Finance Expert

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Posted on 05/04/2026Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesAbout Iris ExecutivesIris Executives is a leading executive search firm specializing in Emiratisation and senior-level recruitment since 2010. We partner with government entities and strategic organisations across the UAE to identify exceptional leadership and advisory talent.We are currently supporting a major UAE federal government entity in the search for an experienced Finance Expert.Role OverviewJoin a leading UAE federal government entity as Finance Expert, where you will shape the financial strategy and controls for an organisation managing critical infrastructure and large-scale government projects. This is not a back-office accounting role — it is a strategic finance position at the intersection of federal budgeting, complex project management, and governance.Your mandate: design and enforce financial systems that are bulletproof, efficient, and aligned with federal Treasury standards. You will work directly with federal budget cycles, lead compliance initiatives, and ensure that project spending meets both audit and operational requirements. If you have thrived in government finance, understand federal approval pathways intuitively, and can build controls that actually work in complex bureaucracies, this role is designed for you.You will be part of a team that values precision, process integrity, and the unique discipline required to manage government finances at scale. This is an opportunity to influence how a federal entity delivers on its strategic commitments while maintaining Treasury confidence and audit readiness.The ideal candidate is a UAE National with deep expertise in federal budgeting frameworks, a track record in financial control design, and proven experience managing finances for complex government projects and initiatives.Key ResponsibilitiesLead federal budget compliance and planning — develop annual budget submissions aligned with Ministry of Finance frameworks, manage allocations across departments, and forecast financial performance against federal targetsDesign and enforce financial controls — establish governance systems for project spending, vendor payments, and inter-ministry transfers that are rigorous yet practical within government timelinesManage project-level finances — oversee financial reporting, compliance, and audit trails for large government projects and programmes, including cross-entity coordination and budget accountabilityCoordinate with Treasury and audit bodies — serve as primary liaison with federal audit institutions, respond to findings, and maintain relationships with Treasury on budget executionDrive process improvement — identify inefficiencies in financial workflows, propose systems that reduce approval bottlenecks while strengthening controlsProduce financial reporting and analysis — deliver monthly and quarterly reports for leadership and federal oversight bodies, conduct variance analysis on major budget linesOversee vendor and procurement compliance — validate invoicing against federal standards, manage payment processing for government projectsMonitor risk and regulatory changes — assess financial risks in government projects, ensure the entity maintains audit readiness and Treasury confidenceIdeal Candidate ProfileExperienceMinimum 5 years of direct experience in federal government finance, Treasury operations, or large state-owned entities with federal reporting requirementsProven ability to navigate federal budget cycles and Treasury approval processes from submission through fund releaseTrack record of designing financial controls that work in approval-heavy government environmentsExperience managing project-level finances for large government or infrastructure projects — tracking multi-department budgets and producing audit-ready documentationEducationBachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field. Professional qualifications (ACCA, CPA, or equivalent) are valued.Professional Background (examples may include)Federal ministry finance departments (Budget, Treasury, Finance divisions)Abu Dhabi or Dubai government finance rolesState-owned enterprises with federal reporting (ADNOC, Etihad Airways, etc.)Federal authorities and agencies with budget accountabilityGovernment infrastructure or construction projects with financial oversightSkillsUAE federal budgeting frameworks and Ministry of Finance complianceFinancial control design in government and regulated environmentsProject financial management and audit compliance for complex government initiativesTreasury coordination and federal reportingArabic and English fluency (written and spoken)ApplicationQualified candidates interested in this opportunity are invited to request the candidate data form and submit their updated CV for confidential consideration.Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by Iris Executives to discuss the role and compensation details.All applications w