Finance Compliance Lead - ME (Statutory Audit Governance, Financial Reporting/Compliance, SOX & Internal controls)

Role Overview

Finance Compliance Lead – Middle East at NOV. This is a deputy leadership role within the regional Finance Compliance function, offering broad exposure across statutory audit governance, financial reporting compliance, SOX and internal controls, tax and transfer pricing governance, and regulatory compliance across multiple jurisdictions.

Role Purpose

Lead and develop a high-performing compliance team across the Middle East, drive process improvements, support strategic finance initiatives, and provide escalation oversight for audit, compliance, control and reporting issues. The role is designed to develop into a broader regional leadership position over time.

Key Responsibilities

Deputy Leadership & Team Management

• Support the Finance Compliance Manager in managing the regional Finance Compliance Team across multiple Middle East jurisdictions.
• Provide leadership to Finance Compliance supervisors and team members, ensuring clear ownership, accountability and timely delivery of compliance activities.
• Act as escalation point for audit, compliance, control and reporting issues, resolving matters in a timely and professional manner.
• Support succession planning, talent development, workload allocation and performance management across the team.

Statutory Audit & Financial Reporting Compliance

• Lead the planning, coordination and monitoring of statutory audits across Middle East jurisdictions.
• Ensure audit processes, templates, timetables and deliverables are standardised and consistently applied across the region.
• Review audit status, identify delays or risks and escalate significant matters to regional finance leadership.
• Support the preparation and review of statutory financial statements and related disclosures in accordance with IFRS, local regulations and NOV policies.
• Coordinate effectively with local finance teams, external auditors, group auditors and corporate stakeholders.

SOX, Internal Controls & Governance

• Provide oversight of the regional SOX and internal controls programme, supporting completion of quarterly reviews, remediation tracking and regional consolidation activities.
• Review control deficiencies, monitor remediation actions and support improvements to the control environment.
• Work closely with control owners, Internal Audit and Corporate Finance to ensure compliance with NOV internal control requirements.
• Drive consistency and discipline in documentation, evidence retention and governance reporting.

Tax Compliance & Transfer Pricing Governance

• Coordinate with regional Tax teams and external advisors on corporate tax compliance, transfer pricing documentation, tax filings and related statutory requirements.
• Support review of tax compliance deliverables, withholding tax matters, tax reconciliations and tax authority requests where applicable.
• Monitor progress of transfer pricing documentation, local files and advisor deliverables, ensuring timely completion and appropriate escalation of risks.

Technical Accounting & Accounting Change Projects

• Provide technical accounting support on complex reporting matters, including IFRS, US GAAP to IFRS adjustments, accounting judgements and disclosure requirements.
• Support implementation of new accounting standards and finance compliance change programmes, including IFRS 18 readiness and implementation activities.
• Prepare or review technical accounting assessments, accounting position papers and management reporting materials as required.
• Promote knowledge sharing and consistent technical interpretation across the Middle East finance teams.

Process Improvement, Automation & Standardisation

• Identify opportunities to improve, simplify and automate compliance processes, trackers, audit packs and reporting templates.
• Develop regional dashboards and status reporting to improve visibility over audit, tax, SOX and regulatory compliance activities.
• Drive continuous improvement and operational excellence across the Finance Compliance function.
• Promote a culture of ownership, collaboration, professionalism and high standards of delivery.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor degree minimum in finance, accounting or similar discipline.
• Qualified Chartered Accountant or equivalent professional qualification: CA, ACA, ACCA, CPA or equivalent.
• Tax specialist qualification, internal controls, governance, risk management or project management qualification.
• Minimum 8–10 years relevant experience in audit, financial reporting, finance compliance, controllership or tax compliance.
• Big 4 audit experience at Manager or Senior Manager level strongly preferred.
• Industry experience within a multinational organisation.
• Experience managing statutory audits, financial compliance, SOX and internal controls, tax compliance or transfer pricing coordination.
• Demonstrated people management and team leadership experience.
• Middle East regional experience.
• Oil and gas, manufacturing, industrial or engineering services experience.
• Experience supporting restructuring, legal entity rationalization, IFRS implementation or ERP/finance transformation projects.
• Strong IFRS knowledge.
• Good understanding of US GAAP reporting environment and SOX and internal controls.
• Strong audit management and financial compliance experience.

Skills & Competencies

• Professional, self-motivated, resilient and able to manage multiple priorities.
• Strong leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Oracle Cloud ERP experience desirable.
• Power BI, automation or reporting dashboard experience desirable.
• Arabic language skills desirable but not essential.