Finance Manager – Planning, Controls & Business Performance

Dragonfly Educational Sdn Bhd; Seberang Perai; On-site; MYR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Education support

Parking

Promotion, Bonus, Rewards

Job summary

Dragonfly Educational Sdn Bhd is seeking a hands-on Finance Manager to strengthen planning, controls and business performance across our growing Penang education group. You will partner with the Finance Director and leadership to provide clear financial insights and drive profitability.

Responsibilities include budgeting, forecasting, cash flow, outlet performance, and timely closing, with a focus on improving financial discipline and expansion decisions.

Qualifications

• Ability to translate financial data into actionable insights
• Strong budgeting, forecasting and cash‑flow planning skills
• Experience in month‑end closing and management reporting
• Proficiency with Excel or Google Sheets for financial modeling

Responsibilities

• Coordinate annual budgets, monthly forecasts and cash‑flow planning
• Prepare scenario analyses to help management anticipate financial needs and risks
• Monitor revenue, costs, margins and profitability across outlets and units
• Prepare outlet‑level and consolidated performance reports
• Ensure accurate and timely month‑end and year‑end closing

Skills

Financial analysis

Budgeting

Forecasting

Management reporting

Education

Accounting or Finance degree

Tools

MS Excel

Job description

Finance Manager – Planning, Controls & Business Performance

Dragonfly is an established and growing early childhood education group in Penang. We are committed to providing quality education while building a well‑managed, sustainable and scalable organisation.

As we continue to grow, we are looking for a hands‑on and commercially minded Finance Manager to strengthen our financial planning, controls, reporting and business performance.

This role goes beyond accounting. You will work closely with the Finance Director and management team to provide clear financial insight, strengthen financial discipline and support better business and expansion decisions.

What You Will Contribute

Financial Planning and Business Insight

Coordinate annual budgets, monthly forecasts and cash‑flow planning

Prepare scenario analyses to help management anticipate financial needs and risks

Provide clear and practical financial insights for management decision‑making

Translate financial information into meaningful recommendations and actions

Outlet and Business Performance

Monitor revenue, costs, margins and profitability across different outlets and business units

Prepare outlet‑level and consolidated performance reports

Identify performance trends and areas for improvement

Partner with Operations and outlet leaders to improve financial performance and resource utilisation

Management Reporting and Closing

Ensure accurate and timely month‑end and year‑end closing

Prepare management accounts and financial performance reports

Highlight key variances, emerging risks and business opportunities

Maintain the accuracy, consistency and integrity of financial information

Cash Flow and Collection

Monitor cash flow, working‑capital requirements and payment commitments

Oversee fee collection, outstanding balances and ageing

Work with the relevant teams to improve collection efficiency and cash conversion

Help management maintain healthy and predictable cash flow

Budget and Cost Management

Monitor expenditure against approved budgets

Review budget‑versus‑actual variances and identify cost pressures early

Work constructively with department heads to improve budget discipline

Recommend practical actions to protect profitability and business margins

Purchasing, Inventory and Asset Controls

Strengthen purchasing processes and approval practices

Review supplier costs, quotations and payment terms

Monitor inventory value, movement and usage

Improve controls over wastage, overstocking, stock loss and company assets

Expansion and Investment Support

Support the financial assessment of new outlets and business initiatives

Prepare CAPEX, breakeven, ROI, payback and cash‑requirement analyses

Monitor expansion budgets and project expenditure

Provide financial information to support sustainable growth decisions

Internal Controls, SOPs and Compliance

Strengthen financial controls, approval processes and audit trails

Develop and improve practical finance SOPs

Promote consistent financial practices across the organisation

Coordinate audit, tax and statutory compliance matters

Identify opportunities to reduce financial and operational risks

Team Leadership and Business Partnership

Guide, support and develop the finance team

Improve the efficiency and accuracy of finance processes

Work collaboratively with Operations, HR, Marketing, Purchasing and Expansion

Communicate financial information clearly to non‑finance colleagues

Encourage a positive culture of accountability and financial awareness

What We Are Looking For

Diploma or degree in Accounting, Finance or a related discipline

At least 5 years of relevant finance or accounting experience

Experience in full‑set accounts, month‑end closing and management reporting

Practical exposure to budgeting, forecasting and cash‑flow planning

Good understanding of P&L, balance sheet and cash flow

Strong analytical skills with the ability to explain numbers clearly

Proficiency in Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets

Experience supervising or guiding finance team members

Hands‑on, responsible and comfortable working in a growing organisation

Added Advantages

ACCA, CIMA, CPA, ICAEW or another recognised professional qualification

Experience in a multi‑outlet, education, retail, franchise, F&B or service‑based business

Experience preparing outlet‑level or business‑unit performance reports

Exposure to CAPEX, ROI, breakeven or expansion analysis

Experience improving finance systems, internal controls or SOPs

You May Be a Good Fit If You Are

Commercially minded and interested in the business behind the numbers

Forward‑looking and able to identify potential issues early

Detail‑oriented while maintaining a wider business perspective

Positive, practical and solution‑focused

Comfortable working with both finance and non‑finance teams

Ready to take greater ownership and grow into a broader finance leadership role

Why Join Us?

Join an established and growing education group

Gain exposure to financial planning, business performance and expansion

Work closely with the Finance Director and management team

Contribute directly to meaningful business decisions

Opportunity for professional development and career progression

Supportive environment that values initiative, accountability and continuous improvement

Financial

We founded in 2003, Dragonfly The Leaders Preschool has been a leader in early childhood education in Malaysia. We offer comprehensive preschool and kindergarten programs for children aged 12 months to 6 years old and currently operate over 17 branches across the country.

We focus on holistic development to prepare children for lifelong learning and success, and we are committed to nurturing the skills and confidence of every child.

• Perks and benefits Medical Miscellaneous allowance Education support Parking Promotion, Bonus, Rewards, Attendance Allowance,

Reporting

We founded in 2003, Dragonfly The Leaders Preschool has been a leader in early childhood education in Malaysia. We offer comprehensive preschool and kindergarten programs for children aged 12 months to 6 years old and currently operate over 17 branches across the country.

We focus on holistic development to prepare children for lifelong learning and success, and we are committed to nurturing the skills and confidence of every child.