School Finance Manager | Adcote School for Girls

The Finance Manager is responsible for the financial administration of the school, ensuring financial stability and sustainability. He/she is accountable to the Headteacher for day-to-day matters concerning the running of the school. In addition, the finance manager is required to align the school’s local financial and operational management practices with global group standards. The finance manager shall conduct regular coordination on financial matters and submit routine financial reports to the Group HQ CFO and the Singapore regional HQ Finance Director.

Location: Adcote School for Girls, on-site job

Reporting Line:

• Direct Reporting: School Headteacher (Local school compliance & campus finance operation)
• Regional Reporting: Singapore HQ Finance Director (Financial and operational standards compliance & capital management, budget control)
• Functional Report: China Group CFO (Financial strategy, consolidated reporting)

Key Responsibilities:

• Finance
• Full-set Finance Accounting: Manage daily bookkeeping, account reconciliation, fixed asset management and expense verification in accordance with UK GAAP and group policies; prepare monthly/quarterly/annual financial statements and operational analysis reports.
• Budget & Cost Control: Lead annual budget formulation, implement full-process budget monitoring, analyse budget variance, optimise operational costs, and submit regular financial performance reports to the group.
• Student Fee Management: Standardise the process of tuition, accommodation and miscellaneous fee collection, refund, scholarship deduction and account checking; maintain accurate fee ledgers and ensure consistent data with Chinese admission centres.
• UK Tax & VAT Compliance: Independently handle UK VAT declaration, corporate tax accounting and filing, keep tax documents fully archived, and respond to HMRC inquiries and inspections to ensure 100% local regulatory compliance.
• Cash & Banking Management: Oversee daily cash flow management, bank account operations and fund scheduling; maintain communication with Barclays and other banks for credit facility maintenance, loan renewal and post-equity-change financial procedures.
• Audit & Internal Control: Coordinate external annual audit and internal group audit, sort out supporting documents, and optimise campus financial management systems and internal control processes to mitigate operational and financial risks.
• Cross-border Collaboration: Align daily financial data, system implementation and business settlement with China and Singapore finance teams, support school brand licensing and cross-border education business development.
• File Administration: Manage the archiving and safekeeping of all financial vouchers, reports, tax and audit documents in compliance with UK and group requirements.
• Payroll and PAYE: Prepare or review the monthly payroll and PAYE.
• Commercial
• To actively seek opportunities for additional revenue from commercial activities through the use of School facilities and accommodation when not required for core School use.
• The negotiation of contractual terms for and management of all commercial activities including the letting of School premises to outside organizations.

Person Specification for the role of Finance Manager:

This role requires an exceptional candidate who will be a leader, good communicator and negotiator, an excellent organizer, a strong administrator and have a proven record of effective financial management and the leadership of teams within a services environment. The successful candidate will be flexible, energetic, creative and willing to go the ‘extra mile’. He/she will be positive, open-minded, team spirited, hardworking and be ready to develop and learn professionally.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or above in Finance, Accounting or related majors; ACCA / CPA / CIMA qualification is preferred.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Company and charity law
• Contract, health & safety and employment law
• Monitoring health and safety matters
• Leading teams providing support functions

Aptitudes and Skills:

• A high level of attention to detail
• Strong interpersonal skills and team-working abilities
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• A good level of ICT competence
• Flexibility with regard to working hours which may include occasional open days on Saturdays and some early evenings to attend meetings
• The ability to meet deadlines and a “can-do” attitude to work