Regional Financial Controller

ELEVATE MENA – JOB DESCRIPTION

Regional Financial Controller

Location: Riyadh, KSA

Elevate is an integrated global sport, culture & entertainment agency operating across four continents, with offices in Riyadh, Dubai, New York, London, Milan, Munich, Singapore, Sydney, and beyond.

At our core, we believe in the power of Data and Creativity: we utilise our proprietary technology blended with extraordinary people to deliver amazing results.

We partner with rights holders, brands, and venues to build deeper connections with fans and audiences, and to unlock growth. Our work spans the full lifecycle of sport, culture, and entertainment assets: from strategy and consulting, through creative, revenue generation, activation and delivery.

In the GCC, we've been established since 2014, working alongside the public and private sector to support the region's most ambitious projects. We bring international best practice with deep local understanding, blending a global network of expertise with teams embedded in the markets we serve.

We have specialist teams across discrete areas of practice; Strategy and Insights, Partnerships, Creative and Hospitality and Ticketing.

We serve brands and rights holders in sport, the arts, culture and entertainment via events, physical spaces, campaigns and support their commercial planning.

Role overview:

The Regional Financial Controller leads financial control, reporting and day to day finance operations across Elevate MENA. Reporting to the Regional Finance Director and managing a team of three, the role is responsible for the integrity of the region's financial information, a disciplined month end close, effective controls and compliance across all MENA entities. It also supports the Regional Finance Director and the wider business with reliable forecasts, cash flow visibility and analysis, in a fast moving, project based sports and entertainment agency environment.

Key responsibilities:

Financial control and reporting:

• Own the monthly, quarterly and year end close across the MENA entities, ensuring accurate results, appropriate cut off and timely reporting to regional and Group stakeholders.

• Prepare and review management accounts, balance sheet reconciliations, cash flow reports and supporting schedules, with clear commentary on material movements, risks and required actions.

• Maintain the integrity of the general ledger, chart of accounts, master data and intercompany balances, reviewing the work produced by the finance team

• Ensure Group accounting policies and IFRS requirements are applied consistently across all MENA entities, providing guidance on complex or judgemental matters.

• Lead the regional statutory audits and coordinate the timely completion of financial statements and other external reporting.

• Planning and business support

• Work with the Finance Business Partner to resolve accounting issues affecting project reporting, and review the treatment of revenue recognition, contract arrangements and margin. Commercial ownership stays with the business leader and Finance Business Partner.

·       Support assessing the accounting, tax and entity implications of new contracts, bids and cross border activity, working with external advisers where needed.
Treasury and working capital

• Maintain short and medium term cash flow forecasts across the region, and support the Regional Finance Director on funding and liquidity decisions.

• Review accounts receivable, collections, billing and accounts payable, with a strong focus on reducing unbilled revenue and overdue receivables.

• Oversee payments, bank reconciliations, bank mandates and treasury controls, including cross border and intercompany transactions.

Compliance and controls

• Ensure compliance with accounting, tax and regulatory requirements across MENA, managing statutory obligations and coordinating with local advisers so records are complete, submissions accurate and payments on time.

• Maintain and improve controls over purchasing, supplier onboarding, expenses, payroll inputs, payments and balance sheet accounts.

• Identify control gaps and close them in ways that protect the business while allowing commercial activity to move efficiently.

Systems and data

• Own the effective use and ongoing development of NetSuite across the MENA finance function.

• Automate finance processes to reduce manual work, allowing the team to focus on review, analysis and decision support.

• Establish clear documentation for key finance processes, controls and system procedures.

• Team leadership and stakeholder management

• Lead, coach and develop a team of three, setting clear responsibilities, priorities and performance expectations.

• Ensure the team has the knowledge and cross cover to sustain all key finance activities.

• Build a collaborative finance function that supports the business while maintaining appropriate challenge, accountability and control.

• Develop effective relationships across regional leadership, business unit heads, project teams, Group Finance, HR, Operations, banks, auditors and advisers.

Experience and qualifications

• Qualified accountant with a minimum of ten years' relevant finance experience.

• Significant financial controllership experience in a multi entity and multi currency environment in the Middle East, particularly across the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

• Strong knowledge of IFRS, statutory and management reporting, audit, tax compliance, treasury and working capital management.

• Experience in a project based services business is essential. Sports, entertainment, events, sponsorship, marketing, media or agency experience would be highly desirable.

• Practical experience using automation or AI tools to improve finance processes and analysis would be beneficial.

·       Arabic language skills would be advantageous but are not essential.
Capabilities and behaviours

• Hands on and comfortable moving between detailed accounting matters and wider regional business priorities.

• Commercially aware, with the confidence to challenge assumptions and recommend practical solutions.

• Highly organised and able to manage competing priorities and deadlines in a fast moving environment.

• A clear communicator who can translate financial issues into straightforward actions for non finance colleagues.

• High integrity, sound judgement and a strong sense of ownership.

• Resilient, collaborative and comfortable working across different cultures, entities and locations.