Specialist, Planning (Communications Budgeting)

JOB PURPOSE:

Perform activities to support the preparation, completion and monitoring of (operating) budgets across Group Communications, working in close coordination with the TEO Planning & Performance Division and including supporting the preparation on monthly variance analyses and reports, in order to steer (financial) activities and enable the achievement of established budget targets.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Job Specific Accountabilities

• Provide guidance and recommendations to ensure integration of budget planning and execution as per the budget policy and procedures.
• Guide Group Communications on Group-wide budgeting guidelines, financial budget and planning details, and prepare the budget working documents across annual planning, regular tracking and reviews.
• Identify opportunities for budget optimization, efficiency opportunities and proactively flag and address, in conjunction with budget owners, any budget related issues
• Work closely with Group Communications leadership and TEO Planning & Performance Division to ensure accurate budget plans and full alignment with TEO expectations.
• Review and monitor, in conjunction with the TEO Planning & Performance Division, the Group Communications submission in the BPC system (e.g. budget/actual) and coordinate with the Group Communications leadership team members to submit required data within the deadline.
• Review Group Communications budget and financial plan submission and provide analysis and reports to superior.
• Assess the accuracy of budget submission and provide recommendations to superior.
• Provide regular reports to superior to enable accurate and timely monitoring and control of expenditures, monitor and control the AFE system through reviewing the supporting documents, and make recommendations for approval/rejection to the direct line manager.
• Prepare and participates in the budget monthly/quarterly/annually review sessions, provide regular feedback, and report to superior.
• Prepare ad-hoc reports, based on management request.
• Assist in the preparation of agency RfPs, in coordination with relevant Group Communications leadership team members and ensure active monthly monitoring of agency spend versus agreed contract ceilings or thresholds
• Prepare budget guidance documents to ensure understanding of budget relates policies, procedures and processes across the Group Communications leadership team and the wider HQ Function
• Follow up and proceed with actions forwarded by superior related to the budget and financial plan (e.g. budget enhancement, transfer and new budget approval), perform the required review, and obtain all the justifications.
• Participate in preparing reports for internal and external stakeholders, related to budgeting and financial planning.
• Oversee and/or prepare the Group Companies’ recharges and align the charges between the concerned users in ANDOC and the Group Companies
• Supports and/or performs on his/her own the development of Communications governance structures, processes and procedures to ensure clear roles and responsibilities and RACI across Group Communications  
• Perform other similar or related duties assigned by supervisor.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:

Minimum Qualification

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance and/or Accounting or equivalent

Minimum Experience & Knowledge & Skills

• 9 years’ experience in accounting, budgeting, and cost/analysis work, with experience in recharges/allocation.
• Good knowledge of English and Arabic.
• Business proficiency in relevant Microsoft applications (PowerPoint/Excel/Word)
• Business Proficiency of the ERP system and other budget systems (i.e. BPC)