Downe House Riyadh wants Head Of Finance

Applicants are invited for the post of Head of Finance for two premium British Schools in Riyadh – Downe House Riyadh and King’s College Riyadh.

The role provides an excellent opportunity to join two vibrant communities and play a central role in the growth of two premium schools in the heart of Riyadh.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team at both schools, and reporting to the Principals/Heads of School, the Head of Finance is responsibility and accountability for all financial affairs at Downe House Riyadh and King’s College Riyadh. Additional reporting and communication will be required with the EduReach Core Team and the School Boards.

This is an exciting position suited to a dynamic and committed Finance professional who combines leadership skills with proven financial and accounting expertise.

This post should attract an experienced professional from the education sector or an exceptional individual with wider educational or financial experience gained outside the sector. The candidate should have an instinctive feel for the school’s stakeholders and their needs, bringing with them the relevant skills to undertake this complex and exciting job.

An understanding of, and empathy with, the school’s ethos is essential.

Start Date: As soon as possible.

Responsibilities

Values and Ethos

• Actively promote our unique vision through enthusiastic participation in all areas of school life.
• Always set high expectations, which inspire, motivate and support colleagues.
• Ensure that you comply with any rules, policies and procedures implemented by the school.
• Ensure that you model the speaking of English when in the presence of students, prospective students, parents, colleagues and in public areas of the school.
• Embrace and encourage the ethos and standards of excellence as defined by the school.
• Respect and support Saudi culture and the diversity of the school.

Finance and Accounting

• Responsibility and accountability for on-budget performance at Downe House Riyadh and King’s College Riyadh.
• Oversee the work of the finance departments.
• Advise on general financial policy and financial management procedures in the schools.
• Prepare annual estimates of income and expenditure to include the preparation of departmental budgets within the school, the latter in consultation with the Heads of School and senior staff.
• Monitoring income and expenditure in relation to budget
• Prepare and present accurate and timely monthly, termly and annual management reports to the board.
• Maintain the fixed assets register and calculate depreciation on a monthly basis and post it in the accounting system.
• Prepare the allocated Balance Sheet reconciliations schedules each month and file them ready for review by EduReach’s central finance team and the Board.
• Prepare the schools’ budgets (preliminary and final) and supporting reports with the Heads of School and EduReach Core Team, taking into account fees, salaries, and all expenses known at the time. Ensure there are supporting schedules to back up the budgets.
• Suggest changes or improvements to increase accuracy, efficiency, and cost reductions.
• Assisting with the adoption of new financial and management reporting systems
• Manage accounts receivable and ensure invoices and reminders are sent out in a timely fashion along with regular monitoring of aged receivables.
• Perform and oversee the full purchase ledger tasks – raising PO’s, receiving the goods/services, entering the invoices into the accounting system and seeing them through to payment.
• Calculate and post accruals and pre-payments on a monthly basis.
• Maintaining cash flow projections for the current and future years.
• Prepare forecasts for the future financial performance of the school; usually over a period of five years.
• Prepare financial appraisals of projects.
• Ensure that all every day financial operations e.g bills, fee collection, staff payroll, supplier payments, etc are implemented accurately, promptly and effectively.
• Prepare year-end annual accounts working with the auditors.
• Advise on school fee increases in full consultation with the Heads of School, EduReach Core Team and the School Boards.
• Advise on scholarship and bursary funds and undertaking assessments of parents’ income and assets prior to making bursary awards.
• Suggest changes or improvements to increase accuracy, efficiency, and cost reductions.
• Assist with the adoption of new financial and management reporting systems.
• Provide training to less experienced Downe House Riyadh and King’s College Riyadh finance team members, as well as elsewhere across the EduReach Group as requested.
• Manage the finance teams to ensure efficient bookkeeping, including:
• making sure that account balances are up to date;
• forecasting cash payments and anticipating challenges arising from limited cash flow;
• checking and verifying source documents such as invoices, receipts, computer printouts;
• allocating and posting financial transaction details to subsidiary books;
• transferring data to the general ledger;
• reconciling and balancing all accounts;
• collecting information for and preparing payroll payments for employees;
• maintaining internal control systems;
• managing accounts payable and accounts receivable;
• processing payments on behalf of the company;
• preparing and processing payroll with support from external accountants;
• maintaining complete filing system to support all financial records.
• Ensure compliance with relevant reporting requirements and financial laws and regulations.
• Ensure all tax compliance is processed in a timely fashion. This includes payroll taxes, income and corporation taxation, WHT & VAT.
• Oversight of purchasing for all goods and services for both schools in accordance with agreed procurement policies.
• Continuously improve procurement efficiency through seeking new service or goods providers or enhancing relationships with existing providers.

