Head of Financial Planning and Analysis - Automotive

AlFuttaim; Dubai; On-site; AED 850,000 - 1,100,000; Full time

Job summary

Al-Futtaim Automotive is seeking a senior finance leader to drive FP&A across its automotive operations in the UAE and international markets. The role focuses on translating strategy into integrated financial plans while delivering insights to senior leadership and guiding investments and resource allocation.

The Head of FP&A will oversee budgeting, forecasting, financial modelling, and executive reporting, while strengthening analytics, planning systems, and digital tools.

Qualifications

• Chartered Accountant qualification.
• CPA qualification.
• CFA qualification.
• ACCA qualification.
• MBA in Finance.

Responsibilities

• Lead budgeting, forecasting and long-range financial planning across Automotive operations.
• Develop integrated financial plans including P&L, balance sheet and cash flow.
• Translate business strategies into measurable financial plans for leadership.
• Prepare executive financial reports and management presentations.
• Strengthen analytics, dashboards and automation in FP&A.

Skills

Financial analysis

Leadership

Budgeting

Forecasting

Executive reporting

Education

Chartered Accountant (CA)

CPA

CFA

ACCA

MBA in Finance

Tools

SAP BPC

Anaplan

Power BI

Oracle EPM

Excel

Job description

Head of Financial Planning and Analysis - Automotive Job Snapshot

Role: Financial Planning and Analysis Leader - Automotive Finance - Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Industry: Automotive - Function: Financial Planning-Advising - Experience: 10-15 years of relevant finance experience, including FP&A or commercial finance leadership - Job Type: Full Time - Work Arrangement: On-site

Job Details - Country: United Arab Emirates - City: Dubai - Industry: Automotive - Function: Financial Planning-Advising - Salary: Not disclosed - Gender: No Preference - Candidate Nationality: Not specified - Job Type: Full Time - Work Arrangement: On-site

Position Overview Al-Futtaim Automotive is seeking an experienced finance leader to drive the Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) agenda across its automotive operations in the UAE and international markets. The role is responsible for translating business strategy into integrated financial plans, delivering meaningful performance insights, and supporting senior leadership decisions relating to growth, profitability, investment, and resource allocation. Working across multiple automotive businesses, the successful candidate will lead budgeting, forecasting, financial modelling, executive reporting, and performance management. The position also carries responsibility for strengthening financial analytics, improving planning systems, and introducing automation and technology-enabled decision-support capabilities. Reporting to the General Manager - Divisional Finance, the role will lead a team of four finance professionals and act as a key business partner to Automotive leadership, business unit finance teams, Group Finance, and Corporate Finance.

Key Responsibilities

• Financial Planning, Budgeting and Forecasting
• Lead the annual budgeting process, periodic financial forecasts, and long-range financial planning across Automotive operations.
• Develop integrated financial plans covering profit and loss, balance sheet, cash flow, working capital, and capital expenditure.
• Establish consistent planning assumptions and forecasting methodologies across business units.
• Partner with finance and operational teams to translate business strategies into measurable financial plans.
• Evaluate business performance against approved budgets, forecasts, and strategic objectives.
• Develop scenario models to assess potential financial outcomes under changing market and operating conditions.
• Identify financial risks, opportunities, and appropriate mitigation actions.
• Strengthen driver-based forecasting to improve planning accuracy and management visibility.

Commercial Finance and Business Partnering

• Work closely with business unit leaders to evaluate commercial performance and financial priorities.
• Challenge assumptions relating to sales volumes, pricing, margins, productivity, operating costs, and investment decisions.
• Provide financial analysis to support pricing strategies, promotional campaigns, customer incentives, and channel decisions.
• Evaluate cost optimisation opportunities and their potential impact on profitability.
• Support capital expenditure prioritisation through financial assessment and business case analysis.
• Translate complex financial information into practical recommendations for business leadership.
• Provide commercially focused financial insights that support sustainable business performance.
• Build effective relationships with senior stakeholders across multiple businesses and markets.

Executive Reporting and Performance Analysis

• Lead the preparation of financial performance reports and executive management presentations.
• Deliver financial and operational performance insights to the Automotive CFO, President, and senior leadership.
• Coordinate business performance reviews and explain key variances against budgets and forecasts.
• Analyse financial results alongside operational performance indicators.
• Highlight emerging business risks, performance gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
• Develop clear recommendations and action points based on financial analysis.
• Ensure executive reporting provides an accurate and consistent view of business performance.
• Support leadership decisions through concise financial communication and evidence-based analysis.

Financial Performance Management

• Standardise key performance indicators, reporting methodologies, and financial benchmarks across Automotive business units.
• Connect financial outcomes with underlying operational drivers.
• Monitor business performance against financial and operational targets.
• Identify areas requiring corrective action and support performance recovery initiatives.
• Track agreed improvement actions and their impact on financial results.
• Promote consistent performance measurement across the Automotive portfolio.
• Strengthen accountability through transparent reporting and meaningful financial analysis.

FP&A Systems, Analytics and Digital Transformation

• Lead the FP&A technology roadmap to improve financial planning, forecasting, and reporting capabilities.
• Enhance enterprise planning models and financial dashboards.
• Identify opportunities to automate recurring financial reporting and analytical activities.
• Support the adoption of business intelligence and AI-enabled decision-support tools.
• Improve the integration of financial information across planning, ERP, and reporting platforms.
• Promote effective use of digital technologies to improve forecasting accuracy and reporting efficiency.
• Work with finance transformation stakeholders to strengthen analytical capabilities.
• Support the development of scalable and reliable financial planning processes.

