Financial Operation Head

جامعة السوربون أبوظبي; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 300,000 - 450,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent higher education institution in Abu Dhabi seeks a Finance Operations Lead to oversee financial activities and ensure compliance. The ideal candidate will have over 10 years of experience in finance within the education sector, strong leadership skills, and a deep understanding of financial systems. This role offers a challenging environment aimed at enhancing financial operations and achieving excellence.

Qualifications

• 10 years of Accounting and Finance experience, preferably in Higher Education.
• Proven ability to lead teams and facilitate collaboration.
• Strong aptitude for resolving complex financial challenges.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day financial activities and ensure compliance.
• Supervise accounting team and manage financial functions.
• Enhance financial systems and internal controls to optimize operations.

Skills

Leadership

Financial systems management

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accountancy

Professional Accounting qualification (ACCA, CPA, CA)

Tools

SAP

Oracle

Microsoft Dynamics

Power BI

Tableau

Job description

Role Summary:

To lead the Finance Operations Section within the Finance Department at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi (SUAD), overseeing all day-to-day financial activities and ensuring high standards of efficiency, accuracy, and compliance. The role includes direct supervision of the accounting team and responsibility for the core financial functions: Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Fixed Asset Management, and Payroll Processing. The incumbent will manage and enhance financial systems, tools, and internal controls to ensure the timely execution of payments and collections in line with SUAD policies, contractual obligations, and recognized accounting practices. This role requires strong leadership to guide, develop, and support the Finance Operations team in achieving operational excellence.

Key Activities

Responsible for Accounts Payable, Accounts receivable, VAT, and Fixed Assets accounting by ensuring compliance with accounting policies, procedures, and controls for timely and accurate payments and collections, proper documentation, and internal reporting.

Support the University’s efforts to enhance digital transformation focusing on financial systems and tools to improve efficiency and outputs.

Supervise the activities and performance of direct reports, providing both formal and informal feedback and guidance to ensure efficient and effective completion of all accounting tasks in line with established individual targets and expectations.

Ensure that robust financial systems and controls are in place for all accounting functions, including payroll payments, billing, accounts payable, accounts receivable, grants accounting, reimbursement requests, and revenue accounting.

Monitor accounts receivables activity for timeliness and completeness, ensuring billing, collections, and reporting are completed in accordance with set dates, policies, and procedures.

Oversee the development of the Accounts Receivable aging analysis report and review overdue receivables to initiate appropriate follow-up actions.

Review AR statements and maintain a record of doubtful debts and write-offs in order to ensure control over reporting and compliance with the accounting policies and procedures.

Review and maintain relevant sub-ledger accounts in balance with the main ledger accounts in order to ensure accuracy of data.

Review the Fixed Assets register to ensure accurate calculation and reconciliation of the depreciation and manage fixed assets write-offs in accordance with accounting policies and procedures

Validate and Approve assets additions, disposal, adjustments on the system as per DoA and in alignment with the accounting policies and procedures.

Review the monthly payroll after HR processing and ensure timely payment

Ensure the collection of the expected expenses (not yet invoiced) on a monthly basis and make the accruals, provisions and prepayments to ensure that funds are available to make all payments due by the month-end

Check and approve relevant accounting entries and supporting scheduled accruals, provisions and prepayments on a monthly basis to ensure accurate and timely accounting thereof

Manage monthly and yearly closing activities in collaboration with the Finance Control Section to reconcile all SUAD accounts in preparation for financial reporting, while providing ongoing support to the Section Head - Finance Control, particularly in the preparation of financial reports and drafting accompanying explanatory notes, ensuring accuracy and a true reflection of financial data

Foster positive relationships with vendors, customers, and students by promptly addressing concerns and resolving disputes in a timely and efficient manner.

Report any discrepancy i.e. defaults, accounts receivable/payable related control issues to the Head - Finance for necessary action

Ensure all Accounting systems and practices comply with the applicable accounting principles, local financial law, TAX regulations, and any other local applicable laws

Prepare and share relevant information related to the section with Internal, External, and other auditors, while fostering a cooperative relationship to ensure timely and effective action on all recommendations and findings

Enforce department policies, processes, standard operating procedures, and guidelines, ensuring that direct reports adhere to them for consistent and controlled execution of work

Develop, publish and report dashboard summary for all reporting sections

Assist the Head of Finance in developing strategies and KPIs to enhance performance

Assist is reviewing the monthly VAT submission to DOF/FTA

Assist in improving the Banking relationships ensuring smooth operation

To participate in any internal committee memberships and as per the committee charter

Perform other related duties or assignments as directed by the Line Managers

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, & SKILLS:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy, or other related specializations.
• Professional Accounting qualification from internationally recognized body, such as ACCA, CPA, CA

Minimum Experience:

10 years Accounting and Finance experience, preferably in the Higher Education sector.

Job-Specific Skills:

• Proven ability to lead teams and facilitate cross functional collaboration
• Proven track record and evidence of ability to manage and optimize financial systems
• Knowledge and hands on experience of ERP and SIS applications and evolving technologies
• Proficiency in accounting software (SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics etc.)
• Proficient IPSAS, IFRS, Tax regulations and Financial Reporting
• Familiarity with Business Intelligence tools (Power BI, Tableau etc.)
• Knowledge and hands on experience of Workflow Automation and RPA
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to crunch financial data and generate insights
• Comprehensive understanding of regulatory Compliance and Audit Management in the education sector
• Expertise process optimization and streamlining accounting processes and system automation
• Strong aptitude for resolving complex financial challenges
• High level of accuracy and meticulous attention to detail in financial operations and reporting.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for presenting financial information and interacting with diverse audiences
• Ability to align accounting activities with organizational goals and contribute to long-term financial strategies
• Knowledge of accounting policies and procedures