Finance Manager-CFO

School Finance Manager / Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Industry: Education / Private Schools / International Schools

Experience: 10–15 years of relevant experience, preferably with 5+ years in a senior finance leadership role.

We are seeking a highly qualified, experienced, and commercially oriented School Finance Manager / CFO to lead and oversee the financial operations and strategic financial management of the school.

The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring the school's financial sustainability, profitability, effective budgeting, cash flow management, tuition fee collection, financial reporting, cost control, internal controls, and regulatory compliance.

The candidate must have strong CFO-level financial capabilities, excellent analytical and strategic planning skills, and preferably extensive experience in the education sector, particularly private or international schools in Qatar or the GCC.

Fluency in both Arabic and English is essential to communicate effectively with school leadership, parents, government authorities, auditors, banks, and other stakeholders.

• Develop and implement the school's financial strategy in alignment with its educational objectives and business plans.
• Advise the School Director, CEO, and Board of Directors on financial performance and strategic decisions.
• Ensure the school's long-term financial sustainability and operational efficiency.
• Prepare financial feasibility studies for school expansion, new campuses, and educational projects.
• Evaluate investment opportunities, capital expenditure, and infrastructure development.
• Identify opportunities to increase revenue, improve profitability, and optimize operating costs.

• Lead the preparation of the annual operating and capital expenditure budgets.
• Develop financial forecasts, cash flow projections, and long-term financial plans.
• Monitor actual expenditure against approved budgets.
• Prepare financial variance analysis and recommend corrective actions.
• Establish departmental budgets for academic, administrative, transportation, facilities, HR, and other school operations.
• Develop financial models based on student enrollment, tuition fees, staffing costs, and operational expenses.

• Oversee the complete tuition fee billing, collection, and reconciliation process.
• Establish effective systems for student fee invoicing and payment tracking.
• Monitor outstanding tuition fees and manage accounts receivable and collection procedures.
• Develop policies for payment plans, discounts, scholarships, sibling concessions, and fee adjustments in accordance with approved school policies and applicable regulations.
• Monitor revenue per student, enrollment trends, and student retention.
• Ensure accurate reconciliation of student accounts and school revenues.
• Coordinate with admissions and registration departments to ensure accurate student billing.

• Manage daily cash flow, liquidity, and working capital requirements.
• Ensure sufficient funds are available to meet payroll, supplier payments, and operational obligations.
• Maintain strong relationships with local and international banks.
• Manage bank accounts, payment approvals, cash management, and banking facilities.
• Prepare monthly cash flow forecasts and liquidity reports.
• Establish effective financial procedures for cash handling and banking transactions.

• Oversee payroll budgeting and financial controls.
• Monitor salaries, allowances, benefits, end-of-service obligations, and employee-related costs.
• Ensure payroll accuracy and timely payment.
• Coordinate with HR on recruitment budgets, staffing plans, annual increments, and employee benefits.
• Monitor the school's largest cost component: teaching and non-teaching staff expenses.
• Ensure compliance with applicable Qatar employment and payroll requirements.

• Supervise all accounting operations and financial transactions.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements.
• Ensure compliance with IFRS and applicable accounting standards.
• Produce management reports, financial dashboards, and performance analysis.
• Monitor accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger, fixed assets, and inventory.
• Ensure accurate financial records and timely account reconciliations.
• Present financial results to school management and the Board of Directors.

• Oversee financial aspects of procurement and supplier payments.
• Review purchase requests, quotations, purchase orders, and contracts.
• Implement cost control measures across all school departments.
• Monitor expenses related to educational resources, maintenance, utilities, IT, transportation, catering, and facilities.
• Establish financial approval limits and procurement controls.
• Negotiate favorable commercial terms with suppliers and service providers.

