Director of Finance

Company Overview

SQUATWOLF is a dynamic gymwear brand founded in Dubai, renowned for its performance-focused apparel designed for athletes worldwide. With a strong following in the Middle East and a growing presence in international markets, the brand is dedicated to becoming the leading gymwear label globally. As SQUATWOLF expands through omni-channel retail and broader international outreach, it seeks a Director of Finance to guide its financial strategy and operations.

Role Summary

The Director of Finance will serve as the Chief Financial Officer of the organization, responsible for steering the company's financial strategy, planning, control functions, and supplier negotiations. This senior leadership position plays a critical role in establishing financial stability and enabling sustainable growth during a key developmental phase.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct comprehensive financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting activities across the company.
• Collaborate closely with founders and executives to influence strategic choices based on financial data analytics.
• Create and maintain financial models that support growth projections and business initiatives.
• Formulate strategies to optimize profitability, pricing, and margins across sales channels.
• Manage monthly closing procedures ensuring precise reporting of profit and loss, balance sheets, and cash flow statements.
• Supervise cash management, working capital optimization, and treasury operations.
• Develop and enforce internal financial controls, scalable processes, and standard reporting frameworks.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable financial regulations, tax policies, and audit requirements.
• Lead negotiations with partners and suppliers focusing on improving payment terms and cash flow cycles.
• Partner with sourcing and merchandising teams to secure advantageous commercial agreements with manufacturers and vendors.
• Implement monitoring tools and dashboards for supplier liabilities and financial exposure.
• Coordinate with planning, logistics, and merchandising to balance inventory with sales forecasts and cash flow targets.
• Enhance Open-to-Buy (OTB) strategies to minimize overstock risks and improve inventory turnover.
• Provide financial guidance on seasonal purchases, new product launches, and collection rollouts.
• Recruit, build, and lead a high-caliber finance team spanning FP&A, controlling, and planning functions.
• Work cross-functionally to embed financial discipline throughout all departments including operations, sourcing, and marketing.
• Deliver regular performance updates and financial reports to the board and investors.

Candidate Profile

• Possess 8 to 12 years of experience in finance, with a minimum of 3 to 5 years in senior roles overseeing FP&A, controlling, and planning functions.
• Experience within the fashion, apparel, or inventory-driven sectors is essential.
• Demonstrated success in managing cash conversion cycles, conducting supplier payment negotiations, and handling complex vendor relationships.
• Strong analytical skills with in-depth knowledge of unit economics, profitability drivers, and forecasting in fast-paced growth environments.
• Excellent leadership abilities, communication skills, and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Comfortable working in a rapid-growth, founder-led company culture that values agility, accountability, and sound judgment.
• Professional accounting qualifications such as CA, ACCA, or CPA are preferred.