Finance Director

Job Description

Finance Director at Akademeia High School

About Akademeia:

Akademeia High School is an academically-selective school in Warsaw, offering IGCSEs and A Levels alongside Akademeia Assessed Courses. The majority of our students are preparing to study at Oxbridge, Russell group, and Ivy League universities as well as acclaimed architecture, art and music schools. With a rigorous admissions process and A Level classes taught in the form of undergraduate seminars, the school pursues a pre-university university model. The school offers a robust scholarship programme, with 10% of places allocated to merit-based, partial and full scholarships. Together with Akademeia High School Foundation, the school also supports several educational outreach and community engagement initiatives.

Akademeia High School has achieved three prestigious international accreditations HMC (The Head's Conference), AoBSO (Association of British Schools Overseas) and COBIS (Council of British International Schools), setting a new benchmark for excellence in global education. These accreditations recognise the strength of our academic programme and the outstanding outcomes our students achieve — including entry to the world’s top universities. They reflect the visionary leadership of the Headmaster and Senior Leadership Team, and the dedication of our highly qualified teaching staff.

About the job:

The Finance Director serves a key strategic and operational function within the Senior Leadership Team of the School and oversees all financial operations of the School, including budgeting, financial planning, accounting, payroll, and financial compliance, ensuring effective day-to-day financial management.

The Finance Director reports to Headmaster with a dotted line to the ISP Regional Finance Director – Europe and works closely with the Director of Operations, and Heads of Administrative Departments to support strategic planning and resource allocation.

Key responsibilities:

• Advising on general financial policy within the school
• Providing leadership, direction and management of the finance and external accounting team - work organization, support, quality control of processes and timely reporting
• Monthly management reporting – 4 entities (schedule, local books verification, accruals calculation, cash flow, CAPEX, Group reporting)
• Analysis of budget variances – reports and meetings with Headmaster and the Group
• Managing the processes for forecasts and budget– cooperation with departments and Headmaster, reporting data to PBCS, meetings with the Group
• Statutory, Group and tax audits – providing data and process coordination
• Financial statements verification
• Cooperation with external tax and legal advisors – contracts verification, tax issues, managements resolutions
• Financial statements reconciliation to the Group reporting
• Monitoring the process of debt collections
• Approval of the bank transfers
• New tax/statutory requirements implementation
• Lead the implementation and adoption of adequate accounting system, and onboard the school into the ISP financial reporting system
• Assist in implementing the school management information system as appropriate
• Cooperation with the bank – negotiation of terms of cooperation, fees
• Cooperation with the Headmaster on the cost savings opportunities and new sources of revenue
• Meeting with parents and recommendation to the Headmaster on discounts and contractual issues
• Advising on scholarship and bursary funds
• Cooperation with HR on current staff and budget issues
• Foundation projects – financial consultations
• Oversight of annual contract renewals and fees schedules changes

The Finance Director acts as line manager to:
• Financial Analysts - providing oversight, guidance, and performance management to ensure effective delivery of settlement processes, contractual agreements, financial analysis, reporting, forecasting, and data-driven decision-making in support of the School’s financial strategy.
• School Finance Assistant providing oversight of annual contract and fee renewals, ensuring timely updates and coordination of processes.

Skills, Qualifications and Experience
• Degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or Business Administration and/or Professional certification in Accounting or Finance (e.g., ACCA, CPA, or equivalent).
• Strong financial management skills including budgeting, forecasting and cash flow management.
• Experience in financial reporting, statutory accounts and audit coordination.
• Strong financial planning and analysis (FP&A) and variance analysis capabilities.
• Experience working with financial systems, ERP platforms and advanced Excel modelling.
• Ability to lead, manage and develop finance teams.
• Strong business partnering skills with senior leadership and non-finance stakeholders.
• Experience managing relationships with external auditors, banks and advisors.
• Strong commercial awareness with the ability to identify cost efficiencies and revenue opportunities.
• High-level of verbal and written communication skills in Polish and English

We Offer:
• Vibrant international community
• Competitive salary adequate to your experience and skills
• Access to private medical and mental health package
• Subsidised Mulitisport card
• Subsidised lunches
• Hybrid work
• Rich professional development scheme

It is an offence to apply for the role if an applicant is barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

https://www.akademeia.edu.pl/about-us/policies

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

and Health & Safety 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.

Are financially responsible. We make financial choices carefully based on the needs of the children, students and our schools.

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

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, including an online due diligence search, references and satisfactory Criminal Background Checks or equivalent covering the previous 10 years’ employment history.

ISP Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

ISP is committed to strengthening our inclusive culture by identifying, hiring, developing, and retaining high-performing teammates regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender expression, age, disability status, neurodivergence, socio-economic background or other demographic characteristics. Candidates who share our vision and principles and are interested in contributing to the success of ISP through this role are strongly encouraged to apply.