Analyst

Role Overview

Analyst – Hospitality at Wasl, Dubai. Reports to the Head of Hospitality Asset Management within the Hospitality Division.

Company Overview

Wasl was founded on May 25, 2008, from the union of the Dubai Development Board and Real Estate Department. As one of Dubai's largest and most diversified real estate management companies, Wasl oversees an expansive portfolio of landmark assets entrusted by DREC and other esteemed partners. The company is an active contributor to Dubai's thriving economy, fostering enduring relationships with valued stakeholders through a customer-centric approach rooted in trust, respect, and a relentless pursuit of innovation in asset management.

Role Purpose

The Analyst – Hospitality supports the asset management function across Wasl's hospitality portfolio, including hotels, serviced apartments, and F&B assets. The role focuses on financial analysis, performance monitoring, operator engagement, and strategic support to enhance asset value and profitability.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Analysis & Performance Monitoring

• Monitor financial and operational performance across the hospitality portfolio against budget, forecast, and benchmarks.
• Analyse monthly financial statements including P&L, GOP, EBITDA, and cash flow to highlight variances, risks, and key drivers.
• Track and report on key hospitality KPIs including occupancy, ADR, RevPAR, GOPPAR, and profitability margins.
• Maintain and update asset-level trackers covering financial performance, action logs, audit points, CapEx, and operator follow-ups.

Budget & Forecasting

• Support the preparation, review, and challenge of annual budgets, business plans, and rolling forecasts submitted by operators.
• Track FF&E reserves, capital expenditure programs, and utilization against approved budgets.

Business Review & Reporting

• Assist in preparation of business review meetings with comprehensive financial analysis.
• Prepare structured reports, dashboards, and presentations for senior management, including performance reviews and investment recommendations.

Revenue & Cost Optimization

• Assist in identifying revenue enhancement and cost optimization initiatives while maintaining guest experience standards.
• Support hotel revenue management to optimize revenue performance.

Capital Projects & CapEx

• Support the review process of hotel requests, including FF&E disposal approvals and CapEx requests for new and ongoing projects, ensuring alignment with asset strategy and approved plans.

Contract Compliance & Operator Engagement

• Review and monitor operator compliance with management agreements, including fees, performance tests, reporting obligations, and contractual thresholds.

Strategic Support & Analysis

• Support feasibility studies, underwriting, and financial evaluations for new developments, repositioning, and operator selection processes.
• Support the review process to ensure alignment with asset strategy and approved plans.

Stakeholder Coordination

• Coordinate with internal stakeholders including Finance, Legal, Projects, and Procurement to ensure alignment on asset-related matters.

Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Hospitality Management, Business Administration, or related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in Hospitality Management.
• Strong financial analysis and Excel skills.
• Familiarity with hospitality operations and performance metrics.

Desirable

• Some experience working in Asset Management.
• Exposure to hotel management agreements and investment analysis.

Skills & Competencies

• Financial Analysis: Intermediate proficiency in analysing financial statements and assessing asset performance (EBITDA, GOP).
• Hospitality KPIs: Intermediate understanding of hotel metrics (ADR, RevPAR, occupancy, GOPPAR).
• Budgeting & Forecasting: Intermediate experience reviewing budgets and forecasts.
• Contract Awareness: Basic understanding of hotel management agreements (fees, FF&E, performance tests).
• Data Analysis & Reporting: Intermediate ability to review data and construct reports and dashboards.
• Hotel Revenue Management: Basic ability to optimize revenue performance.
• Presentation Skills: Intermediate ability to prepare clear and concise presentations for senior stakeholders.
• Market Research: Intermediate ability to analyse market trends, compsets, and benchmarking data.
• Stakeholder Coordination: Intermediate ability to work across internal and external stakeholders effectively.
• Ethics & Corporate Governance: Intermediate adherence to corporate governance and ethical standards.

Additional Information

• Direct Reports: None.
• Internal relationships: Hospitality Asset Management team, Finance, Legal, and Projects Teams.
• External relationships: Hotel Operators, Consultants, and Auditors.
• The Analyst is expected to work under tight timelines, handle sensitive financial data, and support critical decision-making processes.
• While the role has limited decision-making authority, it plays a key advisory role by providing accurate analysis and insights that influence strategic and operational decisions.
• The position holder may be required to perform additional tasks and responsibilities not listed here, in line with organizational needs and changes in business priorities.