Finance Advisor (Football/Sports)

Saudi Aramco; Saudi Arabia; On-site; SAR 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Finance Leader with football operations experience to provide critical financial support to a prestigious sports club. This role involves advising management on best practices, analyzing financial performance, and ensuring operational efficiency. The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in finance, particularly within the sports sector, and demonstrate exceptional analytical and communication skills. Join a dynamic team dedicated to maximizing financial performance and contributing to the success of a renowned football club, while enjoying a rewarding work environment that fosters professional growth and development.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of finance experience in the sports industry, particularly football.
• Strong analytical and communication skills required for stakeholder engagement.

Responsibilities

• Review and monitor financial plans and budgets for the club.
• Generate comprehensive financial reports and provide insights into profitability.
• Implement cost control mechanisms and optimize spending.

Skills

Financial Analysis

Stakeholder Management

Risk Management

Budgeting

Communication Skills

Analytical Skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Finance

Master's Degree in Finance

CPA Certification

CFA Certification

CMA Certification

Job description

Aramco energizes the world economy.

Aramco occupies a unique position in the global energy industry. We are the world's largest producer of hydrocarbons (oil and gas), with the lowest upstream carbon intensity of any major producer. With our significant investment in technology and infrastructure, we strive to maximize the value of the energy we produce for the world along with a commitment to enhance Aramco’s value to society. Headquartered in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and with offices around the world, we combine market discipline with a generations’ spanning view of the future, born of our nine decades experience as responsible stewards of the Kingdom’s vast hydrocarbon resources. This responsibility has driven us to deliver significant societal and economic benefits to not just the Kingdom, but also to a vast number of communities, economies, and countries that rely on the vital and reliable energy that we supply.

We are one of the most profitable companies in the world, as well as amongst the top five global companies by market capitalization.

Job Purpose

The capital owner of Al-Qadsiah FC, Saudi Aramco is seeking a Finance leader with football operations experience to provide essential financial support to the Human Resources & Corporate Services Business Line. This critical role will advise management on football finance best practices, make recommendations for adoption, analyze operating statements and financial positioning, forecast business performance and earnings, and synthesize this information into business advice and recommendations.

Key focus areas include but are not limited to:

1. Financial Development & Execution – collaborate with Al-Qadsiah FC to ensure that the business plan and KPIs are aligned with the strategy and on-track.
2. Capability Building – oversee the implementation of cost management practices to ensure operational efficiency and assess financial risks and support developing mitigation strategies.
3. Engagement & Communications – manage communications and engagement with key stakeholders, primarily the Company’s and Club’s Senior Management; ensure clear and concise financial reporting to support decision-making.

Responsibilities

1. Review and monitor the Club’s financial plans and budgets.
2. Ensure financial risks mitigation strategies are developed.
3. Monitor QCC Performance against SA Established targets/ KPIs.
4. Ensure adherence to SA financial and legal regulations.
5. Benchmark against local and international Sports Clubs for best practices and financial strategy.
6. Evaluate financial models and forecasts to guide strategic decisions.
7. Assess and advise on potential investment avenues to maximize returns.
8. Generate comprehensive financial reports and dynamic presentations.
9. Offer financial advice and guidance to internal stakeholders based on astute analyses and projections.
10. Conduct regular financial performance analysis and provide insights into profitability and cost management, and long-term financial sustainability.
11. Manage cash calls for pre-player trading, events and financial commitments.
12. Understand and manage key financial metrics, including net transfer value and commercial value in Football operations.
13. Implement cost control mechanisms and review cost evolution of the club, including making recommendations on where to optimize or reduce spending.
14. Identify opportunities for process improvements within the Finance team and across the organization to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

Education & Experience Requirements

1. Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field (Master's Degree preferred), certifications such as CPA, CFA, CMA is a plus.
2. At least 10+ years’ progressive Finance experience within Sports industry, mainly Football.
3. A proven successful track record of performing similar roles within large, complex, international Sports organizations and/or Football Clubs; ideally with exposure to the Middle East.
4. Strong analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment.
5. Strong experience in financial risk management, particularly in managing large player transfer budgets and related financial risks.
6. Fluency in English is mandatory for this role, Arabic is a plus.

Working environment

Our high-performing employees are drawn by the challenging and rewarding professional, technical and industrial opportunities we offer, and are remunerated accordingly.

At Aramco, our people work on truly world-scale projects, supported by investment in capital and technology that is second to none. And because, as a global energy company, we are faced with addressing some of the world’s biggest technical, logistical and environmental challenges, we invest heavily in talent development. We have a proud history of educating and training our workforce over many decades. Employees at all levels are encouraged to improve their sector-specific knowledge and competencies through our workforce development programs – one of the largest in the world.