Application Open:
Full-Time
Job Purpose:
The Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) Analyst supports the Business Partners for Academic Division and Academic Services, under the Assistant Director of FP&A. This role conducts regular financial analysis and reporting, assists in developing multi-year budget plans, and supports the day-to-day academic operations. The role will utilize data-driven insights to enhance financial governance and support the evolving needs of the Academic Division and Services. This role requires a thorough understanding of financial policies and procedures, effective communication skills and strong organizational abilities. The ideal candidate will possess strong organizational skills, attention to detail, a proactive approach to problem-solving, with an innovative and continuous improvement mindset.
Key Responsibilities:
Budget & Fiscal Affairs:
- Assist in managing the multi-year financial budget plan for the Academic Divisions and Academic Services, including manpower, operational (OPEX), and capital (CAPEX).
- Supports the preparation and maintenance of financial models to assist Business Partners and stakeholders in planning and decision-making.
- Prepares and updates quarterly forecasts for Academic Divisions and Services, tracking actual spend against budget, identifying variances, and escalating any emerging risks to the Business Partner with supporting analysis.
- Collaborate with departments to accurately reflect budgetary needs and priorities in planning.
- Support the end-to-end budgeting cycle across Academic Divisions and Services including consolidation of budgets, variance analysis, forecasting, and reporting to ensure alignment with strategic objectives.
- Support the review of budgetary processes and provide input to improve alignment with institutional goals.
- Identify requirements for AI-enabled processes to enhance financial planning and reporting accuracy.
Budget Management & Reporting:
- Support the implementation and adherence to financial reporting standards to ensure compliance with institutional policies and best practices.
- Maintain financial data accuracy, integrity, and timeliness in line with established data management practices.
- Conduct regular analysis of financial metrics and provide insights to support decision-making and continuous improvement.
- Collaborate with departmental stakeholders to align reporting practices and enhance
- Support the annual budget processes, working collaboratively with departments to prepare budget submissions.
- Assist in the annual revision of departmental budgets to ensure alignment with the approved budget and proper funding of core services.
- Supports the day-to-day fiscal management of departmental budgets, ensuring resources align with immediate priorities.
- Ensure the accuracy of financial reports submitted to the Assistant Director of FP&A, highlighting key trends and insights.
- Prepare and deliver budget reports for Academic Divisions, Academic Services, and Finance ensuring all submissions are timely and accurate.
- Engage in ongoing professional development to stay current with financial management best practices.
- Share knowledge and expertise with team members to foster a collaborative work environment.
Other Duties
- Carry out all other duties as reasonably directed by the line manager that are commensurate with these functional objectives.
Academic Qualifications:
- A bachelor’s degree in business administration, Finance, Accounting or a related field.
- A postgraduate degree will be preferred.
Professional Experience:
Essential
- Minimum of 3-5 years of experience, preferably in financial planning and analysis within higher education or comparable sector.
- Experience in developing and managing comprehensive budgets within complex institutions.
- Strong analytical abilities with the capacity to present complex financial data clearly to various audiences.
- Ability to work independently and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
- Proficient in data management practices with a solid understanding of financial data analysis, ensuring data integrity and effective utilization for financial planning and reporting.
- Data analysis and workflow automation, with a strong focus on process improvement and efficiency optimization, strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- English working proficiency.
Preferred
- Experience in UAE’ s higher education or academic environment, understanding the unique budgeting challenges and needs.
- Knowledge of UAE’s financial policies and procedures.
- Background in utilizing data analytics to assess effectiveness and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
- Arabic and/or another language working proficiency.
