Finance Business Lead - FP&A

Finance Business Lead Financial Planning and Analysis Salary: Competitive and based on experience Location: Abu Dhabi

Keywords: strategic financial leadership, business partnering, financial planning and analysis, cross-functional collaboration, operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, stakeholder engagement, data-driven decision-making, continuous improvement

An exceptional opportunity has arisen for a Finance Business Lead specialising in Financial Planning and Analysis to join a prominent organisation at its Abu Dhabi headquarters. This pivotal role is designed for an accomplished finance professional who thrives on providing strategic guidance, driving business performance, and supporting sustainable growth. The successful candidate will be instrumental in shaping the financial direction of the company, working closely with senior management and cross-functional teams to deliver insightful analysis, robust reporting, and actionable recommendations. With a focus on fostering a culture of financial discipline and accountability, this position offers the chance to make a tangible impact on both operational efficiency and long-term profitability. The organisation is committed to nurturing talent through ongoing training opportunities, career mobility, and a supportive workplace culture that values collaboration, continuous improvement, and adaptability.

• Play a key role in guiding financial strategy, business planning, and performance analysis across the organisation’s operations in Abu Dhabi.
• Collaborate with diverse internal stakeholders including finance centres of excellence, shared services, investor relations, treasury, commercial teams, and external partners to drive business success.
• Benefit from a workplace that prioritises professional development, knowledge sharing, and flexible working opportunities within a dynamic industry environment.

What you'll do:

As Finance Business Lead Financial Planning and Analysis based in Abu Dhabi, you will play an integral part in shaping the organisation’s financial landscape. Your day-to-day responsibilities will involve close collaboration with senior leaders across multiple departments as you oversee critical reporting cycles—ensuring accuracy while delivering meaningful insights that drive operational improvements. You will prepare high-impact presentations for executive audiences, provide expert advice on complex business decisions, develop robust financial models for new initiatives, and champion best practices in budgeting. By proactively identifying areas for cost optimisation and supporting strategic projects through data-driven analysis, you will help steer the company towards its long-term objectives. Success in this role requires not only technical expertise but also strong interpersonal skills to build trust with stakeholders at every level.

• Lead monthly and quarterly financial reporting processes by collaborating with department heads and senior management to ensure timely delivery of accurate reports.
• Provide comprehensive analysis of financial and operational performance metrics, identifying trends and variances to support informed decision-making and highlight opportunities for cost optimisation.
• Prepare detailed management reports, dashboards, and presentations tailored for senior leadership and key stakeholders to facilitate strategic discussions.
• Act as a trusted partner to business units by offering expert financial guidance, thorough analysis, and well-founded recommendations on major initiatives, investments, and operational matters.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams to assess business performance, review economic models, and contribute to the development of compelling business cases for new projects or ventures.
• Drive financial accountability throughout the organisation by promoting best practices in budgeting, forecasting, and resource allocation while fostering a culture of fiscal responsibility.
• Develop and implement forward-thinking financial strategies aimed at optimising profitability, cash flow management, and return on investment in alignment with corporate objectives.
• Conduct scenario analyses and sensitivity testing to evaluate potential risks and opportunities while recommending effective mitigation strategies as required.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs), benchmarks, and other relevant metrics to track progress towards strategic goals and inform future planning.
• Ensure all financial activities adhere strictly to regulatory requirements, accounting standards, and internal policies to maintain compliance across reporting functions.

What you bring:

To excel as Finance Business Lead Financial Planning and Analysis you will bring extensive experience from similar roles where you have demonstrated outstanding analytical abilities coupled with strong project management skills. Your background should include hands-on involvement in designing robust reporting frameworks that support strategic decision-making at the highest levels. You will be adept at building collaborative relationships across functional boundaries—leveraging your communication strengths to influence outcomes positively. Familiarity with leading ERP platforms ensures you can streamline processes efficiently while maintaining rigorous compliance standards. Your approach combines critical thinking with empathy—enabling you to understand stakeholder needs deeply while delivering solutions that align with broader organisational goals. A passion for continuous learning paired with adaptability positions you as an invaluable contributor within any fast-evolving finance environment.

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or related field is essential; a Master’s degree is highly desirable for advanced analytical roles.
• Professional certifications such as CFA, CPA, CA or CMA are strongly preferred to demonstrate your commitment to excellence in finance.
• A minimum of eight years’ proven experience in financial planning and analysis combined with significant exposure to business partnering within large organisations.
• Comprehensive understanding of accounting principles alongside deep familiarity with local regulatory frameworks governing financial reporting standards.
• Demonstrated proficiency using ERP systems such as SAP or Oracle as well as advanced skills in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Hyperion or Power BI for enhanced reporting capabilities.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills in English are required; Arabic language proficiency is considered an advantage but not mandatory.
• Advanced ability to conduct detailed variance analysis along with preparing comprehensive reports tailored for senior management audiences.
• Track record of developing innovative financial strategies that optimise cash flow management while maximising profitability across diverse business units.
• Experience managing complex projects involving process design or implementation of new technologies within finance functions is highly valued.
• Proven capability navigating organisational change by driving adoption of transformed processes or systems through effective stakeholder engagement.