• Ensure compliance with applicable Qatar financial, tax, and commercial regulations.
• Coordinate with external auditors and internal audit functions.
• Oversee applicable tax compliance and reporting obligations.
• Maintain proper documentation and financial records.
• Ensure compliance with relevant Ministry of Education and Higher Education requirements affecting school fees, financial reporting, and school operations.
• Maintain appropriate internal financial controls and governance procedures.
• Coordinate with government authorities, auditors, banks, and external consultants when required.

• Identify and assess financial and operational risks.
• Establish effective controls over collections, payments, payroll, procurement, and cash management.
• Prevent financial irregularities, fraud, and unauthorized expenditure.
• Implement financial policies and procedures.
• Safeguard the school's financial assets and resources.

• Lead and supervise the finance and accounting department.
• Manage accountants, cashiers, fee collection officers, and finance administrators.
• Establish clear departmental responsibilities and performance KPIs.
• Develop and improve financial systems and reporting processes.
• Train and mentor finance employees.
• Promote financial accountability and professional standards throughout the school.

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration.
• Professional certification: ACCA, CPA, CMA, ACA, or equivalent.
• MBA or Master's degree in Finance is an advantage.
• Minimum 10–15 years of relevant financial management experience.
• Minimum 5 years in a senior finance management or CFO-level position preferred.
• Previous experience in private schools, international schools, educational institutions, or education groups is strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of IFRS, financial reporting, budgeting, and corporate finance.

Arabic and English bilingual proficiency is essential.

The candidate must be able to:

• Communicate fluently in both Arabic and English, verbally and in writing.
• Prepare financial reports, budgets, and presentations in both languages.
• Communicate with parents regarding tuition fees and financial matters.
• Liaise with Qatar government authorities and relevant educational regulators.
• Conduct financial negotiations and business discussions in both languages.
• Communicate effectively with the School Director, Board of Directors, and senior management.

The candidate must demonstrate strong expertise in:

• Advanced financial planning and analysis (FP&A).
• Financial modeling and business forecasting.
• Annual budgeting and multi-year financial planning.
• Cash flow and working capital management.
• Tuition fee collection and revenue management.
• Payroll and staff cost analysis.
• Financial performance analysis and profitability management.
• Capital expenditure and investment analysis.
• Internal controls and financial risk management.
• IFRS and financial statement preparation.
• Audit and regulatory compliance.
• ERP and school management systems.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel, financial dashboards, and reporting tools.

Preferred systems experience: SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, Odoo, Power BI, and school management/ERP systems.

The Finance Manager / CFO will be evaluated against the following:

• Budget preparation accuracy and adherence.
• Timely monthly financial reporting and management accounts.
• Tuition fee collection rate and reduction in overdue receivables.
• Cash flow forecasting accuracy and liquidity management.
• Cost optimization and operational expenditure control.
• Payroll accuracy and timely processing.
• Financial audit results and regulatory compliance.
• Improvement in financial reporting and internal control systems.
• Financial performance per student and revenue growth.
• Effectiveness of the finance team and departmental performance.

• Exceptional analytical and financial decision-making skills.
• Strong leadership and management capabilities.
• High level of integrity, confidentiality, and accountability.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• Strong commercial and strategic thinking.
• Ability to manage complex financial operations.
• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines.
• Proactive approach to financial planning and problem-solving.

Reports to: MD

• Previous experience in a private or international school in Qatar.
• Knowledge of Qatar's education sector and applicable Ministry of Education and Higher Education requirements.
• Familiarity with local banking, taxation, and commercial regulations.
• Experience dealing with Qatar government authorities and external auditors.
• Knowledge of school tuition fee structures and fee approval requirements.
• Understanding of Qatar employment and payroll practices.
• Experience managing large school budgets and multi-campus operations is an advantage.

The successful candidate must be a highly competent financial leader who can combine advanced CFO-level financial expertise with practical knowledge of school operations.

The individual must ensure strong financial governance, sustainable school growth, effective tuition fee collection, accurate financial reporting, efficient cost management, and full financial transparency while supporting the school's educational mission and long-term development.