Business Analyst | Real Estate | AFET

Job description / Role

Established in the 1930s as a trading business, Al-Futtaim Group today is one of the most diversified and progressive, privately held regional businesses headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Structured into five operating divisions; automotive, financial services, real estate, retail and healthcare; employing more than 35,000 employees across more than 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, Al-Futtaim Group partners with over 200 of the world's most admired and innovative brands. Al-Futtaim Group's entrepreneurship and relentless customer focus enables the organization to continue to grow and expand; responding to the changing needs of our customers within the societies in which we operate.

By upholding our values of respect, excellence, collaboration and integrity; Al-Futtaim Group continues to enrich the lives and aspirations of our customers each and every day

Overview of the role:

The Business Analyst is critical in driving business success within the Digital Transformation and Smart Infrastructure departments at Al-Futtaim Technologies. This position is dedicated to delivering comprehensive analytical support, facilitating Business Review Meetings, overseeing accurate financial reporting and effective collections management, and ensuring strategic alignment with overarching corporate objectives. This role serves as a key integrator of data insights and business intelligence to support informed decision-making and operational excellence across the organisation.

The Business Analyst must integrate financial and operational insights with business strategies to enhance decision- making and operational performance across the company. This role demands a high level of analytical prowess, strategic thinking, and the ability to manage complex projects and financial landscapes effectively.

What you will do:
- Financial Reporting and Forecasting: Oversee the delivery of accurate and timely financial reports, manage P&L statements, and conduct comprehensive financial forecasting.
- Business Review Meetings: Spearhead weekly and monthly BRM sessions within Al-Futtaim Technologies and with Al-Futtaim Contracting to review progress, adjust strategies, and ensure project alignment with business objectives.
- Projects, tender Analysis, and Won Jobs: Analyse tenders, RFPs, RFQs, and RFIs. Supervise financial coordinators in producing timely cost sheets. Collaborate with procurement for effective vendor selection and price management.
- Collections Management: Enhance the collections process to improve cash flow and minimize Days Sales Outstanding (DSO).
- Audit and Compliance Coordination: Facilitate biannual audits with the Group Audit Department (GAD), coordinate with internal
- stakeholders, provide necessary documentation, and implement audit recommendations.
- Finance and Reporting Standards: Collaborate with the finance department to standardize reporting templates, ensure adherence to accounting guidelines, and uphold invoicing principles.
- Incentive Policy Development and Management: Develop and manage an effective and relevant incentive policy for all Al- Futtaim employees eligible under the incentive scheme. Ensure the policy aligns with organizational goals and employee performance.

Behavioural Competencies :
- Critical Thinking: Ability to analyse information and evaluate results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Conflict Management: Skilled in handling conflict situations constructively and maintaining calm under pressure.
- Initiative and Drive: Demonstrates initiative, seeking out opportunities for improvement and

What Equips you for the role:
- Education: Bachelor's degree in computer science, Management Information Systems (MIS), Business Administration, or a related field.
- Certifications 1: Certifications in business analysis, ERP (e.g., SAP), or CRM systems are highly desirable.
- Certifications 2: It is highly desirable to be certified as a Certified Business Analyst Professional (CBAP) or Certified Management Accountant (CMA).

Experience:
- Minimum of 8 years of experience in business analysis, preferably in a technology-driven industry or in managing infrastructure projects.
- Proven track record in facilitating business review meetings, financial forecasting, and implementing business process improvements.

Technical Skills:
- Business Analysis Tools: Proficient in using advanced data analysis and visualisation tools such as Excel, Power BI, or Tableau to support data-driven decision-making.
- ERP and CRM Systems: Strong familiarity with enterprise resource planning and customer relationship management systems, such as SAP, to manage business processes effectively.
- Business Process Modeling: Skilled in utilising tools like Microsoft Visio for creating and optimizing business process workflows, ensuring operational efficiency.
- Financial Systems Knowledge: Good understanding of financial reporting systems, which supports accurate financial management and compliance with auditing standards.

Soft Skills:
- Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English; proficiency in Arabic is an advantage.
- Multitasking Abilities: Able to handle multiple projects and priorities with exceptional organisational and time-management skills. o Detail-oriented: High attention to detail and a critical thinking approach to problem-solving.
- Collaborative Nature: Strong interpersonal skills, able to work effectively in a team and with diverse groups of people.

About Al-Futtaim Engineering & Technologies
Al-Futtaim Engineering & Technologies offers customers complete engineering and systems integration solutions.

The Engineering arm operates in the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt providing a wide variety of products and services from air conditioning, scaffolding and access solutions, elevators and escalators, control and life safety, facilities management, building products, MEP, Energy Management, Technology Infrastructure and Digital Transformation.

The Technologies division provides complete business solutions to large, medium and small customers that include, contact centre solutions, business applications, business intelligence, data management, advanced analytics amongst others. The IT infrastructure portfolio comprises IP telephony, ELV systems, networking solutions, professional audio-visual solutions and managed services.

These solutions are further complemented by services that include project management, installation, testing, commissioning and after-sales maintenance contracts.

About the Company

Established in the 1930's, the Al-Futtaim Group initially operated as a trading enterprise. Rapid development throughout the 1940's and 50's saw it establish itself regionally as an integrated commercial, industrial and services organisation, positioning itself one of the leading business houses in the lower Gulf region. Today, it operates collectively over 40 companies bearing the Al-Futtaim name, dominates many market segments in the UAE, and has expanded its sphere of operation to include Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Egypt.

The Group comprises a diverse range of strategically positioned operating subsidiaries and associate companies, structured to give the Al-Futtaim Group the flexibility and versatility to keep ahead of local competition while keeping pace with the ever-evolving global business scenario. The Groups continued investment in world-class systems technology is clear evidence of its commitment to maintain leading edge performance and service delivery.

The success of the Al-Futtaim Group can be attributed to a business approach that combines the ability to change with the traditional values of integrity, service and social responsibility that define its core business philosophy. This, linked with the Groups belief in decentralisation, gives the heads of the operating companies a high degree of functional autonomy and authority, providing the Group with essential flexibility, and individual employees a clearly defined work culture and sense of responsibility.