Finance Director

International Community Schools (ICSchools); Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 400,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

International Community Schools (ICS) in Abu Dhabi, UAE, seeks a Director of Finance to lead the Group’s financial operations and governance across six campuses. This senior role requires strategic direction, cross-functional collaboration, and evidence-based decision support for executive leadership.

The ideal candidate will bring 12–15 years of progressive financial management, professional certifications (CA/ACCA/CPA/CMA), and strong UAE regulatory knowledge.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
• Professional certification such as CA, ACCA, CPA, or CMA is strongly preferred; MBA is an advantage.
• Minimum 12–15 years of progressive financial management experience, including senior leadership roles.
• Prior UAE education sector experience, preferably managing multiple schools or campuses.
• Proven ability in strategic financial planning, restructuring, cost optimization, and growth.
• Strong understanding of UAE taxation, regulatory compliance, and governance.
• Experience managing complex budgets, multiple cost centers, and consolidated reporting.
• Proficient ERP, analytics, and business intelligence capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the Group's financial strategy across six campuses.
• Serve as strategic advisor to CEO and senior leadership.
• Lead planning, budgeting, forecasting, and performance management.
• Provide data-driven insights for investments, expansion, and major decisions.
• Oversee financial operations, reporting, and controls across branches.
• Ensure regulatory compliance, transparency, and internal controls.
• Identify opportunities for cost optimization and revenue enhancement.
• Set KPIs and benchmarks for schools and the Group.
• Lead financial processes, ERP optimization, and management reporting.
• Mentor and develop finance teams; collaborate with other departments.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Budgeting & financial planning

Stakeholder management

Regulatory and governance awareness

Financial analytics & BI

Negotiation & communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance/Accounting/Business Administration

CA/ACCA/CPA/CMA certification (strongly preferred)

MBA in Finance (advantage)

12–15 years of progressive financial management experience

Tools

ERP systems

BI tools

Financial reporting software

Job description

International Community Schools (ICS)

Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE

Position: Director of Finance

Industry: Education – Multi-Campus School Group

About International Community Schools

International Community Schools (ICS) is a well‑established and growing educational group in Abu Dhabi, delivering high‑quality British and American curricula across six school branches.

We are seeking a highly experienced, commercially astute, and strategically driven Director of Finance to lead the Group’s financial operations, strengthen financial governance, and play a pivotal role in shaping its long‑term financial strategy and sustainable growth.

This is a senior leadership position requiring a professional who can go beyond traditional financial management to provide strategic direction, drive operational efficiency, and support executive‑level decision‑making.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Financial Leadership

• Develop and execute the Group's financial strategy in alignment with organizational goals and long‑term growth objectives.
• Serve as a strategic financial advisor to the CEO and senior leadership team.
• Lead financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and financial performance management across all six branches.
• Provide data‑driven insights to support strategic investments, business expansion, and major financial decisions.

Group Financial Management & Governance

• Oversee and consolidate financial operations, reporting, and controls across all ISC branches.
• Ensure financial transparency, accountability, regulatory compliance, and strong internal controls.
• Manage cash flow, working capital, financial risks, and capital expenditure.
• Oversee annual audits, statutory financial reporting, and compliance with UAE financial and tax regulations.

Operational Excellence & Cost Optimization

• Identify opportunities for cost optimization, revenue enhancement, and improved profitability without compromising educational quality.
• Establish financial KPIs and performance benchmarks for individual schools and the Group.
• Monitor student fee collections, revenue forecasts, operational expenditures, and overall financial sustainability.
• Strengthen financial processes, ERP utilization, automation, and management reporting.

Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop finance and accounting teams across all branches.
• Collaborate closely with school principals, operations, HR, procurement, and other departments.
• Present financial performance, strategic recommendations, and risk assessments to executive management.
• Drive a culture of financial discipline, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
• Professional certification such as CA, ACCA, CPA, or CMA is strongly preferred. MBA in Finance is an advantage.
• Minimum 12–15 years of progressive financial management experience, including substantial experience in a senior finance leadership role.
• Prior experience in the UAE education sector, preferably managing multiple schools or campuses, is highly desirable.
• Proven track record of strategic financial planning, financial restructuring, cost optimization, and organizational growth.
• Strong understanding of UAE taxation, regulatory compliance, financial reporting standards, and corporate governance.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex budgets, multiple cost centers, and consolidated financial reporting.
• Strong ERP, financial analytics, and business intelligence capabilities.

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for a strategic leader, not simply a financial controller — someone who demonstrates:

• Strong business acumen and independent decision‑making capabilities.
• The ability to balance financial sustainability with educational excellence.
• A proactive, results‑oriented approach to organizational challenges.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, negotiation, and stakeholder‑management skills.
• The confidence to challenge existing processes, introduce improvements, and drive meaningful organizational change.

Benefits

This is an opportunity to join an established and growing school group, influence executive decisions, lead financial transformation across multiple campuses, and make a lasting contribution to the future of education. Salary and benefits as per exposure and job title.