Head of Finance

About the role

The Head of Finance will serve as a strategic and operational leader for a co‑educational boarding secondary school, reporting directly to the Principal and the Board of Governors. This senior position is responsible for safeguarding the school’s financial health, overseeing all finance‑related functions, and contributing to the Core Leadership Team.

Key responsibilities

• Lead banking and treasury activities, manage excess funds, ensure compliance with banking requirements, and prepare loan proposals.
• Prepare periodic management reports, annual final accounts, and support the Board’s Finance & Procurement Committees with financial analysis and advisory.
• Develop, implement and monitor the school’s annual budget, evaluate performance, and address any adverse variances.
• Manage working capital, cash flow, cost‑reduction initiatives, and ensure value‑for‑money procurement and asset maintenance.
• Oversee all accounting functions, including journal postings, general ledger maintenance, billing, invoicing, and asset recording.
• Ensure compliance with financial manuals, procurement policies, and regulatory requirements, providing training and updates as needed.
• Maintain external relationships with bankers, auditors, and tax authorities, and ensure statutory deductions and tax obligations are met.
• Provide strategic direction and leadership to the finance team and support other operational departments such as administration, procurement, and facilities.

Required profile

• MBA or master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or related field.
• Professional accounting certification (ICAN, ACCA, CPA or equivalent).
• 10–15 years of progressive financial leadership experience, preferably in education or non‑profit sectors.
• Proven experience managing multi‑department operations (Finance, Admin, Procurement).
• Strong analytical knowledge of accounting, cost control, payroll, risk management and regulatory matters.
• Excellent IT proficiency and experience with modern accounting software and enterprise‑wide financial systems.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop teams, set strategic priorities and communicate financial implications to stakeholders.