Financial Analyst Jobs in the Middle East

Financial Analyst Job Description – Summary

Typical Roles & Responsibilities

A Financial Analyst will typically be employed within the finance function of a business, to provide decision support advice and information to senior managers. This may be by preparing accounting information for the business itself (commercial financial analysis) or by analysing and assessing prospective investments (in an investment bank, for example)

The role can vary in scope and seniority, depending on the specific industry in which the employing company operates, and on the size of the business, but will typically include a selection of the following activities and responsibilities.

Commercial Financial Analyst:

    • Create and maintain financial systems within the business
    • Work with the IT department of the business to improve internal reporting systems
    • Produce regular, accurate, timely and meaningful financial MI for senior management, e.g. income and expenditure, plan and budget variance reports, trend analyses
    • Analyse key ratios e.g. profitability, key performance indicators, return on investment, etc.
    • Analyse the profitability of new contracts or proposed new ways of working
    • Assist with the preparation of month-end financial accounts
    • Assist in the preparation of Statutory Annual Yr End Report & Accounts; reports for the Stock Exchange, reports to rating agencies and so on
    • Develop knowledge and understanding of the employing organisation and its business
    • Be able to explain company performance by way of written reports or oral presentations to senior management
    • Prepare ad hoc analyses and reports and undertake one-off projects as required

Investment Financial Analyst:

    • Analyse financial information relating to businesses, industries and the economy, to be used in making investment decisions
    • Evaluate data (price, yield etc) in order to compare alternative investment opportunities
    • Prepare written reports or oral presentations on selected businesses, industries or the economy, to be presented to senior management or clients
    • Recommend investment opportunities and the timing of investment decisions, to either colleagues or clients as appropriate

General

    • Make extensive use of spreadsheets and computerised analysis packages, including the use of graphs and charts, to create financial reports.
    • Keep up to date with developments in relevant fields such as accounting treatments
    • Act as a point of expert reference for colleagues in other departments, on matters relating to finance and accounting
    • Provide information to, and liaise with, internal and external auditors as required.

Typical Lines of Reporting for a Financial Analyst

Reporting lines vary in different businesses, but the Financial Analyst is likely to report to the Finance Manager, Financial Controller or Finance Director. The Financial Analyst may work alone, or as part of a team of Financial Analysts, and may have responsibility for managing one or more junior members of the finance team (sometimes termed Finance Assistants, or Trainees).

Typical Qualifications for Financial Analysts

A Financial Analyst role may suit a part-qualified or fully qualified accountant, often with a degree in a relevant subject (maths, accountancy, finance, business, etc). The qualifications of CIMA (the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) are particularly relevant for this role as they are aimed specifically at the accountant working within industry.

Career Progression for Financial Analysts

Financial Analyst is often a junior role in a larger department, offering the opportunity to progress by promotion within the department, e.g. to Finance Manager.