Business Development Analyst - Financial Modelling

Gems Education UAE; Dubai; On-site; AED 200,880 - 312,480; Full time

Job summary

Gems Education UAE is seeking a Business Development Analyst specializing in Financial Modelling to support school growth in Dubai. The successful candidate will develop financial models, perform market research, and assist strategic business planning. Responsibilities include conducting feasibility studies and preparing investment materials.

The ideal applicant will have a finance-related degree and considerable post-qualification experience in business analysis and financial modelling, enhancing decision-making across global education markets.

Qualifications

• 5 years of experience in financial modelling and business analysis.
• Strong ability to build and test financial models.
• Experience in international growth projects is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop financial models for new school opportunities.
• Analyse industry trends and competitor benchmarks.
• Prepare investment committee packs for strategic projects.

Skills

Financial modelling

Market research

Feasibility studies

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor degree in finance, business, or economics

ACA, ACCA, CFA, CPA or similar

PMP qualification

Tools

CRM systems

Project management tools

Job description

Job Overview

Business Development Analyst - Financial Modelling in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is an Education Management role focused on supporting global school growth, market expansion, client delivery, and strategic business planning. This opportunity is suited to a finance and business development professional who can combine financial modelling, market intelligence, feasibility studies, CRM pipeline tracking, and executive reporting to support high‑level commercial decision‑making. The role acts as a central support point for business development and client transition activities, helping evaluate new school opportunities, assess market potential, prepare investment materials, and support project planning from lead qualification through onboarding. The successful candidate will work with senior stakeholders, partnerships teams, research teams, and project groups to help identify growth opportunities and strengthen decision‑making across international education markets.

Country: United Arab Emirates; City: Dubai; Salary: 18000-28000; Job Type: Full‑time; Gender: Any; Candidate Nationality: Any.

Responsibilities

• Develop financial models for new school opportunities to assess commercial viability, investment potential, and long‑term operating assumptions.
• Review target financial thresholds, validate key assumptions, and ensure model inputs are supported by reliable business and market data.
• Prepare sensitivity analysis for business development, market entry, business optimisation, and client negotiation scenarios.
• Conduct financial analysis to support commercial decision‑making, proposal development, contract discussions, and expansion planning.
• Support the preparation of Investment Committee packs for GSM contracts, new market entry, and strategic education projects.
• Analyse industry trends, competitor benchmarks, regulatory changes, and market demand indicators to identify growth opportunities.
• Prepare feasibility studies, sales projections, and market recommendations aligned with financial models for new projects.
• Work with research colleagues to consolidate data for new market entry, market penetration, and regional growth planning.
• Identify potential partnerships, stakeholders, strategic alliances, and customer segments that can support business expansion.
• Research and qualify inbound and outbound leads to ensure alignment with target profiles and commercial priorities.
• Track pipeline progress through CRM systems, monitor lead stages, identify bottlenecks, and report against established KPIs.
• Support proposal and bid coordination by preparing presentations, client materials, marketing inputs, and supporting documentation.
• Generate regular reports on growth activity, pipeline health, new opportunities, and performance updates for management teams.
• Assist with client and project due diligence by organising documents, maintaining records, and tracking outcomes.
• Develop and maintain project management tools for client onboarding, pre‑operational set‑up, and lead‑to‑client transition activity.
• Participate in project working groups and coordinate with internal teams to support smooth client delivery and implementation planning.

Required Skills and Experience

• Bachelor degree in finance, business, economics, or a closely related field.
• ACA, ACCA, CFA, CPA, or similar professional qualification is required.
• PMP qualification is an advantage.
• 5 years of post‑qualification experience in financial modelling, reporting, and business analysis.
• Experience in education, public‑private partnerships, real estate development, impact sectors, or international growth projects is preferred.
• Strong experience in market research, competitor analysis, feasibility studies, and business strategy recommendations.
• Ability to build financial models, test assumptions, prepare forecasts, and translate analysis into clear business recommendations.
• Experience creating project management tools, including bespoke Gantt charts and structured implementation trackers.
• Strong understanding of CRM pipeline management, lead qualification, executive reporting, and commercial performance tracking.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to build executive‑level relationships and influence senior decision‑makers.
• Strong communication, presentation, negotiation, and report writing skills.
• Detail‑focused, organised, proactive, and comfortable supporting multiple projects across international markets.
• Commitment to safeguarding and professional conduct, with ability to provide a UK‑enhanced DBS or equivalent police clearance if required.