Finance Data Analytics & Automation Consultant (m/f/d)

Finance Data Analytics & Automation Consultant

Assignment type: Six-month, full-time project assignment

Role Overview

Our client is seeking a hands-on Finance Data Analytics & Automation Consultant for a six-month, full-time Finance transformation assignment.

The consultant will partner with the Group Finance Director and Finance team to build a more automated, data-led, AI-enabled reporting environment.

The role requires Finance reporting expertise, advanced Excel, Power BI, workflow automation, and practical AI-enabled reporting skills.

The aim is to enhance current reporting and establish a scalable, intelligent Finance operating model.

This is not an IT-only, dashboard-only, or advisory-only role; the consultant must convert Finance logic into practical automated outputs.

Assignment Duration and Work Arrangement

• Duration: Initial six-month assignment
• Capacity: Full-time, five days per week
• Location: Onsite with the Finance team in Dubai - UAE
• Reporting line: Group Finance Director

Any extension will depend on project needs and performance.

Project Context

Finance is shifting toward automated, AI-enabled reporting and decision support to reduce manual effort and produce structured outputs, including:

• Post-close reporting and MIS analysis
• Structured financial and operational data
• Power BI dashboards with drill-downs
• Automated variance, trend analysis, and AI-assisted summaries
• Faster, more consistent Finance outputs

The immediate focus is to improve existing models and reporting while developing an automated reporting platform.

Key Responsibilities

Finance Process and Model Review

• Review Finance reporting processes, management packs, and models.
• Assess trial balance, GL, entity, cost-centre, budget, and reporting outputs.
• Find opportunities to simplify and automate reporting.
• Optimize Excel-based Finance models as needed.

Excel Modelling and Data Extraction

• Work with complex Excel financial models and reporting files.
• Improve model structure, formulas, links, and efficiency.
• Convert model outputs into clean datasets for automation, dashboards, and analysis.
• Support model simplification and documentation.

Finance Data Automation

• Build structured Finance datasets from trial balance, budget, entity, GL, cost-centre, and other inputs.
• Use Power Query to automate data cleansing, transformation, refresh, and validation.
• Build reconciliation checks and move reporting from manual Excel files to automated workflows.

Power BI and Reporting Development

• Develop Power BI data models and Finance dashboards.
• Build automated MIS, P&L, Balance Sheet, entity, facility, and consolidated reporting views.
• Enable drill-downs and create variance, trend, KPI, and executive dashboard views.

Workflow Automation and AI-Enabled Reporting

• Use Power Automate and related tools for reporting refresh, review, and distribution.
• Support AI-enabled Finance reporting, commentary, summaries, and exception analysis.
• Use approved AI tools where relevant, ensuring outputs are reviewable and Finance-approved.

Documentation and Handover

• Document data flows, model logic, assumptions, and refresh processes.
• Prepare handover notes, user guidance, training materials, and knowledge transfer.
• Ensure Finance can maintain the solutions after the assignment.

Required Skills and Experience

The consultant should have hands-on experience in

• Finance modelling: Advanced Excel, model optimization, P&L, Balance Sheet, budget versus actuals, variance, trend, trial balance, and GL mapping.
• Analytics and automation: Power Query, Power BI, DAX, Power Automate, dashboards, reporting automation, reconciliation, and validation.
• AI workflows: AI-assisted reporting or business analysis using Claude, Copilot, ChatGPT, or similar tools.

Ideal Profile

Preferred experience

6–10 years in Finance analytics, FP&A automation, business modelling, Power BI, Finance transformation, or reporting automation.

Relevant backgrounds may include

• Big 4, consulting, business modelling, or Finance transformation
• Finance analytics, FP&A automation, or Power BI Finance reporting
• Excel modelling, BI automation, or corporate FP&A reporting analysis

The ideal candidate combines Finance knowledge with practical technical delivery.

Finance Knowledge Required

The consultant should understand

• Trial balance, chart of accounts, GL mapping, and cost-centre reporting
• Entity, facility, P&L, Balance Sheet, budgeting, and forecasting structures
• Management packs, variance analysis, consolidation, and financial model structures

A pure IT developer, AI engineer, or dashboard designer without Finance knowledge would not be suitable.

Preferred Additional Exposure

Additional useful exposure includes

• Oracle/ERP reporting, SQL, database fundamentals, or Python automation
• Multi-entity, financial statement, audit-support, healthcare, services, or multi-site reporting
• Senior Finance or CFO-level reporting requirements

Candidate Attributes

The consultant should be

• Hands-on, practical, structured, and solution-oriented
• Strong in Finance logic, automation, Excel models, and reporting packs
• Comfortable working with senior Finance stakeholders under tight timelines
• Able to translate business requirements into automated outputs
• Disciplined in confidentiality, documentation, handover, and knowledge transfer