Senior Manager, Financial Planning

Urban Ridge Supplies; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A financial services company in the UAE is seeking a seasoned financial planner to manage and prepare group financial reporting, budgets, and forecasts. The ideal candidate should have at least 8 years of relevant experience, including a strong understanding of ERP systems and advanced financial analysis skills. The role involves liaising with stakeholders, ensuring compliance, and optimizing financial performance across the organization.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of experience in financial planning and reporting.
• 3-4 years in a group FP&A role within large multinational companies.
• Strong understanding of internal controls and accounting processes.

Responsibilities

• Manage group financial reporting and budgets.
• Analyze financial performance and optimize results.
• Coordinate regular financial review meetings with stakeholders.

Skills

Financial analysis

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

ERP systems knowledge

Excel proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting/finance

Qualified accountant (CA, ACCA, CIMA)

Tools

Oracle accounting system

Advanced Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Overview

Manage and prepare group financial reporting, forecasts, budgets, business plans, and performance scorecards for internal and external stakeholders. Analyze financial performance and provide commentary, drivers, and opportunities to optimize financial results.

Responsibilities

• Group management reporting for key internal and external stakeholders including functional heads, executive management, Board of Directors, Shareholders, and other key stakeholders.
• Group Financial Forecasts.
• Group budgets and business plans.
• Group performance scorecards.
• Ad-hoc management reporting as required, ensuring timely, accurate, and relevant financial and performance information and compliance with reporting requirements.
• Analyze financial performance and management reports, providing commentary and recommendations to management on opportunities to optimize financial performance.
• Define and implement reporting requirements from investee entities and assets to ensure information is captured for Group reporting in a timely and efficient manner.
• Ensure financial information from the GL team / management accountants is accurate, complete, and aligned with the general ledger.
• Identify and explain significant variances; provide analysis and commentary on performance versus budgets / forecasts.
• Implement changes to reporting and consolidation templates and communicate needs to management accountants.
• Liaise with shareholders on reporting requirements and coordinate regular reviews to ensure alignment on financial and operational performance and risks.
• Coordinate and conduct regular financial / performance review meetings with Functional Heads and the Executive management team to align on performance and key drivers, risks, and opportunities.
• Align with shareholder representatives and executive management on annual performance scorecard metrics.
• Coordinate with functional heads and the Performance management team to ensure internal financial scorecards align with corporate scorecards.
• Update corporate and internal financial scorecards monthly / quarterly and report to management, shareholders, and the Board.
• Lead the annual budget and business planning process in line with Shareholders and C-level guidelines and corporate strategy.
• Oversee the review of draft budgets and presentations with internal stakeholders and shareholder representatives to ensure accuracy, completeness, and alignment; prepare and submit final budgets.
• Prepare and issue the internal budget book to Executive Management / Functional Heads and obtain formal sign-off on all components.
• Coordinate with the GL team to upload approved budgets into the Oracle accounting system for reporting purposes.
• Initiate and oversee quarterly re-forecasting and respond to ad-hoc forecast requests at consolidated and function / unit levels.
• Develop and implement processes to track and manage development cost spend against the approved budget at consolidated and project / investment levels.
• Prepare and issue monthly DEVEX reports and review them with key stakeholders to ensure effective budgetary management and control.
• Oversee preparation of any other ad-hoc reports required by key stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting / finance or related field.
• Qualified accountant (CA, ACCA, CIMA) is an asset.

Experience & Skills

• At least 8 years of experience in financial planning and reporting, with 3-4 years in a group FP&A role within large multi-national companies performing similar responsibilities.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills with a consultative approach in a corporate / multi-functional environment.
• Extensive knowledge of ERP systems and IFRS.
• Strong financial planning and reporting systems / tools proficiency; advanced Excel, Word, PowerPoint.
• Strong understanding of internal controls and accounting processes; knowledge of international auditing standards.
• Attention to detail.