Assistant Manager – Finance – Aldar Education

Aldar Education is currently seeking an Assistant Manager – Finance to support our growing family of owned, operated and managed schools in the UAE. 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.

As the leading education group in Abu Dhabi, we provide inclusive and innovative learning that inspires and empowers communities. We offer a range of brands for all learners in our community, from nursery through to adult education.  We offer the broadest choice of curricula. In the largest number of locations in Abu Dhabi.

Starting with one school and 250 students in 2007, Aldar Education has grown into a highly sought after education provider, now supporting over 38,000 students in 31 schools and a growing network of almost 5,000 educators, with over 100 nationalities, offering a wide range of curricula and ancillary services such as a Teacher Training Academy.

Working collaboratively, our education network’s purpose is to empower the next generation to shape our future, directly supporting the educational goals of Abu Dhabi’s government. Today, Aldar Education’s efforts are guided by the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 plan, which aims to build a sustainable knowledge-based economy through premium education.

This position is responsible to oversee finance department within the school, business partner with OSM and Principal to achieve finance excellence by developing strategic finance plans including budgeting and forecasting, improving P2P process and customer experience. Present monthly MIS with Principal, school SLT and OSM & provide financial insights for informed decision making. Work as a finance business partner to provide support to all departments within the school for smooth financial operations.

The incumbent will continuously strive to exceed internal & external customer expectations while embracing the Aldar Education Core Values.

Main Duties    

• Finance business partnering with Principal, SLT and OSM
• Responsible to improve efficiency of finance department
• Responsible to develop annual budget and periodical re-forecast
• Review and present financial performance, AR status, Budget vs Actual, Capex spend
• Point of contact for ADEK (finance related), Internal & External Audit
• Ensure to achieve KPIs set to achieve finance excellence in alignment with department KPI

Specific Duties  

• Prepare school annual budget periodic forecast and submit to HQ finance on timely manner
• Showcase commercial skillset by presenting monthly financial performance with Principal and OSM with recommendations to achieve targeted EBITDA by cost optimization.
• Preparation of Statutory Financial statements and submit to Adek as per the timeline.
• Support in providing financial information with regards to Fee increase application.
• 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 dashboard and present to Principal and OSM
• Review monthly balance sheet schedules and come up with the action plan to clear if any unreconciled balances
• Review FA creation in line with capitalisation policy & allocate the assets into the appropriate asset class.
• Manage internal and external audit queries & provide necessary clarifications.
•  Review & approve the PR’s, 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.
• Review Other income streams before recording in system by SA
• Identify potential process gaps, suggest improvements and implement the best-in-class processes.
• Review supplier invoices & ensure incompliance with VAT law and petty cash payments are in line with policy.
• Review various financial surveys from ADEK and economic development
• Provide adhoc reporting requirements from HQ/Principal/OSM/SLT and other stakeholders
• Provide training to accountants and create proper backup within team.
• Development of the Finance team within the sub-cluster
• Support for a number of schools within the sub-cluster as well as the “home” school the role is based within

Minimum Qualifications    

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting

Minimum Experience   

• 10+ Years’ experience in finance function or Professional qualification with 5+ Years’ Experience in similar role

Job Specific Knowledge & Skills    

• 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
• Advanced excel skills with proven financial modelling experience
• Ability to liaise effectively business functions in order to collect input required for analysis
• Ability to manage a team
• Ability to be detail focused when required whilst maintaining sight of the big picture
• Deadline oriented and take ownership of work
• Excellent analytical capabilities and hands on experience in MS Office presentations
• Organizational ability, of self and others.
• Forethought and forward planning
• Capable of influencing people and talented in networking with cultural sensitivity.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.

What We Offer:

Aldar Education is a family of world-class, child-centered, and innovative schools based in the UAE. We educate students across our group of owned and managed schools and as we grow, so does our need for highly skilled, inspirational, and dedicated school and educational leaders. We offer an attractive remuneration package including a range of benefits. Our future-focused learning model includes both students and staff, so we place a special emphasis on professional development, coaching, and training.

Successful candidates will have access to a wide network of professionals and opportunities to both lead and contribute to training others as well as developing themselves.

This job description is not all-inclusive. Aldar Education reserves the right to amend this job description at any time.  We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. We are dedicated to our national development strategy and encourage UAE Nationals in their application to our company.

Aldar Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Offers of appointment are subject to satisfactory references and police clearance. ­­­­­­­­