Finance Manager

Job Description

Job Title: Finance Manager

Reports to: Campus Principal

Role

The School Finance Manager is responsible for the full spectrum of accounting, financial reporting, statutory audit, tax, cashflow and working capital planning and management for the school. This is a pivotal role in delivering high-quality financial analysis and commentary for monthly performance reviews, rolling forecasts and budgeting including monitoring and controlling capital expenditures to align with approved spending plans. This position requires business partnering with the Campus Principal, School Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and Functional Heads and Regional Office.

On a daily basis, the Finance Manager reports to the school’s Campus Principal, with functional reporting to Regional Finance.

Responsibilities

Financial Reporting and Analysis:

1. Responsible for the day-to-day activities of finance function of the school (record-to-report, accounts payables, accounts receivables, cashflow, tax compliance and finance business partnering functions).
2. Timely and accurate financial and management reporting, in compliance with the applicable governing standards & group reporting requirements.
3. Prepare and analyse the Profit & Loss and Balance Sheet of the School including but not limited to deferred income account, accruals, provisions, reconciliations, revenue recognition, discretionary spending and capital expenditure.
4. Review all journal entry postings and ensure accuracy and completeness of the General Ledger and Sub-Ledger accounts.
5. Perform month-end review analysis with the Campus Principal and School SLT highlighting variances and facilitating action plans to mitigate gaps to target.
6. Present financial reports to Campus Principal, Regional Finance, and other stakeholders.

Statutory Audit & Tax Compliance:

1. Coordinate and liaise with the external auditors on the annual statutory audit.
2. Ensure adherence to Group policies and MFRS/IFRS requirements.
3. Attending to all statutory audit queries in a timely manner and reviewing proposed Adjusting Journal Entries and Reclassifying Journal Entries.
4. Ensuring compliance to and timely submission for yearly statutory audit and tax.

Financial Planning and Budgeting:

1. Collaborate with School SLT to develop annual budgets aligned with educational goals and school strategic plans.
2. Provide financial forecasts, projections, and analysis to support Campus Principal / Regional Finance in budgetary control for OPEX and CAPEX.
3. To ensure strict adherence and control on all CAPEX spends and policies to approved budget, including facilitating in the preparation of investment paper where applicable.
4. Responsible for timely and accurate reporting in line with ISP’s protocols.

Treasury & Insurance:

1. Ensuring that the school’s cash collection target is achieved and monitor collection progress versus target, accurately report daily cash collection and monthly cash flow projections.
2. Ensuring that the school has sufficient funds to meet its financial obligations.
3. Ensuring that all the payments to suppliers have been properly reviewed by the finance team prior to payment, exercising clear segregation of duties.
4. Ensuring that the school has adequate and valid insurance cover in place for all properties, staff, students and visitors to schools (e.g. parents).
5. Ensuring conformance to ISP authorization at all times.

Continuous Improvement:

1. Act as a strategic partner to School SLT and Functional Heads by providing financial insights and recommendations.
2. Identify opportunities for process improvement in financial management and reporting.
3. Participate in the automation of reporting/forecasting process, enhancement of business processes/ workflows.
4. Performs other duties as assigned.

Stakeholders:

1. Internal: Campus Principals, School SLT, School Functional Heads, Regional Office team.
2. External: Statutory Auditors, Tax Consultants, Bankers, Company Secretary and Local Regulators (MOE, CCM etc).

Line Management:

1. Direct Report to School Campus Principal and Matrix to the Regional Financial Controller.
2. The Finance Business Partner / School Head of Finance may subordinate between 2 - 5 direct reports.

Requirement:

1. Degree in Bachelor of Accounting, CPA/ACCA/CIMA qualification or equivalent.
2. At least five years’ experience in a similar role.
3. Proficient in MS Office tools, particularly Excel.
4. Self-motivated, proactive, committed & a team player.
5. Ability to multi-task and work independently to meet deadlines.
6. Familiarity with NetSuite Oracle accounting system will be an added advantage.
7. Excellent time management skills and flexibility in dealing with multi-functional tasks.
8. Good experience in handling full set of accounts.
9. A commitment to the ISP principles of safeguarding and wellbeing for all staff and students.

This is not a definitive list of all responsibilities. The job holder may be asked to undertake any other duties appropriate to the role as and when required by their Campus Principal.