Finance Manager Middle East at DWF LLP (2026-05 – Present)
- Serve as the Finance Business Partner to Partners and senior stakeholders across the Middle East, providing commercial insight, financial challenge and strategic support to drive business performance.
- Lead working capital management across the UAE and Qatar, improving cash flow, reducing lock-up and driving accountability for billing and collections performance.
- Oversee the end-to-end revenue cycle, collaborating with Partners, fee earners, clients and UK Finance teams to maximise revenue recovery and accelerate cash conversion.
- Build and maintain relationships with clients, Partners and senior stakeholders, providing financial guidance, resolving complex commercial issues and influencing successful financial outcomes.
- Act as the primary finance adviser and escalation point for the region, supporting commercial decision-making and resolving complex financial matters.
- Deliver monthly financial and operational reporting, analysing revenue, profitability, WIP, debtors and cash flow to support business planning and performance management.
- Conduct P&L, budget and forecast reviews with senior stakeholders, providing financial insight, challenge and recommendations to improve profitability and operational performance.
- Chair WIP, debtor and working capital review meetings, identifying risks, challenging aged balances and driving timely billing and collection actions.
- Oversee client onboarding, matter set-up, intercompany arrangements, pricing structures and rate implementation, ensuring robust financial governance, compliance and commercial effectiveness.
- Manage regional banking, payment allocations, reconciliations and cash management activities across multiple jurisdictions.
- Lead finance process improvement initiatives, implementing controls and best practices to enhance efficiency, financial governance and service delivery across the region.
- Provide leadership and guidance to UK Billing and Finance teams supporting the Middle East business, fostering a proactive and commercially focused approach.
Working Capital Lead at DWF LLP (2024-01 – 2026-04)
- Partnered with Partners, Client Relationship Partners, fee earners and senior stakeholders to improve working capital performance, enhance cash flow and strengthen financial discipline.
- Led billing, WIP and collections improvement initiatives, optimising the revenue cycle and accelerating cash conversion across the division.
- Initiated and led data-driven working capital projects to reduce aged WIP, improve lock-up performance and recover unbilled disbursements, delivering enhanced financial governance and supporting improved cash generation.
- Provided strategic insight and performance reporting on WIP, billing, collections and aged debt, supporting informed decision-making and alignment with business objectives.
- Resolved complex at-risk WIP and aged debt matters, including rate reviews, billing disputes and write-off recommendations, improving recoverability and reducing financial exposure.
- Collaborated closely with Finance Business Partners and operational teams to identify risks, strengthen controls and improve financial outcomes across the division.
- Supported the development and implementation of working capital strategies, financial controls and process improvements across key client portfolios.
- Built trusted relationships with Directors, Partners, CRPs and operational teams, acting as a key point of contact for both strategic and operational finance matters.
- Worked closely with global stakeholders across multiple jurisdictions and time zones to ensure consistency in reporting, governance and financial processes.
- Recognised for strong performance and contribution to working capital, revenue recovery and financial improvement initiatives.
Invoice Improvement Lead at DWF LLP (2021-02 – 2024-01)
- Led invoice process improvement initiatives, enhancing billing accuracy, operational efficiency and revenue realisation across key client accounts.
- Supported the financial onboarding of new clients, establishing billing structures, rate configurations and invoicing protocols aligned to client and business requirements.
- Acted as a subject matter expert for invoicing processes, identifying inefficiencies and implementing sustainable process improvements to strengthen financial controls.
- Conducted root cause analysis on billing issues, driving continuous improvement and reducing recurring process failures.
- Managed WIP and disbursement reporting for commercial and insurance clients, supporting month-end revenue delivery, billing performance and financial governance.
- Delivered training, support and guidance to Finance teams on invoicing procedures, promoting consistency, best practice and process compliance.
- Collaborated with Finance, Operations, fee earners and business stakeholders to improve billing processes and support wider transformation initiatives.
- Contributed to the development of a continuous improvement culture, enhancing financial processes, controls and service delivery across the function.
- Recognised for outstanding performance and contribution to finance transformation, process improvement and operational excellence initiatives.
Service Desk Analyst at Dentsu Aegis Network (2020-01 – 2021-12)
Billing Account Manager at Vodafone Limited (2017-01 – 2020-12)
Service Desk Analyst at Vodafone Limited (2014-01 – 2017-12)
Recruitment Screening Executive at Reed Global Screening (2018-01 – 2019-12)
Billing & Technical Specialist at SKY TV (2013-01 – 2014-12)
Cell / Team Leader at S&A Foods (2009-01 – 2013-12)
Business Operations & Development Manager at Khara Apparel Industries (2006-01 – 2009-12)
Business Development Executive at Attieh Steel Manufacturing (2006-01 – 2006-12)
Proprietor / Managing Director at Xpress Packages (2002-01 – 2005-12)
Team Leader at Abbey National Bank (1999-01 – 2002-12)
