Senior Finance Manager

Kings' Education; Dubai; On-site; AED 279,000 - 446,400; Full time

Job summary

Kings' Education is looking for a Senior Finance Manager in Dubai to ensure the organization's financial integrity and oversee core accounting activities across its schools. The role includes financial operations, compliance with IFRS standards, managing a small team, and working closely with School Principals. Candidates should have over 8 years of finance experience, a relevant degree, and be fully qualified accountants. This position offers an opportunity to contribute to a leading educational organization.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive accounting/finance experience with at least 3 years in a supervisory or managerial role.
• Solid experience managing end-to-end month-end and year-end close for multi-entity or multisite organisations.
• Knowledge of IFRS standards and their application in preparing financial statements.

Responsibilities

• Oversee core accounting activities and ensure strong control and compliance across multiple schools.
• Lead the monthly, quarterly and annual closing cycles, including preparation and review of journals.
• Support in preparing annual budgets and periodic forecasts.

Skills

Advanced Excel capability

Financial operations and reporting

Communication skills

Expert knowledge in financial controls

Education

Degree in Accounting or Finance

Fully qualified accountant (ACCA, CIMA, CPA, ACA)

Tools

Microsoft D365 ERP

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Kings’ Education is seeking a Senior Finance Manager to join its central finance function. This position plays a key role in safeguarding the group’s financial integrity, overseeing core accounting activities and ensuring strong control and compliance across multiple schools.

Working closely with School Principals, operational leaders and the Executive Board, the Senior Accounts Manager will provide clear financial insight and support informed decisionmaking across the organisation.

Main responsibilities

• Financial operations and reporting
• Take day‑to‑day ownership of accounting operations, covering Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable (including tuition billing and collections), General Ledger and fixed assets.
• Maintain accurate books and records and ensure timely, reliable financial reporting in line with IFRS and internal policies.
• Period‑end close: Lead the monthly, quarterly and annual closing cycles, including preparation and review of journals, reconciliations, accruals and provisions.
• Produce high quality MIS and related schedules, with clear variance analysis and commentary for senior stakeholders.
• Supervise and develop a small team of accountants, setting priorities, reviewing work and driving high standards of accuracy and control.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement within the team.
• Audit and regulatory compliance: Coordinate with external and internal auditors, managing requests and ensuring audit deliverables are prepared on time and to a high standard; oversee compliance with UAE VAT and Corporate Tax requirements, including accurate filings, proper documentation and alignment between IFRS‑based accounts and tax submissions.
• Budgeting, forecasting and analysis: Support the Finance Director/CFO in preparing annual budgets and periodic forecasts for schools and the wider group; analyse revenue, enrolment and cost trends, highlighting risks, opportunities and practical recommendations to improve financial performance.
• Business partnering: Work closely with School Principals and department heads to explain financial results, key drivers and the impact of operational decisions on profitability and cash flow; present financial information and business cases in an accessible, solutions‑focused way to non‑finance stakeholders, including the Executive Board.
• Systems, processes and controls: Review and enhance internal financial controls and procedures across all core cycles (AP, AR, GL, fixed assets); champion effective use of the ERP and related systems, improving process efficiency, data quality and reporting capability.

Candidate profile

• Fully qualified accountant (ACCA, CIMA, CPA, ACA or equivalent); part‑qualified applicants will not be considered.
• Degree in Accounting, Finance or a closely related field.
• Proficiency in Microsoft D365 ERP.
• Expert / Advanced level knowledge in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint.
• Knowledge of all IFRS standards and their application in preparing and reviewing statutory and management financial statements.
• Solid experience managing end‑to‑end month‑end and year‑end close for multi‑entity or multisite organisations.
• Proven ability to design, embed and operate robust financial controls across key accounting cycles.
• 8+ years of progressive accounting/finance experience, with at least 3 years in a supervisory or managerial role.
• Background in the education sector (K12) or another multisite service business (e.g. healthcare, hospitality, retail, training) is a strong advantage.

Systems and analytical skills

• Advanced Excel capability (including complex formulas, pivot tables, lookups and data analysis).
• Hands‑on experience with a major ERP platform (such as Microsoft Dynamics, Oracle, SAP or similar), ideally with involvement in process or control improvements.

Communication and personal attributes

• Excellent written and spoken English, with the confidence and emotional intelligence to communicate effectively with Principals, senior educators and Board members.
• Proactive, organised and calm under pressure, with a strong eye for detail and a solutions‑driven approach.
• High levels of professionalism, integrity and discretion.