Financial Analyst | Retail | Watsons Finance

Job Requisition ID: 164259 

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 A”rab 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 organisation 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 Financial Analyst will support the Finance Manager in all Month-closing, Reporting & Budgeting/Forecasting activities. The role will include performing new store feasibilities and preparing presentations for these investment proposals. The analyst will work closely with various departments within the Brand to support decision-making and partner with the Retail Division & Group Shared Services on all controlling, reporting & AP/AR-related matters.

What you will do

Financial Controlling

• Leading the month closing process.
• Partnering with Finance Shared Services Teams (R2R, I2P, FA, APSSC, O2C) to ensure all accounting transactions and JV's are posted.
• Ensuring Trade/Non-Trade Invoices are booked & paid on time.
• Ensuring adequacy of all provisions at month-end/ year-end.

Reporting, Budgeting & Forecasting

• Preparation & circulation of weekly Trade Packs, monthly Store P&L, and other ad hoc reports based on Business requirements.
• Supporting Finance Manager in preparation of annual Budget, quarterly Forecast, and medium to long-term plans.

New Store Feasibilities

• Evaluation of new investment proposals using NPV, IRR, Payback Period metrics and other qualitative aspects like adjacencies and deflection from nearby stores.
• Preparation of new store feasibility presentation packs and performing system submissions once proposals are approved.
• Partnering with Retail Division Leasing & Store Development Teams on status of counter rental offer, project delivery status and other requirements.

Business Analysis

• Perform detailed financial analyses, including revenue & margin analysis by Category & Brand.
• Closely monitoring all line items in the P&L and continuously partnering with respective functions to highlight deviations from Budget.
• Assist in preparation of Flash P&L before month end with realistic estimates to set management expectations on the month’s performance

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with cross-functional teams within the Brand, including Operations, Commercial, Logistics, Digital, Marketing & HR, to support financial planning and analysis activities.
• Collaboration with Division BP&A & Controlling and Group Shared Service functions on all reporting & accounting transactional aspects.

Required Skills to be successful

• Strong financial analytical skills,
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, capable of conveying complex financial information clearly.
• Working knowledge of SAP ERP system is preferred.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational and multitasking abilities.

What equips you for the role

Minimum Qualification and Knowledge

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Finance and/or Accounting. A professional certification (e.g., CA, ACCA, CPA, CMA) is preferred.

Minimum Experience

Minimum of 3 years of experience in financial analysis, preferably within the retail industry

 Behavioral Competencies

• Industry Knowledge: Understanding of the beauty retail industry.
• Strategic Insight: Ability to provide strategic insights and support long-term business planning.
• Collaboration: Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams.
• Commercial Acumen: Understanding of retail financial metrics and the ability to drive business performance through financial insights.

We’re here to provide excellent service but a little help from you can ensure a five-star candidate experience from start to finish.

Before you click “apply”: Please read the job description carefully to ensure you can confidently demonstrate why this opportunity is right for you and take the time to put together a well-crafted and personalised CV to further boost your visibility. Our global Talent Acquisition team members are all assigned to specific businesses to ensure that we make the best matches between talent and opportunities. We not only consider the requisite compatibility of skills and behaviours, but also how candidates align with our Values of Respect, Integrity, Collaboration, and Excellence.

As part of our candidate experience promise, we also want to make ourselves available to you throughout the application process. We make every effort to review and respond to every application.