Senior Financial Analyst

51Talk, a leading global EdTech company specializing in online English learning, is hiring a Senior Financial Analyst to join our growing team in Cairo. This is a critical role that will serve as a key business partner, providing financial analysis, insights, and strategic guidance to support our rapid expansion in the Middle East, with a particular focus on the KSA and GCC markets. The ideal candidate will be an analytical thinker with a strong foundation in financial planning and analysis (FP&A) and experience in business partnering. This role will directly contribute to business growth and profitability by providing actionable financial intelligence to senior leadership and key stakeholders across the business.

Key Responsibilities

• Routine Analysis & Performance Reporting: Prepare and present routine financial performance/expense reports, including variance analysis against budget and forecast.
• Business Partnering: Act as a finance business partner for various departments (e.g., Sales, Marketing, Operations) to help them understand financial performance, manage their budgets, and make data-driven decisions.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with the accounting team to ensure accuracy in financial reporting and provide insights on operational performance.
• Operational & Financial Modeling: Build and maintain complex financial models to support strategic initiatives, new market entry, investment decisions, and operational efficiency improvements.
• Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A): Lead and manage the annual budgeting, quarterly forecasting, and long-range planning processes for the designate business units.
• Market & Business Analysis: Conduct in-depth analysis of market trends, competitor performance, and business unit profitability to identify opportunities and risks.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Education: A Bachelor's or above degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field. An MBA, CPA, or CFA is highly preferred.
• Experience: Minimum of 5+ years of progressive experience in financial and accounting roles.
• At least 2+ years of direct experience in a financial planning and analysis (FP&A) role, preferably within a fast-paced, high-growth environment. Experience in the technology, EdTech, or online services sector is a significant plus.
• Experience at a Big 4 accounting firm or a multinational company is a significant plus.
• Technical Skills: Expert proficiency in Microsoft Excel (e.g., pivot tables, VLOOKUP, financial modeling). Experience with or a strong interest in leveraging AI tools for data analysis, financial modeling, and reporting is a significant plus.
• Language Skills: Native-level fluency in Arabic is required. Must also be fluent in both oral and written English, with the ability to present complex financial information clearly and concisely to non-financial audiences. Proficiency in Chinese (Mandarin) is a significant plus.
• Regional Knowledge: Strong understanding of the business and financial landscape in the Middle East, particularly the KSA and GCC markets. Experience with accounting and tax practices in KSA, GCC countries, and Egypt is a significant plus.
• Soft Skills: Strong collaboration and communication skills, with proven experience working effectively across different functions and cultures. Must be a proactive, adaptable self-starter with a strong business acumen.
• Analytical Skills: Exceptional analytical and problem-solving abilities with a keen attention to detail.