Finance and Administration Manager

For all staff in school we share a responsibility to ensure that children are always safe and properly supervised. Our school is committed to ‘amazing learning’- providing enjoyable and meaningful learning experiences so that every pupil makes as much progress as possible. All staff are expected to adhere to NIS policies and code of conduct and commit to promoting our vision – ‘A happy community school with amazing learning at its heart where pupils are empowered to make choices, engage in meaningful learning experiences and make exceptional progress’.

The Finance & Administration Manager’s role enhances and improves the financial operations and governance of the school environment. This position is responsible for the accounting, financial reporting and financial operations of the school, including the production of monthly financial reports, maintenance of an adequate system of accounting records, a comprehensive set of controls to mitigate risk, enhance the accuracy of the schools reported financial results, and ensure that reported results comply with international financial reporting standards.

Key qualities and skills:

• Excellent communication, organizational and people skills at all levels
• Ability to collate and analyse  data
• Health and Safety Awareness
• Energetic and enthusiastic
• A dynamic, positive approach to deliver the school’s vision
• Self-motivation and ability to take initiatives
• Capacity to be flexible
• Demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to our best practice model
• Good knowledge and information of school operations
• Ability to deal effectively with all staff
• Skilled in the use of finance and accounting system, NetSuite experience would be a plus
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff
• Important Skills: Confidentiality, enthusiasm, imagination, energy, adaptability, patience and responsibility

Key duties include:

 Core Finance:

• Oversee the operations of the Accounting Department, including the design of an organisational structure adequate for achieving the department's goals and objectives.
• Design internal control systems for all departments to ensure the safeguarding of school assets and monitor and enforce internal controls.
• Ensure the efficient operation and integration of the accounting system throughout the school.
• Ensure the timely reporting of all monthly and annual financial information as required by iSP Group and other stakeholders from time to time. .
• Ensure general ledger and financial statements are complete and accurate.
• Perform general ledger reconciliations including deferred income and other account analysis.
• Each month end, update a ‘month end’ folder with detailed balance sheet reconciliations for all balance sheet items.
• Daily cash reporting and monthly bank reconciliations
• Manage the production of the annual budget and in year forecasts
• Liaise with banks, audit, legal and tax providers as necessary
• Comply with government reporting requirements and tax filings
• KPI and performance monitoring
• Manage payables, receivables and invoicing functions of the school efficiency.
• Prepare monthly budget variance reports and work with the Principal on corrective actions.
• Provide financial analysis for decision support including capital investments, pricing decisions, and contract negotiations.
• Ensure the school has the adequate insurance cover at all times
• Liaise with suppliers and clients when needed to ensure the smooth running of the day to day operations.
• Reviewing of operational contracts to ensure “best value” is achieved.
• Provide financial analysis for decision support including capital investments, pricing decisions, and contract negotiations.
• Prepare and submit payroll to iSP regional team
• Enforcing the group Delegation of Authority
• Ad hoc duties as required

School Operations & Administration

Specific areas of responsibility

ICT

• Determine with the Regional Head of ICT appropriate IT infrastructure and ensure contractors fulfill installation as per specification agreed.
• With the Regional Head of ICT ensure resources, support and training are provided to enable work colleagues to make the best use of available IT.
• Ensure contingency plans are in place in the case of technology failure.
• Raise to Regional Head of ICT any issues relating to ICT from the school perspective

Health & Safety (H&S)

• Work closely with H&S coordinator to ensure that school is H&S compliant from an ISP Group perspective and from a local regulatory perspective
• Ensure that all incidents are recorded in “360” system
• Review and allocate Budget accordingly to ensure H&S compliance

HR

• Work with school HR to ensure Group and local regulatory compliance of employees
• Manage with the support of HR the PRO for the school and ensure government compliance is maintained including reporting and licensing.
• Ensure that all details that flow from Cezanne to the payroll system are accurate and correct

Facilities

• Work with school Facilities Manager to ensure budget is appropriately allocated to ensure the upkeep and maintenance of the building.
  • Monitor the financial progression of CAPEX projects with Regional Head of Facilities and ensure budget targets are met

• Work with facilities manager to maximise income from external sources such as letting of facilities.

Procurement

• Overseeing procurement of goods and services using best practice model and ensuring best value.
• Establishing of robust systems of control for purchase of goods and services
• Ensure that an inventory of assets is prepared and maintained.

