Business Analyst

Job description / Role

The business analyst will play a key role in supporting the accounts and finance team by analyzing financial data, identifying trends, and providing insights to optimize business strategies. This role involves identifying opportunities for improvement, streamlining financial processes, and ensuring alignment with industry best practices. Additionally, the role will support decision-making by providing financial intelligence and assisting in the preparation of key reports and presentations for stakeholders.

Key responsibility

1. Bookkeeping & preparation of monthly and quarterly MIS reports:
   
   • Conduct thorough bookkeeping to ensure accurate recording of financial transactions.
   • Compile and analyze financial data to prepare monthly and quarterly management information system (MIS) reports.
   • Ensure timely and accurate bank reconciliation, staff, and other accounts related reconciliations.
   • Conduct regular review of ledgers to ensure accounting hygiene and accuracy.
2. Variance analysis and presentation preparation:
   
   • Perform variance analysis comparing actual financial performance to budget and forecasts.
   • Prepare presentations highlighting key findings and recommendations for management review.
3. Annual budget preparation:
   
   • Participate in the preparation of the company's annual budget, collaborating with relevant departments to gather necessary data and assumptions.
4. VAT & tax compliance:
   
   • Manage VAT compliance activities, including assistance in return filing, VAT refund applications, and submissions.
   • Stay updated on tax regulations and ensure compliance with all requirements.
5. Accounts payable & receivables management:
   
   • Maintain strong control over accounts payable and receivable transactions and ensure accurate recording.
   • Send monthly statements of account (SOA) to customers and follow up for timely recovery of receivables.
6. Audit support:
   
   • Prepare schedules and information required for interim and annual audits.
   • Assist auditors during audit procedures and address any queries or requests.

Desired experience

An ideal business analyst should have 3 to 7 years of experience in a business analysis role. This role requires strong analytical skills, financial acumen, and the ability to collaborate effectively with various teams to drive business success.

Key relationships

Manager - Finance & Accounts, Head - Data, Data Scientist, Business Analysts, etc.

About the Company

The Apparel Group is a global fashion and lifestyle brand conglomerate residing on the crossroads of a modern economy - Dubai, UAE. The mercurial growth in the last 17 years has been by acquiring a host of world class fashion labels from around the world - Nine West, Tommy Hilfiger, Kenneth Cole, Aldo & Tim Hortons just to name a few.

Today the group caters to thousands of eager shoppers through its over 1530 stores, 75 International brands and employing 12,000 multi cultural staff in over 4 continents. Apparel believes in turning dreams in to reality and we give everyone - our customers, our stakeholders, our employees - an equal opportunity to do so.

Apparel group has carved its strong presence not only in the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and Saudi Arabia but opened thriving gateways to market in India, South Africa, Poland, Singapore, Jordan, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia. Additionally, clear strategies are in place to enter emerging markets such as Hungary, Pakistan, Egypt and Philippines.