Financial Planning and Analysis Manager

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) Manager to lead the FP&A activities for Bateel International's UAE operations. This role is pivotal in managing budgeting, forecasting, business plans, and management reporting, while collaborating closely with accounting and divisional teams to ensure timely and accurate financial closings. The manager will also oversee financial reporting sent to group consolidation and enhance the overall finance functions through strengthened governance and controls.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead comprehensive FP&A processes including budget creation, forecasting, business planning, and management reporting for the UAE business.
• Coordinate and communicate the FP&A calendar, ensuring all deadlines for budgeting, forecasting, and monthly closings are met and divisions remain accountable.
• Manage the annual budgeting and planning cycles across Retail, Cafés, and supporting functions, challenging submissions and consolidating plans for approval.
• Maintain rolling forecasts covering P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow, highlighting risks, opportunities, and expected outcomes.
• Partner with the Chief Accountant to drive month-end closing, reviewing accruals and ensuring accuracy and control.
• Review financial reporting packs for submission to group consolidation, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and insightful commentary.
• Lead monthly management reviews with executive leadership, presenting performance analysis, variances, risks, and corrective actions.
• Conduct detailed variance analyses, identifying root causes and coordinating corrective measures with divisional heads.
• Act as a finance partner to various departments providing decision support and financial accountability.
• Drive profitability analysis for outlets and cafés, assessing P&Ls, like-for-like performance, and other key metrics.
• Prepare feasibility studies and business cases for new projects including NPV, IRR, and payback evaluations.
• Analyze product, category, and menu margins to optimize pricing, promotions, costs, and gross margin impact.
• Implement continuous improvements and automation in the FP&A process to enhance efficiency and reduce manual effort.
• Identify and remediate process gaps and control weaknesses within finance and operational divisions.
• Ensure compliance with group policies, governance frameworks, and internal controls on financial reporting.
• Support audit processes by preparing schedules, analyses, and resolving queries in coordination with accounting teams.
• Drive financial insight that supports decision-making beyond mere data reporting.
• Manage capital expenditure planning, tracking approvals and monitoring expenses against budgets.
• Promote cost control and efficiency initiatives through detailed expense and manpower analysis.
• Support working capital management via detailed cash flow, inventory, and receivables/payables analysis.
• Strengthen finance team capabilities through knowledge sharing, cross-training, process documentation, and team development.
• Perform other duties as assigned by senior management.

Values

• Quality
• Innovation
• Authenticity
• Integrity

Experience and Qualifications

• A minimum of 8 to 10 years' experience in financial planning and analysis, commercial finance, or business finance with at least some managerial leadership.
• Background in a Big 4 professional services firm with audit and financial reporting expertise is essential.
• Experience in the food and beverage sector is crucial, especially combined with retail and multi-outlet operations.
• Experience in manufacturing or production environments with strong product costing knowledge is required.
• Proven track record in managing statutory and internal audits including schedules and audit query resolution.
• Strong familiarity with the monthly financial closing process and oversight of consolidation reporting packs.
• Demonstrated success in process transformation and automation, delivering measurable improvements.
• Advanced financial modeling, budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis skills developed from initial setup onwards.
• Deep understanding of retail and F&B KPIs such as sales metrics, footfall, conversion rates, food cost percentages, and contribution margins.
• Hands-on experience with ERP systems like SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, and BI tools such as Power BI or Tableau. Planning tools (e.g., Anaplan, TM1) are a plus.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint capabilities for creating high-quality analysis and presentations.
• Working knowledge of IFRS standards and ability to work with statutory reporting and audit teams.
• Strong grasp of internal controls, governance structures, and delegation of authority processes.
• Fluent in English with verbal and written proficiency; Arabic language skills advantageous.
• Excellent influencing and communication skills to engage senior leaders and explain financial results to non-finance stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines under pressure.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, commercial acumen, and team leadership capabilities.

Educational Requirements and Certifications

• Qualified Chartered Accountant (CA), ACCA or ICAEW certification is mandatory.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Commerce, or Economics.
• Certification in Power BI is required.

Additional Information

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews given the volume of applications.