Group Financial Controller

Disrupt, a UAE-based venture builder and diversified holding company, specializes in scaling businesses across consumer technology, AI, fintech, cybersecurity, and Web3. The Group Finance function is evolving around two main pillars: Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), which partners with businesses on planning and decision-making, and a Center of Excellence (COE) that manages repeatable finance tasks such as bookkeeping, accounts receivable/payable, payroll, reporting, consolidation, and tax compliance. This structure allows founders and CEOs to focus on growth while finance operations run efficiently. Disrupt operates with a flat, AI-native, and lean culture, emphasizing extreme ownership and building internal capabilities over outsourcing.

We are seeking a highly skilled finance leader to elevate group finance to the next level of maturity. This role demands a blend of deep technical expertise and progressive leadership to enhance processes, systems, and controls while developing a high-performing team. You will lead the COE as an internal service business, ensuring accurate, timely, and SLA-driven accounting, reporting, and tax management across all portfolio companies under a unified control framework. As the deputy to the VP Finance for finance operations, tax, and ERP, you will be the primary technical finance authority, interfacing with auditors, regulators, and tax authorities. Success in this role is measured by your ability to raise team standards and reduce dependency on yourself.

Key Responsibilities:
Continuous Improvement: Review and enhance finance processes, reporting, and controls to improve quality, speed, and reliability. Drive automation and AI adoption for real-time financial visibility. Maintain high standards for timely closes, clean audits, and dependable financial data. Foster a culture of ownership, accountability, and continuous learning within the team.

Accounting and Reporting: Ensure accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of accounting and reporting across all entities. Establish group accounting policies, chart of accounts, and IFRS application. Serve as the final authority on complex accounting issues including revenue recognition, IFRS 16, IFRS 9, IFRS 2, business combinations, consolidation, equity accounting, minority interests, and foreign currency. Approve statutory and consolidated financial statements.

Close, Reconciliations, and Journals: Manage the monthly close calendar and group consolidation process, promoting a faster, harmonized close across entities. Enforce strict reconciliation discipline, including bank, intercompany, and balance sheet reconciliations.

Tax: Oversee the tax function and collaborate with the Tax Manager on strategy for UAE Corporate Tax, VAT, Pakistan income and sales tax, transfer pricing, and withholding. Lead interactions with tax authorities in Pakistan and the UAE, managing audits, assessments, appeals, and disputes.

Controls and Governance: Design and enforce authorization matrices, segregation of duties, and maker-checker controls. Maintain the control environment, master data governance, role-based access, and audit trails. Manage SLA frameworks between the COE, businesses, and FP&A, including escalation procedures.

Accounting Systems and Automation: Own the group’s accounting systems landscape (currently Odoo and QuickBooks), setting standards for chart of accounts mapping, master data, controls, and reporting. Lead system configuration, integrations, automation initiatives, onboarding of new entities, and user acceptance testing. Hold vendors accountable for quality and timelines, driving continuous process improvements.

Leadership and People Development: Lead with clarity and high standards, setting direction and holding the team accountable. Develop team members through coaching, feedback, and structured training. Plan capacity based on workload and hire proactively. Build succession plans and address performance issues promptly.

External Stakeholders: Serve as the primary contact for external auditors and manage audits end-to-end. Represent the group with regulators and tax authorities.

Service and Capacity: Promote COE services to portfolio companies and onboard them effectively. Deliver accurate consolidated financials for leadership, FP&A, and investors. Ensure service quality meets SLAs.

Required Qualifications:
Qualified accountant (Chartered Accountant, ACCA, CPA, or equivalent) with 12+ years post-qualification experience, including at least 5 years leading finance or controllership in a multi-entity group. Expert knowledge of IFRS and US GAAP, including consolidation, multi-currency, and complex accounting areas such as revenue recognition, leases, financial instruments, share-based payments, and business combinations. Proven leadership in managing and growing sizeable finance teams. Demonstrated success in strengthening finance functions with measurable improvements in process quality, close timelines, and controls. Hands-on tax experience, including managing audits and disputes in Pakistan, with working knowledge or ability to quickly master UAE Corporate Tax and VAT. Experience managing external audits and direct dealings with regulators and tax authorities. Proficiency in implementing and managing accounting systems, including configuration, data migration, UAT, and consolidation across diverse platforms. Skilled in designing and enforcing internal controls such as authorization matrices and segregation of duties.

Preferred Qualifications and Benefits:
Experience in multi-jurisdictional groups or shared services covering UAE, Pakistan, US, or offshore entities. Background in technology, venture-backed, or holding company environments with exposure to investor reporting, due diligence, or fundraising. Practical use of AI, automation, and data tools in finance workflows.

Disrupt offers a competitive salary aligned with senior finance leadership roles in Pakistan, a discretionary half-yearly performance bonus, full ownership of group finance operations, and the opportunity to lead and develop the function. The role provides exposure to multi-jurisdiction structuring, fundraising, and ventures across technology sectors, along with investment in professional development including training, certifications, and conferences.