Regional Finance Director

ISP Regional Finance Director Role Profile

Purpose of Role

This role will report to the Regional Managing Director (RMD), with a dotted line to the Divisional CFO - Asia.  The Regional Finance Director (RFD) will be responsible for business partnering with the RMD and have full responsibility for all aspects of reporting including management accounts, budgeting, KPIs, consolidation, cash, tax and statutory reporting for this region.

ISP Principles

Begin with our children and students. Our children and students are at the heart of what we do. Simply, their success is our success. Wellbeing and safety are both essential for learners and learning. Therefore, we are consistent in identifying potential safeguarding issues and acting and following up on all concerns appropriately.

Treat everyone with care and respect. We look after one another, embrace similarities and differences and promote the well-being of self and others.

Operate effectively. We focus relentlessly on the things that are most important and will make the most difference. We apply school policies and procedures and embody the shared ideas of our community.

Learn continuously. Getting better is what drives us. We positively engage with personal and professional development and school improvement.

ISP Regional Finance Director Key Responsibilities

1. Commercial business partnering with the Regional MD

• Setting budgets, forecasts and targets for the region
• Monitor performance such that budgets and targets are achieved
• Identifying opportunities for growing enrolments
• Ensuring schools costs are controlled within agreed budgets
• Drive understanding and accountability of financial performance across region
• Set up of the new regional office and associated functions

1. Management Reporting

• Consolidate and review the regional monthly results and reporting on variances against budget and prior year for all schools in the region
• Reporting on KPIs with commentary, making clear link to the key drivers, impacting the P&L performance versus budget assumptions
• Lead on the financial aspects of integration post-acquisition of new schools

1. Cash Flow

• Responsible for ensuring that local cash management is optimised
• Cash pooling is in place where possible
• Working with the Group Head of Corporate Finance (Treasury) to ensure that cash flows are forecast accurately, and that surplus cash is repatriated to the UK

1. Statutory Reporting

• First point of contact with Group and local auditors
• Ensure that the Statutory Reporting of all legal entities is completed on time
• Regular balance sheet reconciliations / Appropriate internal controls
• Maintain a reconciliation between statutory and management reporting
• Capex
• Full ownership of Capex process for the region, including reporting to Group, tracking of actual spend vs. budget and coordination of regional budget submissions
• Work closely with regional functional directors in preparation and submission of project capex papers

1. Tax

• Work with schools to develop strategies, policies and plans to ensure that the schools are fully tax compliant

• Work with Group Head of Tax on group tax matters such as transfer pricing and to ensure that the tax profile of the region is optimised
• Ensure the policy, procedures and practices relating to taxation comply fully with all legal and regulatory requirements and codes of practice /conduct
• Liaising with external tax advisors as appropriate
• Maintain a good technical knowledge of relevant tax policies and processes
• Systems
• Support the Group Financial Systems team in maintaining fit-for-purpose Management Reporting Systems, for the region.
• Provide feedback, suggestions and input from the region to help develop the systems and facilitate efficient and consistent finance processes and reporting across the region.
• Team Leadership

1. A key representative for ISP in the region

• Provide leadership across the region together with the Regional Managing Director and the Regional SMT team members, including Heads of Schools and functional directors
• Provide leadership to all finance personnel in the region (including school finance managers) and ensure that finance capability in the region and schools is continually improved
• Work alongside Regional Managing Director to mentor and coach other regional functional managers and staff. 
• Member of ISP’s Group Finance Leadership Team

1. Other

• The Regional Finance Director will take regional responsibility for the ISP Procurement programme, working with the Group Procurement Lead and the Regional Procurement Champion to embed sound procurement processes and procedures in the region, report on any regional initiatives and track actual savings vs. target
• Additionally, the Regional Finance Director will work closely with the Regional HR Director on staffing efficiencies across the schools, including the monitoring of staffing ratios and use of appropriate tools to calculate and assess appropriate levels of staffing.

Skills, Qualifications and Experience

• Qualified accountant, ideally Big 4 qualified with significant experience of operating at a senior level in a commercial environment, ideally in a senior financial role reporting into an overseas Head Office structure in either the USA or UK
• Fluent in English and Hindi
• Comfortable in setting policy and direction and influencing others in the achievement of objectives, also in areas other than own expertise area
• Demonstrable success in previous roles requiring commercial, business and strategic understanding
• Experience of working at pace in a growing business
• Resilient and independent, with the ability to challenge and push back when appropriate
• Strong understanding of tax and statutory accounting issues in the region
• Knowledge of IFR
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships at senior levels of the organisation and influence key stakeholders.  Ability to understand the business context to draw an appropriate balance between control and giving schools freedom to operate
• Strong people management skills and emotional intelligence.  Comfortable with ambiguity
• Oracle/NetSuite experience desirable but not essential
• Ideally will possess some international experience
• Flexibility and a willingness to travel across the region

ISP Leadership Competencies

You consistently demonstrate and role-model the ISP Leadership Competencies in all that you do.

1. Collaboration. Takes an active part in leading their school or region; is cooperative and a genuine team player, developing positive, supportive relationships with colleagues to solve problems and maximise opportunities.

1. Learning & Getting Better. Continually demonstrates personal commitment and passion for learning and getting better using evidence and feedback; supporting others in their continual learning, development and growth.

1. Innovation Leadership. Is good at creating an environment where ideas for learning initiatives and services are generated and is able to motivate and inspire others through the process of creation through to completion.

1. Outcome driven. Can be counted on to find solutions. Is consistently looking to exceed goals and is focused on KPIs.

1. Resilience. Can deal with setbacks and challenges calmly and effectively.

1. Community Focus. Is committed to meeting and exceeding the needs and expectations of our students and their families.

1. Integrity & Ethical Management. Has the ability to work ethically and with integrity; helps others feel valued; upholds and models the ISP Vision, Purpose and Principles.

1. Leading & Inspiring Others. Supports, encourages and inspires students, colleagues and teams so that they give their best.

1. Understanding People. Is a very good judge of talent, can objectively articulate the strengths and motivations of people inside or outside the organisation.

1. Influencing & Communication. Consistently informs, influences and inspires students, parents and colleagues through timely and effective communication.

1. Agile. Responds and adapts to changing circumstances; manages and solves problems by providing solutions in a climate of ambiguity.

1. Strategic, Commercial & Financial Awareness. Has the ability to apply understanding of the business and industry to improve effectiveness and profitability.

1. Planning & Decision Making. Makes decisions on the best course of action and then plans, organises, prioritises and balances resources to achieve the desired outcome.

1. Diversity & Equity. Has the sensitivity, awareness and skill to understand the values, behaviours, attitudes and practices across cultures that supports all children and adults to learn and work effectively.

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 and satisfactory Criminal Background Checks or equivalent covering the previous 10 years’ employment history.