Financial Controller – Education Star Leaf Talent Solutions LLP

The Corporate Institute; Mumbai; On-site; INR 4,000,000 - 6,500,000; Full time

Job summary

The Corporate Institute in Mumbai seeks an experienced Financial Controller to lead its finance and accounting function for a growing Higher Education and EdTech organisation. You will oversee financial reporting, controllership, budgeting, treasury, taxation, compliance, governance, and business partnering across multiple business lines.

The ideal candidate is a CA with about 20 years of progressive finance leadership experience, with a proven ability to build high-performing teams, strengthen

Qualifications

• CA with ~20 years' leadership in finance and accounting.
• Experience in Higher Education, EdTech preferred.
• Proven ability to build high-performing finance teams.
• Strong governance, controls, and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Oversee financial reporting, close processes, and financial statements.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning.
• Manage working capital, revenue recognition, and treasury.
• Drive finance transformation and ERP/digitisation; exposure to SAP.
• Lead audits and regulatory compliance; governance across multiple lines.

Skills

Financial reporting

Controllership

Budgeting

FP&A

Treasury

Taxation

Compliance

Governance

Business partnering

Leadership

Education

Chartered Accountant

Tools

SAP ERP

Job description

Position Summary:

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Financial Controller to lead the finance and accounting function for a rapidly growing Higher Education and EdTech organisation. The role will be responsible for financial reporting, controllership, budgeting, treasury, taxation, compliance, business partnering, and governance across multiple business lines.

The ideal candidate should be a qualified Chartered Accountant with around 20 years of progressive experience in finance leadership roles. Prior experience in Higher Education, Universities, EdTech, Online Learning, Vocational Training, Government Skilling, Professional Certification, or Education Services sectors will be strongly preferred.

The incumbent should have a proven track record of building high-performing finance teams, driving financial discipline, strengthening controls, and supporting business growth and transformation.

Key Responsibilities:

Financial Reporting & Controllership:

• Lead monthly, quarterly, and annual financial closing and reporting processes.
• Ensure accurate preparation of financial statements in compliance with applicable accounting standards and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee accounting operations including General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Fixed Assets, Revenue Recognition, and Payroll.
• Establish and strengthen internal financial controls and governance frameworks.

Business Finance, Budgeting & FP&A:

• Lead annual budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning exercises.
• Drive profitability analysis at programme, business unit, channel, and product levels.
• Monitor key business metrics including enrolments, revenue realisation, collection efficiency, and operating margins.

Revenue Assurance & Working Capital Management:

• Monitor fee collections, receivables, refunds, and deferred revenue accounting.
• Drive collection efficiencies and optimise working capital.
• Strengthen revenue assurance processes across digital and physical delivery channels.
• Oversee cash flow planning, banking relationships, and treasury operations.

Taxation, Compliance & Governance:

• Ensure compliance with direct and indirect tax regulations and statutory requirements.
• Lead statutory audits, internal audits, tax audits, and regulatory reviews.

ERP, Digitisation & Process Excellence:

• Drive finance transformation and process automation initiatives.
• Leverage technology to improve efficiency, accuracy, and control.
• Exposure to SAP ERP is strongly preferred.

Leadership & Team Building:

• Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing finance organisation.
• Foster a culture of accountability, ownership, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Preferred Attributes:

• Experience in multi-location education or EdTech organisations.
• Experience in start-up, high-growth, or unstructured business environments, with demonstrated capability in building teams, establishing robust financial controls, and scaling finance operations.
• Exposure to online learning, digital business models, government-funded skilling programmes, higher education institutions, or hybrid learning businesses.
• Experience interacting with investors, boards, auditors, regulators, and senior executives.