Regional Finance Controller, South East Asia

**About the Group
Founded in 2002, Global Schools Foundation is a Singapore-headquartered, community-oriented education institution whose mission is to cultivate and nurture young minds into global leaders of the future and is significantly contributing to achieve significant learning outcomes for every child. In the last two decades, the Foundation has grown to 64 campuses in 11 countries. Our seven international schools are spread across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, South Asia, and East Asia. Global Schools Group (GSG) is an education pioneer with a network of premier international schools. The Foundation schools infuse the best educational approaches from around the globe into a unique pedagogy which imparts value-based learning that goes beyond academics. The 64 GSG schools are spread across 11 countries in ASEAN & South Asia, Middle East and India which provide world class education to over 45,000 students from 70+ nationalities. The schools offer various curricula, including IB, Cambridge and CBSE.

**Job Purpose
The role holder is responsible for providing leadership to the Regional Finance team of SEA, assisting in the development and implementation of Finance strategies, policies and procedures in the geography, and providing support to senior leadership team.

**Key Responsibilities
**Leadership:
- Assist group finance head in the development and implementation of Finance policies and practices in the region.
- Lead finance controllers of SEA region.
- Supports the designs and delivery of Finance priorities and organizational strategies in line with the organization’s business plans
- Supports the design and implementation of the various systems to improve efficiency as the organization grows (e.g. Accounting, Budgeting/MIS, Statutory Audit)

**Functional:
- Develop relevant measurable performance metrics for the regional Finance team, and proactively tracks performance against the metrics to ensure fiscal control and financial feasibility
- Will be responsible for preparation and monitoring of budget. Need to work closely with the Country Directors, Principals, and other stakeholders to understand and gather information required for preparation of budget (e.g. number of new admissions, equipment requirements, etc.)
- Oversees the day-to-day financial/accounts operation, transactions and timely collection of fee and the team’s adherence to the organization’s accounting systems and standards.
- Responsible for ensuring the team’s compliance with all aspects of financial and internal control, financial and management reporting, business planning, statutory reporting, tax compliance, transaction processing and credit management in the country.
- Will lead and/or coordinate with all the stakeholders for timely and accurately monthly/annual books closure.
- Ensures prompt and accurate collation and analysis of monthly MIS for presentation to senior leadership team.
- Managing treasury function which includes but not limited to tracking of the outstanding loan in the country, monitoring of covenants and optimum utilization of fund.
- Will be actively involved for preparation of business model for acquisition and green field projects.
- Will be involved in acquisition and funding of new schools. Once school is acquired, he will be responsible and/or will work with integration team for complete finance integration.

**Interaction:
- Works closely with shared service team in India for day to day accounting, books closure and MIS work.
- Interact with other departments and academic team to support operational activities of the campus.
- Work with statutory and internal auditors for timely completion of audit.
- Builds strong networks and maintains good working relationships with internal and external partners to keep abreast of the current business climate and macroeconomic trends

**People Focus:
- Collaborates proactively with Human Resource to continuously increase competency within the function to meet future organizations needs through the development and recruitment of talent
- Leads the recruitment, selection, orientation, and training of employees in the shared services team of the function
- Builds and manages high performing teams within the function by providing leadership, role clarity, training and career development

**JOB REQUIREMENTS:
**Minimum Qualifications:
CA/CMA/CPA

**Experience**:

- Atleast 15-20 years of post-qualification experience in accounts, audit, taxation, financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and MIS reporting.
- Must have lead a finance/accounts team for at least 5 years and worked in an organisation with Big4 auditors.
- Experience in in utomations for ERP implementation
- Experience in education sector will be preferred.

**Working Days**:

- 5.5 days
- On-site