Controller, Finance (Opex)

Job Purpose

Lead the planning, analysis, reporting, and budgeting activities for operating expenditure (OPEX) at ADNOC Distribution. The role is responsible for ensuring reports are accurate and delivered on time, coordinating closely with business divisions to secure reliable forecasts and projections, and maintaining compliance with internal policies, procedures, audit expectations, and international reporting standards.

Key Accountabilities

• Build strong working relationships across the business to support a disciplined forecasting and planning cycle, improve transparency on targets, and review budget-versus-actual performance, flux trends, total OPEX, and headcount while guiding actions to manage risks and opportunities.
• Promote alignment and ownership across functions for OPEX planning, and act as a trusted advisor to leadership so that budget and investment decisions are linked to both immediate priorities and longer-term business strategy.
• Prepare and oversee variance analysis across multiple periods, such as the business plan, year-to-date results, the prior rolling estimate, and prior-year actuals, then work with business teams to define corrective actions during the rolling estimate process.
• Own the OPEX planning, budgeting, forecasting, compliance, and system-standardization activities across functions in line with the wider finance strategy.
• Drive efficiency and optimization initiatives that support ROI- and KPI-based decisions on resource allocation.
• Provide OPEX management support to strengthen P&L control and financial discipline.
• Develop center-of-excellence capabilities for OPEX financial systems and processes to improve the business partner experience and shift focus toward value creation.
• Advise the business on OPEX policies and processes to ensure full adherence to financial controls and requirements.
• Review year-to-date and latest monthly performance data from finance systems to confirm accounting accuracy and correct financial reporting for the function.
• Identify, evaluate, and track financial risks, opportunities, and open items raised in prior rolling estimates, operating meetings, and similar forums, then assess their impact on current outlooks and targets.
• Explain rolling estimate outcomes and recommended scenarios to senior management, including the implications, risks, trends, and opportunities, and work toward agreement on forecast numbers.
• Conduct balance sheet reviews to confirm that records are accurate and compliant before distribution.
• Analyse business unit performance to identify financial or budget-related concerns and recommend practical corrective measures.
• Review financial policies and procedures and suggest improvements where needed.
• Prepare management reports, analysis, special studies, and project work as assigned.

Relationship Management

• Maintain productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including service providers and government bodies, while upholding strong business ethics and ensuring critical issues are addressed quickly so organizational needs are met effectively.
• Coordinate with internal and external auditors to support a smooth, efficient, and transparent audit process for the assigned segment.

Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, management, or a related field.
• Minimum 10 years of experience, including at least 4 years in supervisory finance roles.
• Strong background in professional accounting and financial analysis/reporting.
• Working knowledge of reputable finance and accounting systems.
• Solid understanding of financial planning and budgeting.
• Specialization in accounting and finance.
• Proven analytical ability.
• Strong internal and external stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with senior stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Fluent business English.