Senior Finance Manager job in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Role Overview
This role supports the GM Finance – Automotive FP&A by managing divisional FP&A strategy, system developments, budgeting, forecasting, and reporting.

Key Responsibilities
Strategy and Enablement

Leadership:

Lead the Divisional FP&A team to support the GM Finance and CFO.
Drive the overall FP&A strategy.
Oversee C-Suite management reporting for Exec Board meetings, Group CFO reviews, and Business Review Meetings with the VC.
System Development:

Spearhead the development and roll-out of new systems and solutions.
Engagement:

Collaborate with Finance Leaders across entities.
Implement best-practice methodologies for planning and reporting.
Enhance reporting quality and standardization throughout the Automotive Division.

Key Responsibilities
Budgeting and Forecasting:

Preparation and Support: Collaborate with the commercial business department to prepare reliable budgets for GDA, ensuring the accuracy of key assumptions.
Control and Monitoring: Oversee operating budgets, investigate variances, and support budget re-forecasting during quarterly financial reviews, recommending adjustments based on market conditions and business needs.
Process Management: Aid in managing the budgeting and forecasting calendar, templates, requirements, guidelines, and assumptions (e.g., Manpower Planning).
Review: Analyze budgets by legal entities (P&L, BS, Cash Flow) and profit centers (P&L, WC, CapEx) for group functions, group consolidation, divisional functions, divisional consolidation, BUs within existing divisions, and new sectors.
Challenge Reviews: Participate in budget challenge reviews, scrutinizing outputs, assumptions, and drivers, and assess the sensitivity of these drivers.
Cost Recharges: Define budget cost recharges and allocation frameworks for group services, division services, and shared services provided to businesses.
True-Up: Ensure bi-annual completion of true-up activities and accurate reflection in business forecasts.
Management Reporting & Controlling:

Process Leadership: Lead the management reporting process, cadence, and overall framework.
KPIs and Metrics: Determine KPIs and metrics for periodic reporting at the division, BU, and group levels.
Analysis and Reporting: Perform analysis, prepare standalone and aggregated periodic management reports, and conduct periodic business performance reviews for incubated businesses, divisions, and BUs.
Controlling Functions: Support controlling functions for GDA 2060, including review of total rewards postings, balance sheet schedules, ICM reviews, true-up activities, open PO reviews, and group finance year-end requirements.
Strategic Planning and Capital Allocation:

Strategic Plan Development: Assist in developing the strategic plan and its financial implications, identifying and driving cross-business synergies.
Challenge Sessions: Support strategic plan challenge sessions at the division and BU levels.
Portfolio Performance Review: Analyze country-wise performance, categorize portfolios into segments (e.g., performing, non-performing), and perform divestment feasibility analysis within countries and divisions.
Commercial Finance and Business Support Analysis:

Investment and Capex Analysis: Support analysis of investments, Capex, inventory, sales (pricing), GM by channel, and showroom/facility performance using dashboards.
Principal Analysis: Assist with principal analysis (e.g., yen impact, payment terms), PCP and lease analysis, strategic sourcing, and cost optimization opportunities.
FP&A Financial Reporting Systems:

System Expertise: Understand the end-to-end processes of Group SAP BPC, Auto SAP BPC (IFRP), and Group VC’s BI systems, resolving reconciliation differences and advising on enhancements.
Training: Provide training to end-users on all mentioned FP&A systems.
FP&A Dashboards:

Dashboard Management: Understand the full end-to-end process of IFRP dashboards using Tableau, Alteryx, and Power BI, resolving data reconciliation differences and advising on enhancements.

Required Skills for Success:
Industry Experience: Automotive or Big 4 experience.
Certification: Certified/qualified accountant.
Technical Proficiency: System savvy, particularly with SAP.
Commercial Background: Strong understanding of commercial finance.
About the Team:
Reporting Line: You will report directly to the GM – Finance.
Qualifications and Experience:
Educational Background: Qualified in Finance (CIMA), Accounting (CA), MBA, or equivalent.
Industry Experience: Preferable experience in the automotive sector.
Professional Experience: Over 10 years of relevant experience.
Communication Skills: Excellent communication, analytical, written, and interpersonal skills, with proven ability to collaborate with global finance teams.
Time Management: Proven track record of managing multiple competing priorities, meeting deadlines, and working well under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
Financial Modelling: Strong capabilities in complex financial modeling.
Technical Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel and PowerPoint.
ERP Knowledge: Familiarity with SAP ERP and SAP BPC.
Personal Attributes:
Accountability: Individual accountability and a strong sense of personal integrity.
Interpersonal Skills: Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Analytical Ability: Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
Proactive Follow-up: Ability to follow up on outstanding issues effectively.
Team Collaboration: Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
Time Management: Strong time management skills and the ability to work under pressure.
Perseverance: Readiness to persevere with difficult tasks.
Assertiveness: Ability to be assertive without being aggressive.
Focus: Ability to focus and drive tasks to completion