The Finance Business Partner reports to the Dubai Financial Controller but will also work closely with the Group Management Accounting team based in the UK.
Leading the Management Accounts function for the campus, responsible for:
the production of reliable management accounting and other financial / performance information in a timely manner.
budgeting and financial analysis for the University.
providing support and advice to the management team, budget holders and other staff on a variety of business / financial issues
Summary of Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Leading the management accounting function of the campus
Managing the overall month end process
Liaising with the remainder of Dubai Finance and working as a team to support the delivery of campus overall operational results.
Interact with the operations team to ensure that the proper AR side information is reflected in the month end statements such as student income, debtors, provisions etc.
Interact with the Procurement and Payables team to ensure that the right accruals in place before the close of the month
Financial analysis
Preparation of specific balance sheet reconciliations. Review and approval of balance sheet reconciliations prepared by the Accounts Assistant.
Ensuring the availability of accurate and timely financial management reports, analysis and commentaries
Verification of management accounting information integrity, investigations and resultant action for all areas of the team and organisation
Developing effective budgeting, forecasting and planning processes
Development and reporting on KPI\'s for the organisation
Supporting overall campus, schools and professional services teams with decision support activities
Developing specific reporting for research activities carried out in the campus and liaising with relevant UK based Research Finance staff to ensure effective management of external grant funding
Regular Budget Holder meetings with cost centre managers, helping ensure that they dedicate adequate time and resource to management of budgets
Leading the annual financial performance review for the campus (individual programme viability review)
Developing and issuing relevant financial information for external stakeholders when required (e.g. Ministry of Education, KHDA, CAA, Government Agencies)
Liaising with Financial Systems Team in the UK in relation to system development requirements for the campus
Ensure that the team operate to a uniform, consistent standard
Address all aspects of people management, objective setting, development and review across the team
Liaise with internal and external auditors, tax agent, bankers and other professional / regulatory bodies
Building good relations with internal stakeholders
Any Ad-hoc tasks or project as and when required
Education, Qualifications & Experience:
Essential * Educated in Accounting & Finance to first degree level or equivalent practical experience in the workplace
Experience of working within a similar environment as outlined above
Qualified Accountant with significant experience of producing management accounts and other financial information for senior management in a similar sized organisation
Strong communication and interpersonal skills with a focus on outputs.
Significant experience of leading a team and being a team player.
Strong IT skills including ERP type systems and Microsoft products
Ability to persuade, motivate and lead a team, including setting objectives and managing workload
Competent in the use of relevant IT packages
Demonstrable substantial professional expertise in own specialism
Well-developed understanding of relevant legal, statutory and governance applications and turning them into good practice (specifics, e.g. H&S, employment law, statutory requirements, may be specified here)
Excellent interpersonal, influencing and presentation skills, able to understand and communicate complex issues effectively
Demonstrable excellent customer service
Demonstrable ability to work quickly, flexibly and accurately in a dynamic, changing and pressured environment
Experience of working closely with stakeholders across all levels of the organisation
Ability to research, analyse and present complex information effectively with good attention to detail
High level planning and organisational skills with the ability to prioritise major developments and to function effectively in a pressured environment
Demonstrable professional and proactive approach
Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team
Desirable * Experience of working in Higher Education
At Heriot-Watt we understand that being diverse makes us better which is why we support a culture of respect and equal opportunity, and value diversity at the heart of what we do. We want to increase the diversity of our workplace to underpin a dynamic and creative environment.
The appointment is conditional upon successful completion of all Labour and Immigration formalities, and the start date will need to be delayed if the employment visa is not in place.