Senior Financial Analyst

Aldar Education LLC; Abu Dhabi; Presencial; AED 360.000 - 480.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

Aldar Education is seeking a Senior Financial Analyst in Abu Dhabi to support financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and business performance management across its education portfolio. The role requires strong FP&A skills, advanced Excel and financial modelling capabilities, and collaboration with multiple business units.

The candidate will help develop 5-10 year financial plans, support capital investment decisions, and drive automation to improve reporting efficiency.

Formación

• Bachelor's degree in Business or Finance is required.
• Master's degree in Finance or MBA is preferred.
• Qualified accountant with CA/CPA/ACCA/CMA credentials.

Responsabilidades

• Lead FP&A activities including budgeting, forecasting and reporting.
• Develop long-term financial plans and 5-10 year models.
• Collaborate with multiple departments to align financial plans with strategy.
• Automate reporting processes using Excel functions and BI tools.

Conocimientos

Financial analysis

Budgeting

Forecasting

Financial modelling

ERP

Excel advanced

BI tools

Arabic language

Educación

Bachelor's degree in Business or Finance

Master's degree in Finance or MBA in Finance

CA/CPA/ACCA/CMA

Herramientas

Excel

ERP systems

BI platforms

VBA

Descripción del empleo

Senior Financial Analyst Job Snapshot - Role: Senior Financial Analyst - Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Industry: Education Management - Function: Financial Analysis-Research-Reporting - Experience: 3-7 years of relevant Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) experience - Job Type: Full Time - Work Arrangement: On-site Position Overview Aldar Education is seeking an experienced and analytical Senior Financial Analyst to support financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and business performance management across its education portfolio in Abu Dhabi. This opportunity is suited to a finance professional with strong financial modelling capabilities, advanced analytical skills, and experience in Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A). The successful candidate will contribute to short-term and long-term financial planning, develop financial models, support capital investment decisions, and provide accurate financial analysis to inform management decisions. The role involves working with multiple business units and departments to ensure financial plans, budgets, and forecasts remain aligned with organisational objectives. A key aspect of the position is identifying opportunities to improve financial reporting and planning efficiency through automation, artificial intelligence, advanced Excel functions, and business intelligence tools. Working within Aldar Education 's finance function, the Senior Financial Analyst will support effective financial management, performance monitoring, and strategic business planning across the organisation 's growing network of schools.

Job Details

• Country: United Arab Emirates
• City: Abu Dhabi
• Industry: Education Management
• Function: Financial Analysis-Research-Reporting
• Salary: Not disclosed
• Gender: No Preference
• Candidate Nationality: Not specified
• Job Type: Full Time
• Work Arrangement: On-site

Key Responsibilities

• Financial Planning and Business Strategy – Contribute to the preparation of monthly, quarterly, annual, and long-term business plans, ensuring alignment with Aldar Education's strategic and financial objectives.
• Support the development of financial plans covering a 5-10 year planning horizon.
• Work collaboratively with finance colleagues and business stakeholders to consolidate financial information and planning assumptions.
• Analyse financial projections and operational requirements to support management decision-making.
• Ensure business planning information is accurate, timely, and consistent with approved financial objectives.
• Provide analytical input to strategic planning discussions and financial performance reviews.
• Support the end-to-end annual budgeting process across relevant business units and entities.
• Develop and maintain Excel-based budget models to support financial planning and management review.
• Prepare budget presentations and supporting financial information for management discussions.
• Coordinate monthly financial forecasting activities across different entities within the organisation.
• Maintain updated cash flow forecasts to support liquidity planning, monitoring, and financial management.
• Review financial assumptions and incorporate relevant operational information into budget and forecast updates.
• Assist in monitoring financial performance against approved budgets and business objectives.
• Manage budget uploads, validation, and transfers across cost centres and business units.
• Ensure budget administration activities comply with established internal financial policies and procedures.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive financial models covering projected financial statements over a 5-10 year period.
• Use financial models to support business planning, investment evaluation, and strategic decision-making.
• Prepare scenario analyses to assess alternative business assumptions and potential financial outcomes.
• Maintain the accuracy and reliability of financial models by incorporating updated financial and operational information.
• Support management in understanding the financial implications of different planning and investment scenarios.
• Apply appropriate analytical techniques to evaluate financial performance and support long-term business planning.
• Collaborate with relevant stakeholders in preparing and reviewing the organisation's five-year capital expenditure (Capex) plans.
• Provide financial analysis to support capital investment evaluation and allocation decisions.
• Assess the financial implications of proposed capital expenditure requirements.
• Contribute to investment planning discussions by providing financial projections and analytical information.
• Support capital allocation decisions with a focus on effective resource utilisation and profit optimisation.
• Coordinate with business departments to ensure capital planning information reflects relevant operational requirements and approved planning assumptions.
• Prepare financial reports and analytical information to support business unit performance monitoring.
• Analyse financial and operational data to evaluate progress against established business objectives.
• Develop analytical tools and reporting materials that provide management with clear financial performance information.
• Support the establishment and monitoring of financial benchmarks and performance indicators.
• Identify financial performance trends and provide relevant analysis to support management decisions.
• Prepare financial presentations and supporting reports for management review.
• Ensure financial information is presented clearly, accurately, and in a format suitable for decision-making.
• Work with relevant departments to clarify financial information and improve the consistency of management reporting.
• Coordinate with internal departments to collect financial and operational data required for planning, forecasting, and reporting.
• Review and validate data to maintain accuracy, completeness, and consistency.
• Organise and manage financial datasets to support timely analysis and management reporting.
• Use enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems to access and analyse relevant financial information.
• Utilise business intelligence tools to extract, interpret, and present financial and operational data.
• Support the effective use of financial systems and reporting tools across FP&A activities.
• Maintain appropriate controls when handling financial information and preparing management reports.
• Identify opportunities to automate repetitive tasks within financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and reporting processes.
• Develop and implement automation solutions using artificial intelligence, VBA macros, and advanced Microsoft Excel formulas.
• Improve the efficiency and accuracy of financial models, reports, and planning activities through appropriate automation.
• Review existing FP&A processes to identify opportunities for simplification and improved data management.
• Support the development of more efficient reporting and analytical workflows.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to implement practical improvements in financial planning and reporting procedures.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen the quality, timeliness, and reliability of financial information.

