Finance Business Partner - Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Clyde & Co
Description
Key Responsibilities
•Preparing and delivering in-depth financial analysis and insightful narrative on the financial and commercial areas for operational and strategic discussions.
•Provide insight and recommendations to deliver income growth or identify potential efficiency benefits through improving processes
•Understanding operational dependencies for delivery on financial performance targets and ensuring these are monitored to mitigate financial risk and deliver financial performance
•Providing financial support to ensure strategic business development, client retention and increased client profitability within the practice group(s).
•Advanced ad-hoc analysis to help maximise profitability across the group particularly looking at partner and client portfolios and key performance drivers: realisation, utilisation, staffing ratios and working capital.
•In conjunction with the working capital team, keep abreast of any issues and act as an escalation point to resolve issues with internal/external stakeholders
•Being able to articulate any budget risks of any significant working capital issues
•Assist with the preparation of the annual Budget and Forecasts including challenging business assumptions in forecasting and planning, using analysis and post-implementation review learnings.
•Where gaps to target appear proactively engage with the departments at the earliest opportunity to develop and implement appropriate recovery plans.
•Work with department aligned BD managers on client bids and proposals where finance-enabled pricing and commercial support can add value.
•Supporting the BD team in client / key client reviews.
•Ad-hoc analysis and reporting to support BD and partners in maintaining and developing existing client relationships.
•Monitor and manage rate cards across the region, driving uniformity whenever achievable
•Implement tools and standardise the processes to review and approve pricing opportunities and streamline the flow of data necessary for decision making
•Track existing fee arrangement expirations and be prepared to engage with the partners to coordinate a renewal process
•Analyse client financial performance data to identify client specific opportunities for increased returns
•Engage with Partners on a quarterly basis to review practice profitability data
•Providing financial mentoring and training to newly promoted partners / laterals / promotion candidates / new firm joiners.
•Help train Fee Earners on profitability best practices and promote confidence in rate discussions
•Use influencing skills to motivate and encourage Fee Earners to engage with clients about fee arrangements
Essential Skills & Experience
•CIMA/ ACA/ACCA qualified with a minimum of 5 years PQ
•Extensive Finance Business Partnering experience with senior stakeholders [within a professional services business]
•Excellent communication skills, verbal and written (must be fluent in English)
•Strength of personality to ensure the perspective of 'Finance'is clearly communicated.
•Resilience when facing ambiguity or resistance
•Strong time management and organisational skills and the ability to work well under pressure, to regular tight deadlines, and the ability to prioritise key tasks.
•Excellent soft skills including the ability to influence or challenge senior stakeholders when necessary
•A continuous improvement mentality to support development of self, colleagues and business processes and interactions
•An ability to be able to focus on the detail during business planning processes as well as understand the bigger picture when supporting fast moving strategic decision support.
•A collaborative team-player who is transparent and has a straightforward approach
•Proficiency using MS product suite (with particularly focus on analysis and reporting tools).
•Strong numeric & analytical skills and an excellent level of accuracy and attention to detail
•Confident and a proactive attitude
•Experience using Elite 3E or similar practice management systems would be advantageous
•Experience with Power BI/Tableau or similar enhanced presentation tools would also be an advantage
Clyde & Co
With over 5000 people operating from over 60 offices and associated offices across six continents, Clyde & Co is committed to creating successful outcomes for our clients. Our globally integrated teams of disputes, regulatory and transactional lawyers provide a comprehensive range of legal services and advice to businesses operating at the heart of global trade and commerce.
Our success in the past 90 years has been built on our vision of a single global partnership, providing a platform that offers rapid access to expertise, wherever you operate in the world.
As our clients have evolved, so have our core values. We believe that these values reflect our firm, our strategy and our commitment to delivering commercially-minded legal advice, client-focused services, and innovative technological solutions to support our clients.
Aligned with these values is Clyde & Co's commitment to being a responsible business. We take responsibility for the impact we have on the environment, seeking to reduce it as much and as quickly as possible. We strive to be a positive contributor to the communities in which we operate across our entire global network. We take steps to foster a truly diverse and inclusive workplace, that allows all of our people to flourish, for the benefit of our colleagues, the firm and our clients.
Clyde & Co, MEA
With over 30 years' experience in the region and the largest presence of any international law firm, we pride ourselves on being able to help clients recognise and overcome the challenges of doing business in the Middle East and Africa.
In terms of our Middle East foot print, our more than 40 partners and 150 legal professionals work from four offices located in the region's major commercial hubs, enabling us to support our clients across the full spectrum of their corporate and commercial needs throughout the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) and wider Levant.
In Africa, Clyde & Co is one of the largest international law firms operating on the continent, with over 120 lawyers helping clients to enter and operate in Africa.
We have been active in the region for over 20 years, advising on complex multi-jurisdictional transactions that include some of the continent's largest infrastructure and energy projects. Our experience extends to more than 50 different African markets across South, West, East, Central and North Africa.
Our deep sector knowledge covers insurance, energy, transport, infrastructure, marine and trade as well as aviation, education, defence, finance, healthcare, hospitality and technology.
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