Member of Senior Leadership Teams

• Embrace the ethos of the school and ensure that all finance and administration staff meet the standards and expectations as defined in all staff policies.
• Ensure that all financial and administrative aspects of the school are led and managed efficiently and effectively.
• Liaise with the Head of Schools and lead the school-based finance staff and administrative staff to ensure the schools needs are met appropriately.
• Work with other members of the Senior Leadership Team over matters including financial management, procurement, policy development, compliance, human resource administration, and third-party management.
• Contribute to the development of the school including contributions to the school’s strategic planning activities and School Development Plan.
• Generate ideas for additional revenue streams.
• Act in a manner which supports positive and productive working relationships within the school.
• Line manage finance staff and selected administration staff.
• Provide leadership of the finance and administration teams during school holiday periods when academic leadership teams may be off campus.
• Work with the leadership team to prepare for inspection and accreditation e.g. BSO inspection, and achieve excellent outcomes.

General Management

• Improve all areas of the finance team’s work by leading, training, monitoring and providing feedback.
• ‪Prepare service guidelines, workflows and minimum standards / benchmarks.
• ‪Prepare individual and department KPIs and accountabilities.

Other

• Fulfil any reasonable additional responsibilities as requested by the line manager.

Safeguarding Responsibilities

• To comply with all safeguarding policies and procedures and ensure that any safeguarding concerns are reported in line with policy.
• To demonstrate a personal commitment to safeguarding and wellbeing.
• To engage fully in all safeguarding training as required.

Note

This Job Description may be altered to meet changing needs and will be reviewed with the post holder. The Job Description is indicative of the nature and level of responsibilities associated with the post. It is not intended to be exhaustive; other tasks may be allocated as necessary from time to time.

Person Specification 

Qualifications & Experience

• A relevant and good undergraduate degree
• Some postgraduate study (for example, financial qualifications, MA/MBA or
• equivalent)
• Evidence of significant leadership impact and/or change management
• IT proficient
• At least 7+ years’ experience in a senior level finance position in a large scale, customer-focussed environment, ideally within the education sector

Personal Qualities

• Gravitas and integrity
• Must have presence and ability to lead and inspire people
• Ability to take action to implement a vision and to drive execution
• Excellent communication and inter-personal skills
• Desire to collaborate and be comfortable working as a team leader and a
• team member
• Possess a high degree of initiative
• Strong work ethic, ability to multitask, passion for operations
• Attention to detail with diligent follow up/ability to execute in timely manner
• Able to prioritize and handle pressure
• Capable of influencing people and talented in networking
• Proactive and dynamic
• Organized and disciplined
• Flexible and resourceful
• Engaging communicator
• Highly inquisitive and informed
• Open minded, collaborative, and optimistic, yet realistic – solutions focused.
• Respectful, professional bearing – sensitive to multi-cultural differences.

Safeguarding and Data Protection

Downe House Riyadh and King’s College Riyadh are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all the staff to respect this commitment. The post is subject to applicants providing a satisfactory Police Clearance Certificate from their home country that is less than three (3) months old. Three satisfactory professional references will also be required.

If successful and if applicable, for visa purposes, applicant will need to supply (a) relevant degree certificates and proof of being a ‘full time’ student completing ‘in-person’ study; (b) a police clearance certificate from the country in which the visa application is being made; and a visa medical completed in the country in which the visa application is being made. These documents will need to be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Saudi Embassy in the applicant’s home country or, in the case of the degree certificate, in the country in which it was obtained (if different from the home country). The cost and processing of these documents, mandatory for a KSA work visa application, is the applicant’s responsibility.

By applying to this post, you agree to your data being held and processed by the school and its affiliates. If you are appointed to the post, you also agree to additional information, including sensitive data such as bank details and medical information, being held by the school and its affiliates.