Specialist, Group Strategy (Emiratized)

Role Overview

Specialist, Group Strategy (Emiratized) at First Abu Dhabi Bank. This is an entry-level position within the Group Strategy function, supporting the formulation, direction, and delivery of the Bank's long-term strategic plans across all businesses, functions, and geographic areas.

Role Purpose

The role holder will support the Group Strategy team by conducting rigorous research and analysis that contributes to the development of insights used in internal decision-making. The individual will provide analytical and coordination support across assigned strategy projects, gaining exposure to a wide range of strategic topics while contributing to timely and high-quality delivery under the guidance of senior colleagues.

Key Responsibilities

Research & Analysis

• Conduct structured research on banking, macroeconomic, regulatory, and competitive topics to support ongoing strategic initiatives.
• Analyze financial, economic, and market data to identify trends, implications, and opportunities relevant to the bank's strategic priorities.
• Collect and interpret data across a wide spectrum of banking topics.
• Build and maintain Excel-based models to support quantitative analysis, scenario evaluation, and business case development.
• Support the team in synthesizing internal and external information into concise viewpoints, discussion materials, and strategic recommendations.

Insights & Reporting

• Prepare high-quality presentation materials that communicate insights clearly and logically to senior members of the Group Strategy team.
• Visually present analysis findings and financial data in a clear and impactful format.
• Stay up-to-date on developments in the UAE and global banking landscape, summarizing relevant insights for the team.

Stakeholder Collaboration & Project Support

• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the bank to gather information, validate assumptions, and support cross-functional projects.
• Participate in brainstorming and problem-solving sessions, contributing analytical perspectives and structured thinking.
• Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills to orchestrate teamwork across different areas in the bank and to influence without authority.
• Assist in the execution of strategic workstreams by coordinating inputs, tracking progress, and ensuring analytical rigor in deliverables.

Process & Knowledge Enhancement

• Continuously enhance analytical tools, templates, and internal knowledge repositories to drive efficiency and quality in strategy deliverables.
• Develop an understanding of the external environment that FAB operates in across geographies and the internal environment of the entire Group, to contextualize problems and questions requiring solving.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Commerce, or related discipline from a Top Tier University.
• Minimum of 1 to 2 years of experience in a non-banking environment.
• Ability to analyze financial statements, performance metrics, and market data.
• Strong knowledge of banking financials, economics, and modelling to interpret and analyze economic, financial, and market data.

Skills & Competencies

• Proficiency in financial analysis, presentations, and visualization tools.
• Strong logical reasoning and structured thinking.
• Proficiency in Excel-based financial modelling.
• Ability to work with a wide range of quantitative and qualitative data, including financial, economic, and market data published by financial institutions, market intelligence firms, government entities, and supranational bodies.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to influence without authority.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and remain effective in a dynamic environment where the nature of work is extremely varied.
• Capacity to stay up to date with industry and macroeconomic trends to provide impactful analysis and insights that support key decision-making.

Additional Information

• Reporting line: VP – Business Insights and Strategy for administrative purposes; expected to collaborate with members of the Group Strategy function and support workstreams as assigned.
• Responsible for conducting research, analyses, and initial problem-structuring, while escalating unclear issues, risks, or assumptions to senior colleagues for validation.
• Expected to independently manage day-to-day tasks such as data collection, model updates, and draft slide preparation, while adhering to agreed timelines and quality standards.
• Works within defined project scopes and methodological frameworks set by senior team members, contributing to workstreams without owning final decision-making responsibility.
• Authorized to utilize available internal data, systems, and templates to support deliverables and to proactively seek support or clarification when encountering new or complex analytical challenges.
• Free to identify resources to enhance skills and toolkit for delivering work as needed.