity, multi-country month-end close and reporting processes.Strong trial-balance analysis, reconciliation, account-mapping and financial-control assessment capabilities.Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, ambiguous integration environment and to influence stakeholders without direct authority.Excellent written and verbal English communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear executive-level updates and technical accounting documentation.Preferred qualifications and experienceHands-on experience with OneStream consolidation and reporting, including trial-balance mapping, data validation, reporting submissions or close management.Prior experience in the Middle East, particularly the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and/or Egypt, and familiarity with local statutory, tax and operating environments.Experience with SOX or SOX-aligned internal-control frameworks, audit coordination and remediation of finance-control deficiencies.Working knowledge of enterprise ERP systems, data extraction and reporting interfaces.Key CompetenciesHands-on, delivery-focused approach with sound judgment and strong attention to detail.Structured problem solving and ability to prioritize high-risk issues.Strong project-management discipline and ability to manage multiple workstreams and deadlines.Collaborative stakeholder management across local, regional and corporate teams.Resilience, adaptability and cultural awareness in a multi-country environment.High standards of integrity, confidentiality and professional ethics.