Consulting - Finance Transformation - ESG Reporting - Senior Associate {Dubai/Riyadh}

Line of Service Overview 

In Consulting, you will have the opportunity to work closely with the best across industry and professional functional advisory services. We focus on helping solve client problems by offering both strategic and operational deep industry expertise. We pride ourselves on building long-lasting relationships with companies and organisations, always ensuring that we are able to bring the best insights and solutions to help them tackle whatever critical issues they may face. Our Consulting practice currently focuses on several core sectors including Consumer and Industrial Products & Services, Energy, Utilities & Mining, Financial Services, Government, Health Industries, supported by competencies including Finance & Accounting, People and Organisation and Technology.

Business Unit Overview 

You will be working within the Finance Transformation team, which provides advisory services focused on the CFO agenda. The team works across a broad range of industries and delivers projects throughout the Middle East region. The work we typically undertake includes:

• Finance operating model and finance transformation
• Corporate planning, financial planning, budgeting and reporting
• Corporate treasury
• Public Financial Management, including Treasury Single Account, GFMIS and Cash to Accrual conversion
• Effective financial control, reporting and consolidation 
• Shared services finance and transactional efficiencies 
• Costing and cost reduction opportunities 
• Leveraging ERP, EPM, Digital and Cloud technologies
• Supporting adoption of new accounting standards (eg. IFRS) and regulatory compliance standards (eg. introduction of indirect tax)  through Process and Systems enablement
• Deep modeling experience with Financial Planning & Analysis tools with a focus on Anaplan

Responsibilities: 

As a Senior Consultant focused on ESG Reporting Technology Enablement, your role will be crucial in driving the adoption and refinement of advanced technologies to enhance our clients' ESG reporting processes. You'll play a key role in:

• Facilitating the selection and implementation of ESG reporting technologies like Workiva, Sphera, SAP,  Oracle, or others are tailored to meet specific client needs.
• Assisting in the technical setup and integration of ESG reporting tools within clients' current reporting frameworks.
• Contributing to ESG Reporting Technology Enablement projects by supporting project planning, technical deliverables, client relationship management, and budgeting.
• Advising on effective data management strategies for precise and efficient ESG data gathering.
• Keeping abreast of the latest ESG industry trends, technological innovations, and regulatory updates.
• Providing consultancy on ESG technology solutions to enhance strategic decision-making and operational effectiveness.
• Ensuring ESG reporting is seamlessly woven into clients' overall finance and accounting systems for accurate reporting.
• Collaborating with clients on strategic financial matters and crafting solutions to tackle complex finance-related challenges for sustainable results and tangible impacts.
• Engaging with various teams and service lines to foster innovation in ESG reporting and promote a culture of technological progress and continuous improvement.

Requirements: 

• You're driven, adaptable, and thrive in fast-paced environments, contributing significantly within a high-performance team to deliver exceptional value to our clients. You possess excellent analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• A bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field is required. An MBA or a Master's in Finance is a plus.
• Preferred Qualifications: Certifications like CA, ACCA, CPA, CIMA, and CMA are highly beneficial in the context of the Finance Transformation team, but also other ESG certifications are beneficial in the context of the current role.
• Experience: At least 3 years in a relevant role, with a minimum of 2 years in consulting, focusing on finance transformation and ESG reporting. 
• Knowledge or good understanding of ESG reporting frameworks (e.g., GRI, ISSB, or SASB) 
• Previous experience with ESG data management and reporting systems (e.g., Workiva, Sphera or other relevant) is required.
• Client Service: Strong client service mindset with the ability to build relationships in challenging environments.
• Sector Experience: Ideally with experience in at least 2 of the following sectors, including Transportation, Real Estate, Retail, Financial Services, Telecoms, Oil-Gas or Public Sector.
• Personal Attributes: Self-motivated, confident, with a strong work ethic. Excellent organisational skills and resilience under pressure are key.
• Technical Proficiency: Advanced skills in Microsoft Project, Excel, PowerPoint, and G-Suite. Knowledge of ESG data management and reporting tools is a plus.
• Language Skills: Fluency in English (mandatory) and Arabic (desirable).
• Mobility: Willingness to travel across the Middle East as needed.