Associate Head of Special Projects; FP&A Business Partner

Position: Associate Head of Special Projects (FP&A Business Partner)
Responsibilities

• Own the FP&A relationship with Special Projects leadership end-to-end as a strategic business partner
• Lead multi-year planning, pro formas and scenario models for Special Projects priorities
• Lead annual and multi-year OPEX and CAPEX budgeting across Academic Year and Calendar Year cycles
• Own quarterly and rolling forecasts and flag variances early
• Prepare budget vs. actual, variance analyses, KPI dashboards and management reporting
• Present vertical financials to stakeholders after month-end close with recommendations

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting or related field
• 7-10 years progressive FP&A, budgeting, forecasting or business partnering experience
• Experience supporting project office or administrative functions in higher education or matrix organizations
• Advanced financial modelling and multi-year budgeting expertise
• Advanced proficiency in ERP, Oracle Fusion/EPM and data analytics tools
• Strong stakeholder management and senior-level presentation skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualification such as MBA, CPA, ACCA or CFA
• UAE higher education or academic environment experience
• Knowledge of UAE financial policies and procedures
• ERP implementation experience
• Experience applying AI, automation or advanced analytics in FP&A

About the Company

MBZUAI is a graduate-level research university in Abu Dhabi focused on artificial intelligence.