Chief Financial Officer - Iraq

Key Responsibilities Financial Strategy & Leadership • Develop and execute the company’s financial strategy in alignment with overall business objectives. • Provide strategic financial guidance to the GM/CEO and senior management. • Establish financial objectives, policies, procedures, and internal controls. • Lead the Finance function and ensure effective organizational structure and talent development. • Support long-term business planning and strategic decision-making. Financial Planning & Performance Management • Lead the annual budgeting and business planning process. • Develop and monitor financial forecasts and rolling forecasts. • Analyze actual performance against budget, forecast, and prior-year results. • Provide management with clear financial insights, business performance analysis, and recommendations. • Establish and monitor financial KPIs across the organization. • Identify financial risks, opportunities, and areas for performance improvement. Commercial Finance • Partner closely with Sales, Marketing, and Supply Chain teams to drive profitable growth. • Evaluate pricing strategies, promotions, discounts, and trade spending. • Monitor customer and channel profitability. • Analyze product, brand, category, and channel profitability. • Support commercial teams in evaluating new customers, products, markets, and business opportunities. • Provide financial analysis for promotional campaigns and assess their return on investment. • Monitor Gross-to-Net sales and ensure appropriate control over commercial deductions. • Challenge commercial assumptions and ensure decisions are supported by sound financial analysis. Working Capital & Cash Flow Management • Lead working capital optimization across the business. • Monitor cash flow, liquidity, receivables, payables, and inventory levels. • Improve cash conversion cycle and optimize cash utilization. • Establish appropriate credit control policies and customer credit limits. • Monitor overdue receivables and ensure effective collection processes. • Work closely with Supply Chain and Procurement to optimize inventory and payment terms. Inventory & Supply Chain Finance • Monitor inventory valuation, stock levels, and slow-moving and obsolete inventory. • Partner with Supply Chain to improve inventory turnover and reduce working capital requirements. • Analyze supply chain costs, logistics costs, and procurement savings. • Ensure accurate product costing and margin analysis. • Support decisions related to sourcing, distribution, warehousing, and logistics. Financial Reporting & Compliance • Ensure accurate and timely monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reporting. • Oversee financial statements and management reporting. • Ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards, tax regulations, and local laws. • Manage relationships with external auditors, tax advisors, banks, and other financial institutions. • Ensure effective financial controls and appropriate governance across the organization. Cost Management & Profitability • Develop and implement cost-control initiatives without compromising business growth. • Monitor operating expenses and identify cost optimization opportunities. • Analyze gross margin, contribution margin, EBITDA, and overall profitability. • Drive financial discipline across departments. • Ensure business decisions consider both revenue growth and profitability. Risk Management & Internal Controls • Identify and manage financial and business risks. • Maintain a strong internal control environment. • Ensure appropriate segregation of duties and financial authorization processes. • Establish risk mitigation plans and monitor their effectiveness. • Ensure compliance with company policies and corporate governance requirements. Business Partnership & Decision Support • Act as a strategic partner to the CEO, Country Manager, and senior leadership team. • Provide financial modeling and scenario analysis for major business decisions. • Evaluate investments, capital expenditure, new business opportunities, and strategic initiatives. • Translate financial data into clear business insights and actionable recommendations. • Support organizational transformation and business growth initiatives. Qualifications • Fluent in English and Arabic. • Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field. • Professional qualification such as CPA, ACCA, CMA, or equivalent is highly preferred. • 15+ years of progressive experience in Finance and Accounting, with significant senior leadership experience. • Proven experience as a Finance Director, CFO, Financial Controller, or in a similar senior finance leadership position. • Strong experience in the Consumer Goods industry is highly preferred. • Strong commercial finance and business partnering experience. • Proven experience in budgeting, forecasting, financial planning, and performance management. • Strong knowledge of working capital, inventory, cash flow, and profitability management. • Experience managing and developing finance teams. • Strong knowledge of financial reporting, taxation, internal controls, and corporate governance. • Experience working with ERP systems and financial reporting tools. • Strong analytical, strategic, and decision-making skills. • Excellent communication, negotiation, and leadership skills.