Administration

• Ensure that the school is fully compliant.
• Establish effective whole school administrative functions which deliver outcomes within the school’s vision.
• Establish and use effective methods to review and improve administrative systems.
• Ensure all appropriate records are maintained

General Areas of Responsibility

• Prepare business cases for areas such as accommodation, transport, ICT infrastructure, service contracts such as catering and landscaping etc with respective functional heads.
• Be part of the school SLT (Senior Leadership Team), both academic & nonacademic
• Advise the SLT immediately where mismanagement of school funds is suspected or value compromised.
• Work with school Admissions team and with Regional Head of Admissions to ensure that the school is on track to achieve its targets. Monitor progress and raise any concerns as and when required.
• Seek professional advice on insurance and advise the Principal on appropriate insurances for the school and implement and manage such schemes accordingly.
• Undertake such other reasonable responsibilities and tasks that may, from time to time, be assigned by the Regional Managing Director & Finance Director – Middle East and the International Schools Partnership.

Health and Safety

• Take all necessary and reasonable precautions to protect students, equipment, materials, and facilities
• Assist in implementing all policies and rules governing student life and conduct
• Ensure that, all the necessary health and safety rules and procedures are being followed
• Maintain an awareness of all the health and safety measures to be taken when in school

Position Requirements:

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Finance; Finance specific certification
• Experience: Minimum 4 years’ experience in Finance

Competencies:

• Excellent communication skills and command of the English language, in spoken and written form
• Presentation skills with the ability to present information in a concise and professional manner
• Organization skills: well organized and able to prioritize tasks
• Customer service
• Critical thinking
• Ability to negotiate, persuade and motivate others
• Willing attitude to be a part of the school team
• Strong sense of professionalism
• Safeguarding and welfare of children
• A collaborative team-player with excellent interpersonal skills
• Behavior management
• Demonstrated competency to use computer applications related to the role, including word processing and spreadsheet applications
• Record keeping and report preparation methods
• Interpersonal skills including tact, courtesy and patience
• Customer focused
• Willingness to undertake appropriate Professional Development

Attributes:

• Empathetic listener
• Integrity and confidentiality
• Internationally minded
• Emotional intelligence
• Intercultural awareness, creative
• Flexible and a can-do attitude

Whilst every effort has been made to explain the main duties and responsibilities of the post, each individual task undertaken may not be identified.

Employees will be expected to comply with any reasonable request from a manager to undertake work of a similar level that is not specified in this job description

Employees are expected to be courteous to colleagues and provide a welcoming environment to visitors and telephone callers.

The International Schools Partnership

Nibras International School is part of The International Schools Partnership (ISP).

The International Schools Partnership (ISP) is a growing group of committed colleagues in financially responsible schools around the world, all of which aim to be the school of choice in their local area. Learning is at the heart of everything we do for our pupils, colleagues and parents. We are committed to getting better, all the time.

ISP was founded by an experienced team of committed educationalists and commercial operators who have worked together over many years. Our growing group of private schools located in the UK, the USA, Europe, Costa Rica, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Malaysia, Mexico and Peru educate children and pupils from 2-18 years of age. We have now expanded to 45 schools delivering multiple curricula and building on local brands and reputations with around 45,000 pupils and 7,000 staff located across the globe.

We believe that successful schools are the ones that put learning at the heart of everything they do, always aiming to create rounded individuals that are able to forge successful careers and lives in a rapidly changing world. Our goal is to enable our schools as the leading school of choice in their local area. We are a truly international group working in different cultures and speaking different languages. We work across countries and cultures, too, by working with each other and with other schools and communities. At ISP we continue to engage with schools around the world who are interested in becoming part of our global group of schools and look forward to welcoming more pupils and staff to the group.

All our schools:

• Help children and pupils learn to levels that amaze them.

• Inspire children and pupils to be successful now and equip them to be successful later.

• Are truly international, working in partnerships within and across regions, cultures and languages.

• Aim to be the schools of choice for children, pupils and their families, wherever we are.

ISP Commitment to Safeguarding Principles

ISP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

All post holders are subject to appropriate vetting procedures, including an online due diligence search, references and satisfactory Criminal Background Checks or equivalent covering the previous 10 years’ employment history.

ISP Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

ISP is committed to strengthening our inclusive culture by identifying, hiring, developing, and retaining high-performing teammates regardless of gender, age, disability status, neuro divergence, socio-economic background or other demographic characteristics. Candidates who share our vision and principles and are interested in contributing to the success of ISP through this role are strongly encouraged to apply.