Application Open:
Full-Time
Job Purpose:
The Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) Specialist serves as
a subject matter expert, supporting the Associate Head of Financial
Planning & Analysis, under the Assistant Director of FP&A.
The Specialist will engage with stakeholders across the university.
The role delivers advanced financial analysis, strategic insights,
and leads the financial modelling and analytical components of
multi-year financial planning for University Administration
departments, grounded in a strong understanding of FP&A and
business operations. Leveraging data-driven expertise, the
Specialist strengthens financial governance, supports
decision-making, and addresses evolving research funding needs.
Strong financial acumen and the ability to translate complex data
into actionable insights are essential. The role serves as the
analytical and modelling backbone of the FP&A function,
ensuring that all financial plans, forecasts, and strategic
initiatives are supported by robust, data-driven insights.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Insights
- Acts as the FP&A expert for the University Administration
departments, providing strategic financial insights and
recommendations to support the Associate Head and Operations
leadership in decision-making.
Manages the development of multi‑year financial models and
scenarios to support University Administration growth,
sustainability, and funding diversification.
Translate institutional strategy and priorities into long-term
financial plans and resource allocation frameworks.
Identify potential financial risks, funding gaps, and
efficiency opportunities, and support the development of mitigation
and optimization actions.
Advanced Budgeting & Financial Planning
- Drives and supports end-to-end multi-year budgeting process for
the University Administration departments (manpower, OPEX,
CAPEX).
- Support the development and ongoing refinement of budgeting
methodologies, cost drivers, and allocation models.
- Coordinate and support annual budget submissions, revisions,
and reallocations, ensuring alignment with approved institutional
budgets.
- Prepares and updates quarterly forecasts for University
Administration departments, tracking spend against budget and
forecast and highlighting key variances with clear explanations.
Works closely with Business Partners and stakeholders review and
validate forecast assumptions, ensuring reports are accurate,
consistent, and insightful for management decision-making.
Financial Analysis, Insights & Decision Support
- Support the preparation of financial analyses, reports, and
dashboards and governance forums.
- Assist with analysis of facilities cost structures, IT spend
and vendor/contract performance, general services cost drivers, and
operational investment performance.
- Help maintain financial data accuracy and consistency across
operations units, systems, and reporting outputs.
- Prepare and summarize financial information for presentation to
administrative stakeholders to support decision-making.
Budget Management & Reporting
- Support the development and enhancement of financial reporting
standards and templates in line with institutional policies and
governance requirements.
- Provide assurance on financial data quality, ensuring accuracy,
consistency, and timeliness of Facilities, IT, and General Services
reporting.
- Perform analysis of financial performance, trends, and key
drivers, translating findings into actionable insights for
management.
- Work closely with departments to support consistent,
transparent, and decision useful reporting practices.
- Play a key role in the annual budget cycle, supporting
departments through guidance, review, and consolidation of
submissions.
- Support annual budget reviews and revisions, assessing
assumptions and alignment with approved budgets and funding
availability.
- Monitor budget utilization, identify emerging risks or
pressures, and escalate issues with supporting analysis.
- Review financial reports and variance analysis prior to
submission to senior FP&A leadership.
- Ensure timely delivery of recurring financial and budget
reports for the University Administration departments and FP&A
Office.
- Stay informed on evolving financial management practices and
regulatory requirements, incorporating relevant improvements into
FP&A processes.
- Act as a point of support and subject matter resource within
the team, reviewing outputs and contributing to capability
building.
Other Duties
- Carry out all other duties as reasonably directed by the line
manager that are commensurate with these functional
objectives.
Qualifications and Criteria:
- Bachelor’sdegreeinbusiness administration,Finance,Accountingora
related field.
- A postgraduate degree will be desirable.
Essential :
- Minimum of 5–7 years of progressive experience in FP&A,
with significant exposure to research, higher education, or complex
matrix organizations.
- Demonstrated expertise in strategic financial planning,
multi-year budgeting, and advanced financial modelling.
- Strong experience advising senior stakeholders and informing
decision-making.
- Proven ability to design financial frameworks, governance
standards, and analytical methodologies.
- Advanced proficiency in financial systems, ERP platforms, and
data analytics tools.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder
management skills.
- High level of autonomy, judgment, and problem-solving
capability.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint,
Outlook).
- English working proficiency.
Preferred :
- Experience in UAE’s higher education or academic environment,
understanding the unique operational budgeting challenges and needs
of Facilities, IT, and General Services.
- ERP implementation experience and working knowledge of
finance/budgeting software.
- Experience in applying AI, automation, or advanced analytics in
FP&A.
