Manager - Finance - Aldar Education

Job Description

Aldar Education are currently seeking an outstanding Manager - Finance to support our schools in Abu Dhabi.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the highly successful Aldar family of schools and to help shape the future of Abu Dhabi’s leading school group.

The successful candidates will be closely aligned with our core values and ethos and possess a genuine understanding and appreciation of the values of the region.

The Finance Manager is responsible for all areas relating to school finance operations such as budgeting, forecasting, monthlyclosing, MIS reporting to Principals, budget control, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivables, Fixed Asset management, Cash andBank Management, Re-enrolment process (finance related actions) and timely closing of internal and external audit requirements.The FM is also responsible for implementation of new applicable IFRS standards, enhance finance operating policies from time totime, ensure compliance with DOA, develop training plans for school finance team to improve efficiency of school finance operations and Business Partnering. The role will be based in schools.

The Finance manager needs to manage the team by setting clear KPIs in line with department KPIs, perform periodical performance assessments and support team wherever required to upskill their skills and performance to retain the existing talent.

Responsibilities

Main Duties:

• Lead school finance team and manage all functions within finance department such as annual school budget, re-forecast, AP, AR, Treasury, Fixed Asset, GL & Reporting.
• Closely work with School Principal & OSM and provide strategic and operational guidance from a financial perspective.
  
  
  

• Prepare the school annual budget and periodic forecast and submit to HQ finance on timely manner
• Present monthly financial performance with Principal, SLT and OSM with recommendations to achieve targeted EBITDA by cost optimization initiatives
• Preparation statutory financial statement for the school
• Approve the manual JVs posted by accountants & Monitor month end activities and ensure the books are closed accurately and timely
• Lead the system implementation process
• Review weekly AR report and present to Principal and OSM
• Review payment plan and financial hardship from parents and obtain necessary approval to support the parents
• Manage the school billing and collection process, send out timely reminders and warning letters and provide information with School Principals for decision making to enhance collection and reduce bad debt.
• Initiate legal process to recover the receivables from customers by maintaining all necessary documents
• Review balance sheet schedules and come up with the action plan to clear if any unreconciled balances
• Ensure internal and external audit requirements are provided in timely manner
• Approve the PRs (from finance) and ensure proper budget control to achieve targeted EBIDTA Margin
• Review Open purchase orders, open GRN and open liabilities on periodical manner to improve P2P turnaround time and supplier experience
• Review Bank Reconciliation & ensure reconciliation items are getting cleared
• Identify potential process gaps, suggest improvements and implement the best-in-class processes
• Review supplier and petty cash payments in ERP
• Review various financial surveys from ADEK and economic development
• Provide adhoc reporting requirements to HQ/Principal/OSM/SLT and other stakeholders
• Provide training to accountants and create proper backup within team
  
  
  

• Professional Accounting qualification
  
  
  

• 10+ Years’ experience out of which minimum 5 years’ experience in managing finance & business
• operations
• Education or other multi-site B2C experience
• Experience of change management and fast growth / fast paced dynamic environment
  
  
  

• Well versed with IFRS standards Process oriented and ability to execute finance projects
• Fluent English communication skills, written and oral.
• Attention to detail with diligent follow up, and able to execute in a timely manner.
• Skilled in multi-tasking and handling pressure
• Ability to liaise effectively with business functions
• Ability to manage, develop and lead a team
• Deadline oriented and take ownership of work
• Organizational ability, of self and others.
• Capable of influencing people and talented in networking with cultural sensitivity.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.