Ahmed Abaza
Director of Finance
Dubai
Summary
Hospitality Finance and Operations professional with 23+ years of progressive experience across 4-star and 5-star hotels, resorts, hotel apartments, and pre-opening projects in the UAE and Egypt. Currently serving as Director of Finance for Jood Palace Hotel Dubai and Jood Hotel Apartments, overseeing financial management and supporting the overall business performance of a 360-room 5-star property. Strong experience in financial management, hotel operations, P&L management, budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, cash flow management, cost control, revenue management, profitability improvement, internal controls, audit, compliance, and business planning. Experienced in working closely with General Managers, Executive Committees, department heads, owners, auditors, banks, and other stakeholders to improve financial performance and support business decisions. Hands-on understanding of Rooms Division, Food & Beverage, Revenue Management, Sales & Marketing, Purchasing, Procurement, Inventory, Engineering, Housekeeping, Human Resources, Payroll, and Cost Control. Successfully reduced operating costs by 15% while contributing to 10% revenue growth through cost optimization, process improvement, resource management, and revenue enhancement initiatives. Extensive pre-opening experience, including establishing finance functions, budgets, financial controls, accounting systems, reporting procedures, SOPs, purchasing and inventory controls, and operational finance processes.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
2
2
Languages
Work History
Director of Finance
Jood Palace Hotel Dubai & Jood Hotel Apartments
Dubai
02.2021 - Current
- Lead the Finance function and provide financial and commercial support to the General Manager and Executive Management.
- Manage P&L management, budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, cash flow, cost control, audit, compliance, and financial planning.
- Prepare and monitor annual budgets, forecasts, business plans, financial projections, and departmental targets.
- Review monthly financial performance and analyze actual results against budget, forecast, and prior-year performance.
- Work closely with department heads to identify variances, control expenses, improve productivity, and increase departmental profitability.
- Monitor occupancy, ADR, RevPAR, room revenue, F&B revenue, payroll, food cost, beverage cost, operating expenses, GOP, and departmental profitability.
- Partner with Rooms, F&B, Revenue Management, Sales & Marketing, Purchasing, Procurement, Engineering, Housekeeping, and HR to improve operational and financial performance.
- Lead cash flow management, working capital, bank relationships, payment controls, and treasury activities.
- Strengthen internal controls, financial procedures, approval processes, and risk management to protect company assets.
- Manage external audits and relationships with auditors, banks, owners, government authorities, and other stakeholders.
- Ensure compliance with accounting standards, UAE VAT, corporate tax requirements, company policies, and regulatory requirements.
- Lead and develop the finance team, setting clear objectives and promoting accountability and continuous improvement.
- Juma Al Majid Hospitality | Dubai, UAE
- Pre-Opening Experience: Supported the financial and operational pre-opening of the hotel and hotel apartments.
- Established finance policies, procedures, internal controls, accounting processes, reporting formats, budgets, and financial systems.
- Coordinated purchasing, receiving, inventory, payroll, cost control, and financial procedures with operational departments.
- Supported opening budgets, CAPEX planning, procurement controls, opening stock, staffing requirements, and financial readiness.
- Key Achievements: Reduced operating costs by approximately 15% through improved cost control, process improvement, resource optimization, and expense management.
- Contributed to 10% revenue growth through revenue enhancement initiatives, operational improvements, and stronger financial monitoring.
- Improved financial forecasting and management reporting, supporting better planning and resource allocation.
Financial Controller
Jood Palace Hotel Dubai
Dubai
11.2019 - 01.2021
- Managed financial control and accounting operations for a 5-star hotel.
- Prepared monthly financial statements, management accounts, budgets, forecasts, and financial analysis.
- Monitored hotel revenues, departmental expenses, payroll, purchasing, inventory, and cost of sales.
- Reviewed monthly P&L performance and investigated significant budget variances.
- Worked with department heads to improve cost control and departmental profitability.
- Managed month-end closing, balance sheet reconciliations, cash flow, and financial reporting.
- Strengthened internal controls and financial procedures and supported audit requirements.
- Provided financial analysis and decision support to the General Manager and senior management.
- Juma Al Majid Hospitality | Dubai, UAE
Operations Manager
City Avenue Hotel Dubai
Dubai
09.2018 - 10.2019
- Participated in the pre-opening and operational launch of the hotel.
- Worked with the General Manager and department heads to establish operational procedures and opening plans.
- Coordinated with Rooms Division, F&B, Housekeeping, Engineering, HR, Purchasing, Sales & Marketing, and Finance.
- Supported staffing plans, procurement, opening inventories, budgets, SOPs, and operational requirements.
- Monitored daily hotel operations and departmental performance and supported the transition to stable operations.
Financial Controller
Grand Belle Vue Hotel Dubai
Dubai
08.2013 - 08.2018
- Managed the hotel's financial control and accounting function.
- Prepared financial statements, management reports, budgets, forecasts, and financial analysis.
- Managed P&L reporting, cash flow, cost control, payroll, purchasing, inventory, and departmental expenses.
- Monitored actual performance against budget and forecast and followed up on significant variances.
- Worked closely with operational departments to improve profitability and control operating costs.
- Managed month-end closing, reconciliations, audit requirements, and internal controls.
