Job Description

LOCATION: London or Lausanne

JOB PURPOSE: Support the 18 NAE Schools to ensure the continued development of accurate and timely financial reporting across the European region. Implement best practices and assist schools in ensuring the completeness and accuracy of data at the highest standard to enable the Region to meet its commercial objectives in the short and longer term. Specifically, focus on rolling out best practices and the new Internal Controls platform across the Region.

REPORTING TO: Regional Finance Director - Europe

DIRECT REPORTS: N/a

OTHER KEY RELATIONSHIPS: Group Finance, FP&A, Regional finance teams, Respective school finance teams, Legal, Corp. Dev., Banks

KEY RESULT AREA:

• Review month end, quarter end, and year end accounts of schools, ensuring timely preparation in compliance with Nord Anglia Education\'s accounting policies and procedures. Interpret, review, and approve monthly journals.
• Ensure on-time delivery of accurate reporting in the correct format for month end, quarterly, and year end reporting packs.
• Review month end balance sheet, identifying reasons for movements and P&L variances to budget/forecast. Reconcile and document all balance sheet items.
• Collaborate with the Group FC to align, enhance, and standardize financial reports. Develop and implement consistent, robust, auditable, and secure financial and commercial processes and systems.
• Encourage Best Practice processes across the region, working with schools to improve month end closing efficiency.
• Implement Nord Anglia Education\'s approved accounting methods and standards. Ensure internal processes and systems are compliant.
• Regularly review the effectiveness of internal controls, covering financial and compliance controls.
• Responsible for accounting and filing of any regional holding or dormant companies.
• Lead compliance of new schools accounting with group accounting policies.
• Support third parties on Opening Balance sheet work with new acquisitions.
• Interpret financial transactions, contracts, or events, providing appropriate analysis for accounting treatment in accordance with IFRS requirements.
• Assist the team in preparing annual budgets, regular forecasts, and cash flow forecasts. Monitor and review actual performance against these budgets.
• Work with schools to review statutory accounts.
• Review and initially sign off on the Quarterly Management Certification Questionnaire (MCQ).
• Analyze financial data to understand historical performance and project future financial performance, including capex analysis, pre and post-acquisition reviews, and school expansion projects.

• Strong relationships established with all stakeholders.
• Financial accounts and business reports are accurate, produced within deadlines, and effectively highlight operational performance.
• Implementation of a process for monthly reviews.
• Adherence to group policies and procedures.
• Regional and Head office reporting meets the required standard and is submitted within deadlines.
• Best practice processes are shared and implemented across the Finance Teams.

• Minimum of 5 years of leadership and management experience.
• Experience in establishing internal procedures, processes, and controls throughout the company.
• Statutory compliance experience required.
• Extensive experience in reporting, consolidation, business planning, and implementation, ideally in the Education Sector.
• Advanced Excel skills, including macros, pivot tables, and data modelling.
• Experience in using accounting software such as Navision.
• Strong commercial background, previously worked for an international organization.
• Ability to influence and drive change internally.
• Recognized accountancy qualification - CIMA, ACA, ACCA, CGMA, CPA qualified.

• Conscientious and able to focus on completing work to a consistently high standard.
• Team player with good communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills; high attention to detail.
• Ability to work to tight deadlines and prompt others to ensure deadlines are achieved.
• Ability to work under pressure and remain calm.
• Proactive and positive approach to work.
• Takes ownership and strives to improve processes and add value.
• High level of personal integrity.

Nord Anglia Education