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 sectors. The Group Finance function is evolving around two core pillars: Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), which partners with businesses on strategic planning and decision-making, and a Center of Excellence (COE) that manages all repeatable finance operations such as bookkeeping, accounts receivable/payable, payroll, reporting, consolidation, and tax compliance. This structure allows founders and CEOs to focus on growth while the finance team ensures operational excellence. Disrupt operates with a flat, AI-native, and lean culture, emphasizing ownership and internal capability building.

The company seeks 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 forward-thinking leadership to enhance processes, systems, and controls while developing a high-performing team. The successful candidate will lead the COE as an internal service provider, ensuring accurate, timely, and SLA-driven accounting, reporting, and tax services across all portfolio companies under a unified control framework and group standards. Acting as the deputy to the VP Finance for finance operations, tax, and ERP, this individual will be the primary technical finance expert, interfacing with auditors, regulators, and tax authorities. Success will be measured by the ability to raise team standards rather than personal output.

Key Responsibilities

- Continuous Improvement: Review and enhance finance processes, reporting, and controls to improve quality, speed, and reliability. Drive automation and AI adoption to achieve near real-time financial visibility. Maintain high standards for timely closes, clean audits, and dependable financial data. Cultivate 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 matters such as 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, driving harmonization and acceleration across entities. Enforce rigorous reconciliation discipline, including bank, intercompany, and balance sheet reconciliations.

- Tax: Oversee the tax function, collaborating with the Tax Manager on UAE Corporate Tax (including Qualifying Free Zone Person status), VAT, Pakistan income and sales tax, transfer pricing, and withholding tax. Lead engagements with tax authorities in Pakistan and the UAE, managing audits, assessments, appeals, and disputes.

- Controls and Governance: Design, implement, 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 the SLA framework between the COE, businesses, and FP&A, including escalation protocols.

- 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 to ensure consistent consolidation. Lead system configuration, integrations, automation initiatives, onboarding of new entities, and user acceptance testing. Hold vendors and implementation partners accountable for quality and timelines.

- Leadership and People Development: Provide clear direction and maintain high standards. Coach and develop team members, implement structured training and knowledge-sharing programs, and plan capacity based on workload rather than entity count. Build succession plans and address performance issues promptly and fairly.

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

- Service and Capacity: Drive adoption of COE services by portfolio companies, deliver accurate consolidated financials for leadership and investors, and ensure service quality meets SLAs.

Required Qualifications

- Qualified accountant (Chartered Accountant, ACCA, CPA, or equivalent).
- Minimum 12 years post-qualification experience, including at least 5 years leading finance or controllership functions in multi-entity groups.
- Expert knowledge of IFRS and US GAAP, including multi-entity consolidation, multi-currency groups, and complex accounting areas.
- Proven leadership experience managing and growing sizeable finance teams.
- Demonstrated success in strengthening finance functions with measurable improvements in processes, controls, and close timelines.
- Hands-on tax expertise, including managing tax audits and disputes in Pakistan, with working knowledge or ability to quickly master UAE Corporate Tax and VAT.
- Experience owning external audits and direct dealings with regulators and tax authorities.
- Proven track record of implementing and managing accounting systems end to end.
- 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 environments spanning UAE, Pakistan, US, or offshore entities.
- Background in technology, venture-backed, or holding company settings, including investor reporting and fundraising support.
- Practical experience using AI, automation, and data tools in finance workflows.

What We Offer

- Competitive salary benchmarked against senior finance leadership roles in Pakistan.
- Discretionary performance bonus paid biannually.
- Full ownership of group finance operations with a mandate to lead and develop the function.
- Exposure to multi-jurisdictional structuring, fundraising, and new ventures in technology sectors.
- Investment in professional development, including training, certifications, and conferences.