Job Title: Finance & Operations Manager
Location: British International School of Chicago, South Loop
Job Purpose:
- Lead and manage the school finance and operations (IT, Facilities, and Transport) functions efficiently ensuring internal and external reporting requirements are met.
- Provide the School Principal and SLT with the commercial, financial, and operational support required to run and develop a highly successful school.
- Demonstrate a thorough and comprehensive understanding of business performance and support the achievement of the school’s budget and strategic objectives.
- Ensure compliance and internal controls are effective and ongoing.
- Ensure effective production, management, reporting and development for areas supervised.
- Evaluate and provide advice on improving the financial and operational performance of the school and contribute to the development of strategy and business plans.
- Prepare school budgets and forecasts and manage the purchase order and capital expenditure approval process.
- Be an active member of the school’s Senior Leadership Team.
Qualifications/Training:
- Professionally certified CIMA, ACCA, ACA, or CPA. (Preferred)
- Relevant Bachelor's or Master's degree and part qualified in the above certification.
Experience/Knowledge:
- 2 years and above experience with proven ability in a Management Accounting management role.
- Advanced experience in accountancy software products such as SAGE, MS Navision, and MS Office, specifically Excel and PowerPoint Essential.
- The ability to work to tight deadlines, and the ability to gather, analyze, explain and consolidate data for management reporting.
- Past experience in school environment
Responsibilities:
Operations Management
- Oversee the leaders of the Site Operations and IT teams and ensure their management strategy aligns with the wider business strategy and ensure continuous improvement and ongoing increased efficiency.
Personnel and Staff
- Oversee and manage the workload of the finance team staff and manage their professional development.
Financial Management
- Preparation of timely and accurate financial statements.
- Prepare and update financial forecasts and generate budget and forecast variance reports.
- Prepare variance explanations for budgets, forecasts, and audits.
- Prepare forecasts of annual results.
- Manage the monthly close process, i.e. – pre-closing, accounts reconciliation, related tax filings and project cash flow.
- Prepare and manage annual budgets across the various departments. Assist all areas of the school in budget setting as needed (e.g. for school trips, fee related programs, etc.).
- Prepare general financial analysis and other finance related tasks.
- Assist with annual re-enrolment and enrolment contracts.
- Assist with Financial Aid annual awards.
- Oversee accounts receivable and accounts payable process, including collections and debtor management.
- Provide backup as needed in any area of bookkeeping.
- Maintain fixed asset accounting/capital expenditures management.
- Manage all customer issues in relation to financial account management and queries.
- Manage all administrative support for ancillary business lines, including but not limited to property rental, paid extra-curricular activities, school bus, after school care.
- Maintain, update and manage key vendor contracts and relationships.
Supervision and Training
- Manage department workflow, which includes the following: prioritize department workflow, organizing and assigning tasks in an efficient manner, researching outside services to improve efficiency and cost when necessary and appropriate.
- Conduct staff and service provider performance evaluations.
- Assist in establishing financial reporting systems, accounting and collection procedures, and investment activities, and make recommendations for changes to procedures, operating systems, budgets, and other financial control functions.
- Track & oversee equipment purchase and inventory.
- Prepare financial reports required by management.
- Establish and maintain relationships with individual and business customers, and provide assistance with problems these customers may encounter.
- Other duties as assigned.
Professional Conduct and Relationships
- Works independently and collaboratively.
- Organized and meets deadlines.
- Demonstrates enthusiasm and optimism about the school and the goals of the wider organization.
- Manages emotions and is aware of the impact of personal actions upon others.
- Persists in the face of challenges and setbacks, and is open to learning from mistakes.
- Seeks advice and feedback from others when faced with challenging situations and circumstances.
- Responds well to criticism and learns from it.
- Builds strong relationships and works collaboratively with colleagues and parents.
- Provides opportunities for team to collaborate to achieve organizational outcomes.
- Is principled, engaging with staff and stakeholders in an open, respectful and inclusive manner.
- Positively influences senior leaders, peers and other team members.
- Acts with integrity and inspires trust.
Other
- Promote and adhere to the Company Vision and Values:
- Meet statutory responsibilities and company policies with regard to Health and Safety, Equal Opportunities, Child Protection and other relevant legislation.
- Any other appropriate duties as allocated by the Principal.
Skills:
- Fluent in English.
- Strong interpersonal skills to communicate effectively with faculty and parents, as well as members of both school and Regional finance teams.
- Advanced Excel skills for report generation and analysis of high volume of data.
- Effective communication skills to negotiate with external stakeholders on commercial contracts and transactions.
- Excellent presentation skills to present reports, or deliver training, to SLT, staff or Regional team.
Other Conditions:
The successful candidate must already have permission to work in the United States.
At Nord Anglia Education we are committed to providing a world class, safe, happy environment in which children and young people are able to thrive and learn. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our students irrespective of race, ability, religion, gender, or culture.
All post holders are subject to appropriate national and international vetting procedures, including satisfactory criminal record checks from both country of residence/birth and any country of residence within the last 10 years.
About British International School of Chicago, South Loop
The highly successful and quickly growing British International School of Chicago, South Loop has established a reputation for excellence in the Chicago market. Leading students to success in the highly-respected International Baccalaureate Diploma, the school’s outstanding teachers prepare students for college and beyond through a robust and rigorous curriculum. The contemporary, learning-driven school is located in the South Loop area of Chicago, serving both American and international families.
About the role
Join our fast-paced international environment, and you will become part of a dynamic and supportive school Senior Leadership Team. Working alongside the Principal, you will be responsible for managing all aspects of the school’s financial and operations functions, leading a group of talented people to support you in this aim. Fuller details are given in the job description.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $100,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
Experience:
- Accounting: 1 year (Preferred)
License/Certification:
Ability to Commute:
- Chicago, IL 60605 (Preferred)
Ability to Relocate:
- Chicago, IL 60605: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person