Application Open:
Full-Time
Job Purpose:
The Academic Fiscal Affairs Senior Officer supports the Head of Academic Fiscal Affairs within the Academic Affairs Administrative division under the direction of the Associate Provost of Administrative Affairs. The role will support the Academic Division under the remit of the Provost. This role conducts regular financial analysis and reporting, assists in developing multi-year budget plans, and supports the day-to-day fiscal operations. The role will utilize data-driven insights to enhance financial governance and support the evolving needs of the provost division. 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, and a proactive approach to problem-solving.
Key Responsibilities:
- Budget & Fiscal Affairs:
- Assist in managing the multi-year financial budget plan for the provost division, including manpower, operational (OPEX), and capital (CAPEX).
- Collaborate with departments to accurately reflect budgetary needs and priorities in planning.
- Support consolidating and submitting the provost divisional budget to the central budget office.
- Regularly assess budgetary processes and make recommendations to ensure alignment with institutional goals.
- Identify requirements for AI-enabled processes to enhance financial planning and reporting accuracy.
- Budget Management & Reporting:
- Establish standards for financial reporting to ensure compliance with institutional policies and best practices.
- Ensure financial data management practices maintain the accuracy, integrity, and timeliness of information.
- Conduct regular analysis of financial metrics, delivering insights and recommendations for improvement.
- Collaborate with departmental stakeholders to align reporting practices and enhance transparency.
- Support the annual budget processes, working collaboratively with departments to prepare budget submissions for the central budget office.
- 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 Head of Academic Fiscal Affairs, highlighting key trends and insights.
- Complete budget reports for both the Provost division and the Finance Department, 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:
- Perform all other duties as reasonably directed by the line manager that are commensurate with these functional objectives.
Academic Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting or a related field.
- Master’s degree in a related field, or a CPA/CFA designation is strongly preferred.
Essential Professional Experience:
- 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 and workflow automation including supporting migration of manual data to systems.
- 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 Professional Experience:
- 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.
