Senior Financial Analyst

The First Group; Dubai; On-site; AED 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading property developer in Dubai is seeking a Senior Financial Analyst to drive financial performance and support strategic initiatives. The role involves financial planning, analysis, and collaboration with senior leadership to enhance decision-making. Ideal candidates will have strong analytical skills, experience in financial modeling, and proficiency in tools like Python and Power BI. This position offers an opportunity to contribute to long-term financial goals in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in financial due diligence, planning, analysis, or corporate finance.
• Experience in real estate development or hospitality industry is highly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conduct financial due diligence and feasibility studies for potential transactions.
• Assist in the annual budgeting process and analyze financial results against forecasts.
• Prepare monthly reports and dashboards for internal stakeholders.

Skills

Analytical Skills

Communication

Problem-Solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance

Professional credentials such as ACA, ACCA, or CFA

Tools

Python

R

Power BI

Excel

Job description

Overview

Headquartered in Dubai, UAE, The First Group is a dynamic, integrated global property developer with a fast-growing portfolio of upscale hotels, residential properties, F&B brands, and real estate asset management services. Since our launch in 2005, we have carved a highly successful niche offering unrivalled property investment opportunities in high-growth markets to clients from more than 70 countries worldwide.

We were among the first developers to identify the tremendous potential in providing private investors the opportunity to purchase hotel guestrooms, suites, and serviced apartments in our collection of upscale properties located in highly popular locations across Dubai. We back up our success with a list of International Property awards along with strategic partnerships with companies such as Wyndham Hotel Group, Millennium Hotels, Emirates Airlines, and Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts.

To successful candidates, we offer a diverse, progressive corporate working environment with clear growth potential, award-winning sales & marketing tools, a state-of-the-art showroom featuring Dubai’s only virtual helicopter tour, and endorsements from international sporting celebrities.

Job Description

The Senior Financial Analyst plays a critical role in the company's financial planning, analysis, and corporate finance functions. This position is pivotal in driving financial performance and supporting strategic initiatives across the organization, with a focus on forecasting, budgeting, financial modelling, and capital allocation. The Senior Financial Analyst will collaborate closely with the CFO, Vice President of Corporate Finance, and FP&A lead to provide actionable insights that enhance decision-making and contribute to the company's long-term financial goals.

This position reports directly to the Vice President of Corporate Finance and works closely with the Group CFO and FP&A lead.

Responsibilities

• Corporate Finance
• Conduct financial due diligence, feasibility studies, and valuation analyses for potential transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, and other investment opportunities.
• Monitor and analyze the company's capital structure, including debt, equity, and liquidity management, to ensure optimal financial stability.
• Assist in the preparation of materials for board meetings, investor presentations, and other strategic communications.
• Develop and maintain complex financial models supporting capital allocation, business planning, scenario analysis, and strategic decision-making.
• Participate in developing long-term financial forecasts and strategic plans aligned with corporate objectives.

• Financial Planning and Analysis
• Assist in the annual budgeting process, including developing financial forecasts and detailed budget plans.
• Analyze financial results against forecasts, providing variance analysis and identifying key performance drivers.
• Offer insights and recommendations on business performance, cost optimization, and growth opportunities to enhance profitability.
• Support divisions and strategic initiatives by providing financial insights ensuring alignment with overall financial goals.

• Performance and Data Analysis
• Monitor and recommend key performance indicators aligned with strategic goals, benchmarking against peers.
• Prepare monthly reports, dashboards, and analyses for internal stakeholders, ensuring clarity and actionable insights.
• Develop and execute Python/R scripts for predictive analytics, statistical forecasting, Monte Carlo simulations, and decision trees; seamlessly integrate outputs into Excel, PowerBI, and Dynamics365 dashboards.

Desired Skills & Expertise

Skills & Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a quantitative field. Professional credentials such as ACA, ACCA, or CFA are preferred.
• 3+ years of experience in financial due diligence, planning, analysis, corporate finance, or analytics, especially in forecasting or valuation modeling for commercial decision-making.
• Experience in real estate development or hospitality industry is highly preferred.
• Strong analytical skills with expertise in financial modeling, forecasting, and budgeting.
• Familiarity with IFRS standards is advantageous but not mandatory.
• Advanced Excel skills (including Power Query) and practical experience automating models with Python/R; ability to connect analytics outputs into PowerBI and D365 data sources.
• Proficiency in PowerPoint and data visualization tools such as Power BI.
• Hands-on coding experience in Python or R for predictive analytics, including regression, time-series, Monte Carlo, and tree-based models, with ability to embed results into Excel (e.g., Python-in-Excel).
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, capable of translating complex data into actionable insights.
• High attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Strategic, proactive problem-solver with a results-oriented approach.
• Ability to perform under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Innovative, forward-thinking, with a focus on continuous improvement and efficiency.