Dubai Employment Tips

Job Description:

This position is basically involved with the entire spectrum of market research from problem analysis, data collection to recommendations required in performing product research, customer satisfaction surveys, market investigations and similar activities. In the Dubai market, this role often requires fieldwork as researchers and interviewers are deployed to client premises for investigations and or complete questionnaires and survey sheets for analyses and reporting.

Qualifications:

• Education – At least a Bachelor’s degree preferably in English or Communications is required for market research jobs in Dubai. The industry is competitive so entry without a degree is very unlikely.

• Experience –There is no standard experience requirement. However, those with experience in the recruitment industry, as well as the customer service industry have an advantage as the experience involves some interviewing and communication skills.

• Technical requirements – A thorough understanding of statistics and data analysis and techniques is a must. Familiarity with related applications – MS Office Suite, CRMs and databases is an advantage.

Salary Range:

AED 4,000-8,000

Employers’ Description:

Market researchers are normally employed by PR or data collection firms who perform various types of researches from product to consumer research. Dubai has its local PR and Market Research firms and is looking toward opening its doors to global players like GfK, Synovate and others.

Job Description:

A financial analyst may find many employment opportunities in Dubai’s vibrant financial market. When you see a job listed for “financial analyst” be careful not to get mislead as the position “financial analyst” can be loosely defined at times. Financial analyst could also be interchangeable with financial controller, business analyst, investment analyst, private equity analyst and others.

For a position like this, always read the job description closely. Put extra attention on the “duties” and “qualifications and skills” sections to get a better understanding of the employer’s requirements.

Duties:

• Analysis of business intelligence related to investment opportunities

• Arrange for a due dilligence review of potential

• Presenting to your employer’s clients on potential investment opportunities

• Market research of financial aspects

• Analyze monthly financial reports and key operating indicators

• Establish financial processes to resolve data integrity issues

• Define meaningful financial elements to be captured and used for business intelligence

Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree in finance or accounting

• 3-7 years of experience in a relevant post (depending on seniority of the position)

• Experience with financial ERP systems such as Oracle

• Proven financial modelling and analytics skills

Salary Range:

AED 15,000 – AED 30,000

Employers’ Description:

This post is usually demanded by large companies with established finance and accounting departments. These companies usually utilize recruitment agencies to hire candidates or accept direct contact requests from candidates.

Job Description:

This position is a VP position, often the highest finance position in any organization in any industry.

Duties:

• The CFO oversees the entire financial operations of the company, all accounting departments and functions, as well as the internal audit function. The CFO is directly responsible for the company’s financial reports to stakeholders and tax authorities.

• The CFO directs the company’s financial strategy, heads management planning as top management – CEO and the other VPs confer on company action plans and forecasts. (Often, the CFO is known to be the most influential of all VPs as he or she can make or break any other VPs department goals with an opinion on the financial soundness of their plans and intentions.)

• The CFO directly supervises investment of company assets and its activities to raise funds from whatever sources.

• The CFO is responsible for identifying opportunities and trends for business expansion and other opportunities to raise the market value of the company’s stocks, if it is publicly-held, or to give more returns to investors.

Qualifications:

• Experience – At least a 10-year experience in a senior accounting/finance/audit position. This role requires extensive industry experience because seasoned judgment is key to making sound financial decisions especially in turbulent economic times.

• Education – Often, a master’s degree is required specifically in the finance and/or accounting field. Continuing Professional Education (CPE) is also a standard requirement, which is actually earned in credit units for various specialized trainings or conferences attended.

• Technical Qualifications – A professional license as an accountant (CPA or similar) is required. In specific financial services industries, additional certifications or licenses may be required. CFOs are also expected to be proficient with the latest accounting or audit applications in the market.

Salary Range:

AED 45,000 – negotiated sums. Salaries for top management positions are rarely disclosed and varies widely even within the industry. The bottom-line determinant of a CFO’s compensation package is their reputation, built over years of experience and industry associations.

Employers’ Description:

All reputable organizations with highly structured operations have finance directors. Often, these are large multinational or international firms with complex financial needs and operations. However, smaller firms with local, UAE only operations or Middle East-only operations may also hire CFOs.

Job Description:

This role is often found in financial services firms. Finance managers generally are advisors to clients and colleagues with regard to the soundness of economic or business decisions. In the banking and finance industries in Dubai, accountants report directly to Finance Managers (FM), who take these collated data and analyze them for reporting to the CFO.

