Associate Head of Special Projects (FP&A Business Partner)

Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 335,000 - 670,000; Full time

Job summary

Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) is seeking a senior FP&A professional to partner with Special Projects, lead multi-year planning, and manage quarterly forecasts and variances. The role involves budgeting across Academic and Calendar cycles, and delivering insightful management reporting.

The ideal candidate holds a Bachelor's degree in business/finance, 7–10 years in FP&A, and strong proficiency in ERP and Oracle Fusion/EPM, with experience in higher education or

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting or related field.
• 7-10 years progressive FP&A, budgeting, forecasting or business partnering experience.
• Experience supporting project office or administrative functions in higher education or matrix organizations.
• Advanced financial modelling and multi-year budgeting expertise.
• Advanced proficiency in ERP, Oracle Fusion/EPM and data analytics tools.
• Strong stakeholder management and senior-level presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Own the FP&A relationship with Special Projects leadership end-to-end as a strategic business partner.
• Lead multi-year planning, pro formas and scenario models for Special Projects priorities.
• Lead annual and multi-year OPEX and CAPEX budgeting across Academic Year and Calendar Year cycles.
• Own quarterly and rolling forecasts and flag variances early.
• Prepare budget vs. actual, variance analyses, KPI dashboards and management reporting.
• Present vertical financials to stakeholders after month-end close with recommendations.

Skills

FP&A partnership

Budgeting

Forecasting

Multi-year modelling

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting or related field

Tools

Oracle Fusion/EPM

ERP

Data analytics tools

Job description

Responsibilities

• Own the FP&A relationship with Special Projects leadership end-to-end as a strategic business partner
• Lead multi-year planning, pro formas and scenario models for Special Projects priorities
• Lead annual and multi-year OPEX and CAPEX budgeting across Academic Year and Calendar Year cycles
• Own quarterly and rolling forecasts and flag variances early
• Prepare budget vs. actual, variance analyses, KPI dashboards and management reporting
• Present vertical financials to stakeholders after month-end close with recommendations

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting or related field
• 7-10 years progressive FP&A, budgeting, forecasting or business partnering experience
• Experience supporting project office or administrative functions in higher education or matrix organizations
• Advanced financial modelling and multi-year budgeting expertise
• Advanced proficiency in ERP, Oracle Fusion/EPM and data analytics tools
• Strong stakeholder management and senior-level presentation skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualification such as MBA, CPA, ACCA or CFA
• UAE higher education or academic environment experience
• Knowledge of UAE financial policies and procedures
• ERP implementation experience
• Experience applying AI, automation or advanced analytics in FP&A

About the Company

MBZUAI is a graduate-level research university in Abu Dhabi focused on artificial intelligence.