Assistant Director of Finance
Grand Rotana Resort & Spa
Sharm El Sheikh
08.2011 - 07.2013
- Supported the Director of Finance in managing the finance function of a large 5-star resort.
- Supervised financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, cash management, cost control, and month-end closing.
- Monitored departmental financial performance and operating expenses.
- Worked with hotel operations to improve cost efficiency and achieve budget targets.
- Supervised, trained, and developed finance team members.
Financial Controller
Jaz Belvedere Resort - Travco Group
Sharm El Sheikh
08.2006 - 08.2011
- Managed accounting and financial control activities for a 5-star resort.
- Participated in the pre-opening process and established finance procedures, controls, reporting, and accounting systems.
- Managed budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, cash management, cost control, inventory, and month-end closing.
- Worked closely with hotel operations to monitor financial performance and departmental profitability.
- Progressed from Chief Accountant to Financial Controller through increased responsibilities and performance.
Chief Accountant
Jaz Belvedere Resort - Travco Group
Sharm El Sheikh
08.2004 - 07.2006
- Managed accounting activities, month-end closing, reconciliations, financial reporting, and cost control.
- Supported budgeting, cash management, inventory control, audit, and hotel operational reporting.
Chief Accountant
Iberotel Makadi Oasis & Family Resort - Travco Group
Hurghada
10.2001 - 06.2004
- Managed accounting operations during the pre-opening and operating stages.
- Established accounting procedures, financial controls, reporting processes, and month-end closing procedures.
- Managed reconciliations, financial reporting, cost control, inventory, and cash management.
- Supported budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis for hotel operations.
Cost Controller
Robinson Soma Bay
Egypt
07.2000 - 09.2001
- Managed hotel cost control covering Food & Beverage, inventory, purchasing, receiving, and operating expenses.
- Monitored food cost, beverage cost, stock consumption, wastage, inventory levels, and cost variances.
- Prepared cost analysis and reports for management.
Accounts Payable | Cost Supervisor | Receiving Clerk
Mövenpick Resort El-Quseir
Egypt
12.1997 - 06.2000
- Built hands-on experience in accounts payable, cost control, purchasing and receiving, inventory management, supplier reconciliation, invoice processing, and hotel back-office operations.
Education
Bachelor of Commerce - Finance & Management Department
Cairo University
Skills
- Hospitality Finance Management
- Hotel Operations & Business Performance
- P&L Management
- Financial Planning & Analysis
- Budgeting & Forecasting
- Annual Business Planning
- Financial Reporting
- Cash Flow & Working Capital Management
- Cost Control & Cost Reduction
- Revenue Management & Optimization
- GOP & Profitability Improvement
- Rooms & F&B Performance
- Payroll & Manpower Cost Control
- Procurement & Inventory Control
- Internal Controls
- Financial Risk Management
- Audit & Compliance
- UAE VAT & Corporate Tax
- KPI & Performance Analysis
- Business Process Improvement
- Pre-Opening & Hotel Opening
- SOP Development
- ERP & PMS Systems
- Team Leadership
- Executive & Owner Reporting
- Stakeholder Management
Certification
- Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
- Hospitality Management | Cornell University, Canada
- Financial Management & Advanced Accounting | KHDA, Dubai
Languages
Arabic
English
Selected Career Achievements
- 23+ years of hospitality experience across finance and hotel operations.
- Progressed from Receiving Clerk to Director of Finance, developing broad knowledge of hotel finance and operations.
- Successfully participated in the pre-opening of multiple hotels and resorts.
- Managed financial operations for properties ranging from 157 to 540+ rooms.
- Reduced operating costs by 15% through cost control and process improvement.
- Contributed to 10% revenue growth through revenue optimization and operational improvements.
- Strong experience in P&L management, budgeting, forecasting, GOP analysis, cost control, financial reporting, and business planning.
- Experienced in partnering with General Managers and operational leaders to improve hotel performance.
Technology And Systems
Sun Systems, Opera PMS, Fidelio, FMC, Vision, Microsoft Excel, Advanced Excel Formulas, Pivot Tables, Power BI
Target Positions
- Director of Finance
- Cluster Director of Finance
- Financial Controller
- Cluster Financial Controller
- Group Financial Controller
- Finance Manager
- Director of Finance & Operations
- Hospitality Finance Director
Timeline
Director of Finance
Jood Palace Hotel Dubai & Jood Hotel Apartments
02.2021 - Current
Financial Controller
Jood Palace Hotel Dubai
11.2019 - 01.2021
Operations Manager
City Avenue Hotel Dubai
09.2018 - 10.2019
Financial Controller
Grand Belle Vue Hotel Dubai
08.2013 - 08.2018
Assistant Director of Finance
Grand Rotana Resort & Spa
08.2011 - 07.2013
Financial Controller
Jaz Belvedere Resort - Travco Group
08.2006 - 08.2011
Chief Accountant
Jaz Belvedere Resort - Travco Group
08.2004 - 07.2006
Chief Accountant
Iberotel Makadi Oasis & Family Resort - Travco Group
10.2001 - 06.2004
Cost Controller
Robinson Soma Bay
07.2000 - 09.2001
Accounts Payable | Cost Supervisor | Receiving Clerk
Mövenpick Resort El-Quseir
12.1997 - 06.2000
Bachelor of Commerce - Finance & Management Department
Cairo University