Financial Governance and Reporting Integrity

• Maintain accurate, reconciled, and consistent financial reporting.
• Ensure financial planning models are supported by transparent assumptions and reliable data.
• Strengthen data quality, financial controls, and model governance.
• Apply appropriate reporting methodologies across business units.
• Maintain consistency between financial forecasts, management reporting, and underlying business information.
• Consider relevant IFRS requirements and their implications for planning and management performance.
• Support financial integrity through disciplined review and validation of reporting information.

Corporate Finance and Investment Support

• Partner with Corporate Finance to align financial planning assumptions relating to liquidity, funding, and working capital.
• Provide operating forecasts and financial performance information for business case evaluations.
• Support financial analysis relating to investment decisions and capital allocation.
• Contribute financial evidence and operating insights to post-investment reviews.
• Evaluate the financial implications of business initiatives and investment proposals.
• Maintain alignment between operational financial planning and broader Group Finance requirements.

FP&A Leadership and Talent Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of four finance professionals.
• Establish clear expectations for financial planning, reporting quality, and business partnering.
• Strengthen commercial finance, analytical, and digital capabilities within the team.
• Encourage collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Support succession planning and professional development.
• Contribute to talent development and Emiratization objectives.
• Promote effective collaboration between FP&A, business unit finance teams, and operational stakeholders.

Qualifications and Professional Credentials

• Chartered Accountant qualification.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
• Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).
• Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
• Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance.

Professional Experience

• 10-15 years of relevant finance experience.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in Financial Planning and Analysis or commercial finance.
• Experience working within a large, complex, multi-business organisation.
• Strong background in budgeting, financial forecasting, and long-range planning.
• Proven experience preparing executive financial reports and management presentations.
• Extensive knowledge of financial modelling, scenario analysis, and performance analytics.
• Experience partnering with senior business leaders and cross-functional teams.
• Working knowledge of IFRS and its implications for financial planning and management reporting.
• Hands‑on ownership of an enterprise planning or consolidation platform.
• Experience in automotive, distribution, retail, or another asset‑and‑working‑capital‑intensive industry would be advantageous.

Financial Systems and Technology Requirements

• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including financial modelling and analytical applications.
• Strong proficiency in enterprise financial planning, ERP, and business intelligence platforms.
• Practical experience managing financial planning or consolidation systems.
• SAP Business Planning and Consolidation (SAP BPC) experience is preferred.
• Experience with Anaplan or Oracle Enterprise Performance Management (Oracle EPM) is also acceptable, using SAP as the source system.
• Exposure to driver-based forecasting and AI‑assisted forecasting approaches.
• Familiarity with Power BI, Microsoft Fabric, or Databricks.
• Ability to improve planning models, reporting dashboards, and financial data processes.
• Understanding of data governance, financial controls, and reporting automation.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Advanced financial modelling, scenario planning, and sensitivity analysis.
• Strong integrated financial planning and driver-based forecasting capabilities.
• Comprehensive understanding of financial statements, working capital, and capital expenditure.
• Excellent commercial judgement and financial analytical skills.
• Ability to interpret complex financial and operational information.
• Strong executive communication, presentation, and financial storytelling abilities.
• Confidence to challenge assumptions constructively and influence senior stakeholders.
• Effective financial business partnering across multiple operating businesses.
• Strong knowledge of KPI frameworks, performance benchmarking, and financial governance.
• Ability to lead process improvement and finance transformation initiatives.
• Strong organisational leadership, coaching, and team development skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities across different business units and markets.
• Collaborative approach with a commitment to accountability and continuous improvement.

Reporting Structure and Business Relationships

The position reports to the General Manager - Divisional Finance and leads a team of four within Automotive Finance. The role supports Al-Futtaim Automotive operations across the UAE and overseas markets.

Key Working Relationships

• Automotive CFO and President.
• Automotive senior leadership and Managing Directors.
• Business unit Finance Heads.
• Financial Planning and Analysis teams.
• Operational management teams.
• Group Finance and Corporate Finance.
• Finance transformation and technology stakeholders.

The position provides an integrated view of financial and operational performance across a complex automotive portfolio, supporting informed decisions at both business unit and divisional levels.

About Al-Futtaim Automotive

Al-Futtaim Automotive is a regional mobility business operating across eight countries in the Middle East, Asia, and North Africa. With a portfolio of more than 25 international brands, the business provides mobility solutions across passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and industrial equipment. Its capabilities include integrated logistics, leasing, automotive aftersales, and financial services, supporting customers throughout the mobility journey. The organisation focuses on innovation, digital transformation, and customer experience while responding to changing mobility requirements. More than 9,000 employees contribute to Al-Futtaim Automotive 's operations, supporting collaboration, business development, and continuous improvement across its markets.

About Al-Futtaim Group

Established in the 1930s, Al-Futtaim is a privately held regional business headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Group operates across more than 20 countries through its automotive, financial services, real estate, retail, and healthcare divisions. With more than 40,000 employees, Al-Futtaim represents over 200 international brands, including Toyota, Lexus, IKEA, ACE, and Marks & Spencer. The Group focuses on digital innovation, artificial intelligence, sustainable growth, and strategic partnerships, with a stated purpose of enriching lives and elevating communities.