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Airwallex is an AI-native financial operating system serving over 675,000 businesses globally, including McLaren Racing, Qantas, SHEIN, and TikTok. The company operates as the regulated backbone for global payments across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, with 2,300+ employees across 27 offices.
As Finance Manager for the UAE entity, you will take full ownership of finance operations and serve as Airwallex's primary contact with the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE). This is a foundational role where you'll build the UAE operating model and reporting cadence from the ground up, working closely with Compliance, Treasury, Tax, FP&A, and local management.
Key responsibilities include:
- Act as the designated finance contact with the CBUAE for all financial and prudential reporting, regulatory returns, ad hoc information requests, and supervisory meetings
- Own preparation, review, and submission of CBUAE regulatory returns in collaboration with Compliance
- Monitor and report on regulatory capital, liquidity, and safeguarding of client funds, flagging risks early
- Own the monthly close and financial control procedures for the UAE entity, including journal entries, balance sheet reconciliations, and P&L reviews
- Prepare financial performance, capital, and cash commentary for local board packs and management reporting
- Lead the annual statutory audit under IFRS and liaise with external auditors and advisors
- Oversee UAE Corporate Tax and VAT compliance with the Tax team and external advisors
- Support new product launches by ensuring correct reflection in reporting structure and regulatory submissions
- Drive process improvement and automation across UAE finance and collaborate on department-wide projects
This role requires regulatory approval from the CBUAE and candidates must meet Fit and Proper criteria, including a clean regulatory and criminal record, financial soundness, UAE residency, and ability to dedicate meaningful on-the-ground presence.
QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:
- Professional finance or accounting qualification: CPA, ACCA, CA, CFA, or equivalent
- 8+ years of finance experience, including senior-level experience in a finance function, ideally within financial services, payments, or another regulated environment; Big Four experience is advantageous
- Strong working knowledge of IFRS, regulatory capital requirements, and prudential reporting obligations for payment service providers in the UAE
- Direct experience engaging with a financial regulator, ideally the CBUAE
- Experience in a financial controlling role with a track record of building and expanding finance capabilities in a growing organization
- Clear, confident communication with stakeholders at every level, including regulators, auditors, and boards
- Comfort working independently and navigating ambiguity in a hyper-growth environment
- Must hold a clean regulatory and criminal record with no past disciplinary action, dismissal for cause, or adverse findings by any financial regulator
- No history of fraud, dishonesty, or material misrepresentation
- Financial soundness: not an undischarged bankrupt, not subject to insolvency proceedings, no outstanding unsatisfied judgments
- UAE residency required with ability to dedicate sufficient time and maintain meaningful on-the-ground presence
- Must disclose any other directorships or roles for CBUAE bandwidth confirmation
