Senior Financial Planning & Analysis Manager

Role: Senior Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) Group Finance DivisionLocation: Abu Dhabi, UAEReporting To: Senior Group Finance DirectorAbout the RoleThe Senior FP&A Manager is a critical senior finance role within the Group Finance Division, responsible for driving the planning, budgeting, forecasting, and performance management agenda across the Group's construction, real estate development, and architecture & design businesses. The role holder will serve as the Senior Group FD principal business partner — translating financial data into actionable strategic insight and ensuring that leadership has the visibility required to allocate capital, manage performance, and deliver on the Group's growth objectives across the UAE and GCC.Key ResponsibilitiesFinancial Planning & BudgetingLead the Group's annual budgeting process across all business units — construction, development, and design — ensuring alignment with strategic priorities.Develop and maintain the Group's integrated financial plan, including P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow projections.Coordinate with business unit heads, project managers, and cost controllers to consolidate bottom-up budget submissions.Drive the Group's medium-term (3–5 year) financial planning cycle, including scenario modelling and sensitivity analysis.Forecasting & Performance ReportingOwn the Group's rolling forecast process, updating projections monthly or quarterly in response to business performance and market conditions.Produce the Group's monthly management reporting pack — including variance analysis, KPI dashboards, and executive commentary — for the Senior Group FD and Board.Develop and maintain project-level financial tracking for the development and construction portfolio, monitoring revenue recognition, cost-to-complete, and margin evolution.Identify performance gaps early and work with operational leaders to develop corrective action plans.Business PartneringAct as the primary finance business partner to divisional and project leadership teams across construction, development, and design.Provide financial analysis and commercial challenge to support investment decisions, contract bids, project approvals, and cost management initiatives.Translate complex financial information into clear, concise narratives for non-finance audiences.Embed a performance culture by ensuring business units understand their financial targets, drivers, and accountability.Project & Development Finance AnalyticsDevelop and maintain detailed financial models for major construction and real estate development projects, including feasibility assessments, IRR/NPV analysis, and return on capital calculations.Support the Group's investment committee with financial appraisals for new project acquisitions, land purchases, joint ventures, and development launches.Monitor project-level profitability against original feasibility assumptions; escalate variances and recommend remediation.Collaborate with the Treasury team on project cash flow planning and funding drawdown schedules.Strategic & Decision SupportSupport the Senior Group FD and Executive Committee with ad hoc financial analysis, strategic modelling, and scenario planning.Evaluate potential M&A transactions, new market entries, and strategic partnerships from a financial planning perspective.Provide input into the Group's capital allocation framework, advising on investment prioritization and returns optimization.Prepare Board-level financial presentations, investor materials, and lender reports as required.Cost Management & EfficiencyLead Group-wide cost review initiatives, identifying opportunities to improve margins and reduce overhead.Benchmark the Group's financial performance against industry peers and GCC market comparators.Drive working capital improvement initiatives in collaboration with Treasury, Procurement, and Operations.Systems, Data & Process ImprovementOwn the Group's financial planning tools and reporting infrastructure; lead upgrades or implementations of planning systems (EPM/CPM platforms).Develop standardised reporting templates, financial models, and planning tools to improve consistency across business units.Champion data quality and integrity across finance systems, working closely with IT and ERP teams.Identify and implement process automation opportunities within the FP&A function.Team LeadershipBuild, lead, and develop a high-performing FP&A team; set clear objectives and create a culture of continuous improvement.Coach and upskill team members in financial modelling, business partnering, and data analytics.Foster strong cross-functional relationships with Treasury, Financial Reporting, Legal, and Project teams.QualificationsBachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field.Master's degree (MBA or MSc Finance) or professional qualification (CFA, CPA, ACCA, CIMA) — strongly preferred.Required SkillsMinimum of 8 years of progressive finance experience, including at least 5–7 years leading a Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) function at the group or divisional level.Proven background in construction, real estate development, infrastructure, or a project-driven industry is preferred.Experience managing budgeting and forecasting cycles across multiple business units and currencies.Track record of delivering high-quality financial analysis to Senior Group FD and Board level.Exposure to GCC markets and familiarity with UAE business environment, is highly advantageous.Preferred SkillsExpert-level financial modelling (Excel); proficiency in building 3-statement models, DCF, IRR/NPV, and scenario analyses.Experience with EPM/CPM planning tools (e.g., Anaplan, Hyperion, SAP BPC, Adaptive Insights, or equivalent).Advanced data visualisation skills; Power BI, Tableau, or similar reporting platforms. AIStrong understanding of IFRS (particularly IFRS 15 revenue recognition for construction contracts, IFRS 16, IAS 36) and management accounting principles.Familiarity with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, or Microsoft Dynamics) and their integration with finance reporting.COMPETENCIES & PERSONAL ATTRIBUTESStrategic ThinkingAnalytical ExcellenceExecutive InfluenceCommercial AcumenCommunication & StorytellingProactive & Results-DrivenIntegrity & ProfessionalismCollaborative LeadershipAttention to DetailContinuous Improvement Mindset