Business Performance Specialist

Roles and responsibilities

• Financial Planning:
• Reporting & controlling of budget and forecast process in subzone UAE (template preparations & alignment with sales team).
• Update of budget and forecast in subzone UAE for top line, P&L, balance sheet and free cash flow via official reporting tools (HOP + PATH) through a regular dialogue with finance and business stakeholders.
• Forecast of depreciation in subzone UAE based on installed base / CAPEX planning.
• Alignment with country controllers in MEA on planning for headcount, operating working capital and free cash flow. Understand and challenge forecast.
• Financial Reporting:
• Preparation of the MEA sales report (2 to 3 times a month). The report is used to track actual sales and also support business/logistic in the forecast process.
• Monthly preparation of MEA sales reported forecast figures by subzone/ business line /country vs budget / prior forecast.
• Monthly preparation of MEA headcount, operating working capital and free cash flow. Bridge preparation, variance analysis and commentary.
• Update actual headcount allocation for reporting in subzone UAE by business line and monitor adjustments / corrections when required.
• Monitor cash collection in subzone UAE and regularly collaborate with accounts receivable teams.
• Monthly reconciliation between the different reporting tools in MEA (SAP / COPA / Power BI / HOP / FAST)
• Other tasks:
• On demand ad hoc analysis
• Supporting leadership in presentations and special projects
• Internal control assessor (risk and internal control)
• Backup for the head of business performance controlling
  

Your expertise:

• Bachelor’s degree or educational equivalent, MBA or CPA a plus
• Strong accounting and financial principles with a proven experience in financial accounting, controlling or a similar role for 6 years.
• Self motivated and ability to work under tight deadlines
• Effective communication & presentation skills
• Very good SAP & Power BI knowledge is a strong plus
• Problem solving competencies through collaboration across functional boundary and ownership culture.
• Effective business administration, controlling and financial planning.
• Relevant rich industry experience.
• Team player and ability to build relationships.

Desired candidate profile

1. Financial Analysis and Reporting

• Proficiency in financial analysis to evaluate business performance, profitability, and cost structures.
• Preparation and presentation of regular financial reports (e.g., profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements) to management.
• Ability to analyze budget variances, assess cost drivers, and determine profitability by business unit, project, or department.
• Knowledge of financial forecasting and scenario analysis to predict future financial outcomes and assist in decision-making.

2. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Designing and tracking KPIs that align with business goals (e.g., revenue growth, cost efficiency, customer satisfaction, operational effectiveness).
• Monitoring both financial and non-financial metrics, including sales performance, operational efficiency, employee productivity, and customer retention.
• Using dashboards and other reporting tools to provide real-time insights into performance and enable data-driven decisions.

3. Budgeting and Cost Control

• Leading the budgeting process, ensuring alignment with company objectives, and managing the budget cycle to control expenditures.
• Identifying and recommending areas for cost reduction, efficiency improvements, or investment opportunities.
• Monitoring cost management to ensure that the company operates within its financial means and achieves profitability targets.

4. Business Strategy and Decision Support

• Providing actionable insights and recommendations based on financial and performance data to support strategic decision-making.
• Conducting business case analysis for new initiatives, projects, and investments to evaluate their potential return on investment (ROI).
• Helping to define and align business strategy with financial goals, ensuring that the organization focuses on high-impact activities.

5. Data Analysis and Interpretation

• Ability to interpret complex financial and operational data and present findings in an understandable format to stakeholders.
• Proficiency with data analytics tools (e.g., Excel, Power BI, Tableau) to analyze large datasets, identify trends, and provide insights.
• Conducting root cause analysis to understand the factors behind performance variations and to suggest corrective actions.