Senior Financial Manager

Senior Financial Manager

Job Title: Senior Financial Manager

Role Summary:

This senior financial role requires a Chartered Accountant (CA) or equivalent professional qualification with 5-7 years of progressive financial leadership experience in the education sector or international schools. The successful candidate will lead the school's overall financial strategy, planning, and operations to ensure long-term sustainability and growth.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the school's overall financial strategy, planning, and operations to ensure long-term sustainability and growth.
• Provide accurate and timely financial insights to the Principal, Board of Governors, and senior leadership team for decision-making.
• Contribute to strategic planning, risk management, and policy development.

Financial Management & Reporting:

• Prepare and present financial statements including Balance Sheet, Profit & Loss accounts, and Cash Flow statements.
• Develop budgets and forecasts in collaboration with leadership and department heads.
• Monitor financial performance, variances, and implement corrective actions as needed.
• Ensure strong internal controls and adherence to best practices in financial governance.

Compliance & Regulatory:

• Ensure compliance with all statutory and regulatory requirements, including income tax, GST, corporate filings, and education-sector-specific regulations.
• Manage expatriate staff payroll and taxation, ensuring compliance with international taxation norms and double-taxation treaties where applicable.
• Oversee audits (statutory, internal, and external) and liaise with auditors, consultants, and government authorities.

Admissions & Fees Management:

• Oversee all finance-related aspects of the admissions process, including fee structures, invoicing, collections, and refunds.
• Implement transparent and parent-friendly financial processes aligned with the school's ethos.
• Monitor fee receivables and manage collection processes to ensure healthy cash flow.

Expatriate Financial Management:

• Manage tax equalization, relocation allowances, and compliance with home/host country obligations.
• Act as a key resource for expatriates to navigate financial, taxation, and compliance matters.

Team & Operational Oversight:

• Lead and mentor the finance team to ensure efficiency, accuracy, and accountability.
• Oversee procurement, vendor management, contracts, and resource allocation.

Must-Have Qualifications & Experience:

• Chartered Accountant (CA) or equivalent professional qualification.

• Minimum 5-7 years of progressive financial leadership experience, with at least 3 years in the education sector or international schools.

• Knowledge of statutory requirements in all matters concerning school finances, including Society law, GST, FCRA, PF Act, taxation etc.

• Proven knowledge of expatriate taxation, payroll, and compliance.

• Strong track record in preparing and analyzing Balance Sheets, P&L, budgets, and financial forecasts.

• Demonstrated ability to ensure compliance with statutory requirements and liaise with auditors/regulatory authorities.

• Excellent interpersonal skills with cultural sensitivity, particularly when working with expatriates and diverse communities.

Desirable Skills & Attributes:

• Prior experience in an international or IB/IGCSE school environment.

• Familiarity with ERP/finance systems in education (e.g., Tally, SAP, Oracle, or school-specific MIS).

• Strong commercial acumen with ability to balance educational values with financial sustainability.

• Strategic thinker, problem solver, and collaborative leader.

• Integrity, transparency, and a commitment to the ethos and values of international education.