Qualifications and Experience

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor 's degree in Business or Finance.
• Master 's degree in Finance or Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance.
• Qualified accountant with a recognised professional qualification such as CA, CPA, ACCA, or CMA.

Minimum Experience

• Minimum 3-7 years of relevant professional experience in Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A), as specified by the employer.

Job-Specific Knowledge and Skills

Financial and Analytical Skills

• Strong financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis capabilities.
• Ability to develop and maintain financial models for business planning and long-term financial projections.
• Understanding of capital expenditure planning, investment evaluation, and financial performance management.
• Ability to analyse financial and operational information and communicate findings effectively.
• Strong numerical accuracy and attention to detail when preparing financial reports and models.
• Ability to organise and validate financial information from multiple departments and business units.
• Understanding of financial reporting processes and the use of analytical tools to support management decisions.

Technical Skills

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and Outlook 365.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills, including the use of advanced formulas and financial modelling tools.
• Ability to work with ERP systems and business intelligence platforms for financial data analysis and reporting.
• Knowledge of automation approaches using VBA macros, artificial intelligence, and Excel-based solutions relevant to FP&A activities.
• Proficiency in using computers and standard office equipment.

Communication and Professional Skills

• Arabic speaking skills are preferred.
• Excellent organisational abilities and strong attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple responsibilities independently and complete tasks within deadlines.
• Effective multitasking skills and the ability to maintain accuracy under pressure.
• Strong interpersonal skills and confidence when working in a diverse, multicultural environment.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with finance colleagues, business departments, and management.
• A diligent and responsible approach to financial reporting and administrative responsibilities.
• Flexibility to provide additional support beyond normal working hours when required.
• A proactive attitude towards problem-solving, process improvement, and professional development.

What Aldar Education Offers

Aldar Education offers an attractive remuneration package that includes a range of employee benefits. The organisation places particular emphasis on professional development, coaching, and training, providing employees with opportunities to strengthen their professional capabilities and contribute to organisational improvement. Successful candidates will have access to an established network of education and business professionals, with opportunities to collaborate across departments, share expertise, contribute to training initiatives, and develop their skills. The Senior Financial Analyst position offers involvement in financial planning, business performance management, capital expenditure analysis, and financial process improvement across a growing education group.

About Aldar Education

Established in 2007 with an initial community of 250 students, Aldar Education has developed into one of Abu Dhabi's established education providers. The group operates and manages more than 25 premium and super-premium schools and academies, with educational partnerships involving institutions including Rugby School, King 's College Wimbledon, and Cranleigh. Aldar Education serves more than 38,000 students and has a network of approximately 5,000 educators representing over 100 nationalities. Its schools provide a broad range of curricula and learning pathways from nursery through to K12. The organisation is committed to delivering innovative, child-centred education while contributing to the UAE's vision of developing a sustainable, knowledge-based economy. Through its educational programmes and professional teams, Aldar Education aims to support student achievement, strengthen learning communities, and contribute to the development of future generations.

Equal Opportunities and Safeguarding

Equal Opportunities and Safeguarding Aldar Education is an equal opportunity employer committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive working environment. In support of its national development strategy, the organisation encourages applications from UAE Nationals. Aldar Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All employees are expected to share this responsibility and comply with the organisation 's safeguarding requirements. Offers of appointment are subject to satisfactory references and police clearance.

This job description is not exhaustive. Aldar Education reserves the right to amend the responsibilities and requirements of the position in accordance with organisational needs.