Duties:

• The FM supervises general accounting and other finance teams and functions in their specific divisions or areas and report directly to the CFO.

• The FM provides management with data and interpretation of cash flows, as well as being primarily responsible for predicting trends and making projections.

• The FM is responsible for the implementation of the company’s finance policies and strategies, especially as it relates to clients and the company accounts.

Qualifications:

Experience – At least a five-year experience in a senior accounting role is important as advising, forecasting and projecting are largely functions that relies on experience.

Education – At least a Bachelor’s degree in a finance or related field; often a master’s degree is preferred. Continuing Education credit units is also a must, especially to show proof of keeping current with banking, investments, tax and other finance trends.

Technical Requirements – A CPA or equivalent is a pre-requisite, alongside a keen familiarity of accounting software and information systems used by banks and financial services firms. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are also necessary as the FM manages a team of professionals.

Salary Range:

AED 15,000-40,000 or more

Employers’ Description:

Investment firms, mortgage companies and other firms specializing in financial services are the usual companies hiring finance managers, as they are often firms with regional and/or international operations or affiliates.

Job Description:

There are many different types of auditors but in the banking and financial services industries, there are two basic types – internal and external (independent) auditors. Internal auditors are those employed by banks and all the other financial services companies; external auditors on the other hand, are usually teams of auditors employed by Accounting/Audit firms who are hired by the banks or financial services companies for an independent financial statements audit or for other engagements. This is the same the world over. Regardless of whether you are seeking an internal or external audit position, the requirements are practically the same; you only differ in the type of audit you do for the most part. Internal auditors generally perform compliance and operations audits; external auditors perform financial statements audits.

Duties:

Compliance and performance audits. Collect data and analyze information as to efficiency of company operations and the effectiveness of automated and other internal control systems in place.

Independent audits. Analyze and verify completeness, appropriateness and reliability of management-prepared financial statements for external reporting purposes.

Reporting Requirements. Report to management on weaknesses and inefficiencies noted of the internal control systems; reports on detection of fraud and its impact on the company’s books and may recommend legal action to management.

Salary Range:

AED 5,000-25,000 depending on related professional qualifications, experience, organizational size and clientele and other factors.

Employers’ Description:

Several audit firms are offering a range of audit services in Dubai, including branches or affiliates of the big four firms in the world – PricewaterhouseCoopers, KPMG, Ernst & Young and Deloitte & Touche. Banks – local, regional and international banks have internal audit teams as well. These are prestigious, not to mention stable businesses with highly organized and highly structured operations.

Job Description:

Banks hire accountants to manage the numerous books of accounts they maintain for reporting purposes. Bank operations are complex as it often involves inter-company accounts, third-party liabilities and even offshore remittances. The banking industry is also a highly-regulated industry and Dubai’s banks are subject to special laws such as those pertaining to Islamic banking.

Duties:

• Finance Operations. Accountants oversee the day to day financial operations of the bank – conduct cash counts and look into daily teller reports, prepare checks for local and regional clearing, etc.

• Financial Reporting. Accountants maintain and update books of accounts, prepare reconciliations, analyses and reports for internal and external reporting requirements, especially as it relates to intercompany accounts and home office reporting requirements, as well as tax reports.

• Management Reporting. Accountants work as teams to report on the performance of multiple entities, consolidations and other complex financial reporting requirements, especially required and looked into by independent auditors and top management.

• Support functions. Accountants work closely with internal audit team in evaluation of internal control systems, especially in the selection of IT services providers and testing of systems.

Qualifications:

• Education – A Bachelor’s degree in Accounting is a must. A professional license as an accountant issued by any regulatory body is a plus. Although not a standard requirement, continuing education units pertaining to international business, correspondence banking and/or tax laws are excellent qualifications

• Technical Skills – Experience with specialized accounting software is a given; excellent MS Excel skills is a must. Familiarity with banking laws and the banking and financial services industry is an advantage. Proficiency with generally-accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and proficiency with various financial analysis techniques is also important.

• Other Requirements – Experience specific to the banking and financial services industries are not necessary although would definitely be an attractive item on the resume. Excellent communication skills is a must as accountants work with colleagues and clients both within and outside the UAE.

Salary Range:

AED 5,000-25,000, depending on position level, organization size and related qualifications.

Employers’ Description:

Various companies in the banking and financial services industries hire qualified professional accountants, with or without experience. As Dubai has become the financial center of the Middle East and Africa, many multinational firms with global presence are located here. In fact, accountants are among the most sought-after professionals in the Dubai job market.