Head of Finance & Custody - VARA
You will own financial and regulatory reporting for a VARA-regulated Dubai VASP entity while overseeing the safeguarding of client money and virtual assets. You will build the entity’s finance controls, manage reconciliations and reserve coverage, coordinate audits and regulatory reporting, maintain capital and liquidity workflows, and advise management on client-asset impacts.
Responsibilities
- Own monthly, quarterly, and annual management and financial accounts
- Prepare and submit VARA regulatory reporting packs
- Prepare local-entity forecasts and budgets
- Lead the statutory audit process
- Develop and maintain the finance control environment and risk register
- Monitor and report on safeguarding of client money and virtual assets
- Reconcile client virtual assets and client money daily
- Maintain the reserve asset coverage workbook
- Maintain client money placement timelines and escalate aged exceptions
- Enforce no-rehypothecation controls over custody assets
- Maintain client-asset safeguarding procedures and controls
- Maintain capital, net liquid assets, and insurance workflows
- Own the breach-notification playbook
- Maintain and test the client-asset return element of the wind-down plan
- Oversee third-party safeguarding service providers
- Advise management on client-asset impacts of new products, services, and markets
Requirements
- Qualified Accountant with ACA, CIMA, ACCA, or equivalent qualification
- Significant relevant experience in financial services
- Experience in safeguarding, custody, or client asset and client money control environments
- Working knowledge of VARA’s rulebook architecture or ability to build this knowledge rapidly
- Experience in group reporting focused on financial accounts and external or regulatory reporting
- Knowledge of IFRS and/or US GAAP
- Analytical, problem-solving, and stakeholder communication skills
- Cross-functional project management experience
- Leadership skills across finance, compliance, and risk
- Strong organisation and attention to detail
- Ability to manage multiple regulatory deadlines
- Ability to operate with minimal supervisory oversight
Benefits
- Remote work