Finance Executive - Retail

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

Role Purpose:

Strategic planning, budgeting, forecasting, management reporting, business partnering, financial analysis, investments, feasibilities, automation & regional projects. Moreover, manage approvals, tracking, accounting and reconciliation of capital expenditure, fixed assets, and inventory.

Key Specific Accoutabilities:

Business / Financial Planning:
- Support business or financial planning, including but not limited to strategic planning, budgeting, and quarterly forecasting in coordination with Group / Retail Finance and business stakeholders. Business / Finance planning process include guidelines, timelines, formats / templates, central inputs, analysis, consolidation, reviews, presentation, Anaplan upload, SAP & BPC validation etc.
- Support fortnightly Cash forecasting in coordination with relevant stakeholders

Management Reporting & Financial Analysis:
- Support in preparation, analysis, and circulation of daily, weekly, and monthly reports on business performance
- Support in development of new reports and continuous improvement of existing reports
- Support in testing, validation of management information / business intelligence reports
- Support in variance analysis and corrective actions
- Support in with adhoc financial information, analysis, and support for business functions and stores
- Support in preparation of business or management review presentations

Business Partnering:
- Participate, support, or lead initiatives / projects to drive business performance and efficiencies
- Collaborate with and support business navigation community for performance improvements

Fixed Assets:
- Plan, coordinate, procure approval for capital expenditure
- Support Asset creation, capitalization, transfer, verification, and disposal of Fixed Assets
- Provide samples, analysis, schedules, and information for internal and external audits

Inventory:
- Support to manage inventory posting, reconciliations and alignment across systems
- Provide samples, analysis, schedules, and information for internal and external audits

Business Development, Feasibility Studies, Investment Committee, Approvals:
- Support Market Potential Development Projects, preparation of feasibility reports
- Support business development initiatives / projects like gift cards, BNPL etc.
- Plan and maintain tracker for pre-operative expenses

Requirements

Person Specific:

Minimum Qualifications & Knowledge:
- Commerce graduate with 3 years' experience in above roles preferably in Retail
- Advanced skills on MS Excel, PowerPoint, and accounting software (preferably ERP - SAP and Navision)
- Desirable to have detailed know how of the IKEA concept and working methods
- Planning, organizing, responsible, analytical, critical thinking and interpersonal skills

Job-Specific Skills:
- Strong computer skills - including ERP knowledge (preferably SAP, Navision) and advanced MS-Excel
- Good analytical and presentation skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Financial modelling and problem-solving skills.

Behavioural Competencies:
Must have the ability to create an environment where the IKEA values are a strong and living reality that embraces the diversity of co-workers and visitors
- Customer Focus
- Individual Accountability
- Continuous Improvement
- Personal Leadership
- Teamwork

About Al-Futtaim Retail

Al-Futtaim Retail has established itself as one of the leaders in Retail across the Middle East, Africa & Asia over the past 30 years. We have developed partnerships with some of the biggest and most respected Brands in the world including IKEA, ACE and Toys R Us in the Middle East and the Inditex Group of Brands (Zara, Mango, Bershka and P&B) across Asia. We are also one of the largest Global partners of Marks and Spencer's in both regions with over 75 stores offering both fashion & food options.

Most recently we have been responsible for bringing brands to the Middle East for the first time with the exciting launches of Watsons and B&Q and we aim to continue to be agile and adaptive to our markets with new launches and further development. For this to be possible we aim to recruit the best talent from all backgrounds who will continue to challenge and develop our diverse workforce which includes over 100 nationalities across 12 countries. Join us today and make a difference.

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.