Specialist, Financial Planning & Analysis

Fairview International School; Malaysia; On-site; MYR 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Fairview International School in Malaysia is seeking a finance specialist responsible for Financial Planning & Analysis. This role involves delivering budgets, forecasts, and performance insights for divisions while partnering effectively with divisional stakeholders to understand financial implications.

The ideal candidate will challenge assumptions and translate financial insights into actionable business plans. Strong experience in FP&A is essential, alongside confidence in engaging senior stakeholders and maintaining independent financial challenge.

Qualifications

• Strong FP&A, financial modelling or business finance experience applied to real decisions.
• Ability to build trusted relationships with divisions while maintaining independent financial challenge.
• Confidence engaging senior stakeholders with clarity and practical recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Deliver budgets, forecasts, and performance analysis for assigned divisions.
• Partner with divisional stakeholders to understand operational drivers and financial implications.
• Challenging assumptions and surface practical trade-offs behind business decisions.

Skills

Financial Planning & Analysis

Financial Modelling

Stakeholder Engagement

Education

Relevant degree in finance or related field

Job description

• PayNet’s scale and financial complexity require strong day‑to‑day financial judgment close to the business.
• Divisions need reliable forward‑looking insight to make timely trade‑offs on cost, investment, and priorities.
• This role exists to Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) discipline closer to divisional planning, performance conversation, and business decision‑making.
• The organisation needs finance specialist who can partner effectively with divisions, challenge assumptions and translate number into practical business choices.

TL;DR

• Deliver planning, forecasting, and performance insight for assigned divisions, business areas, products, or initiatives.
• Act as a trusted finance partner to divisional stakeholders, helping them understand financial implications and decision trade‑offs.
• Translate strategy and operating priorities into executable financial plans, clear performance signals, and practical recommendations.
• Balance analytical depth with business empathy, constructive challenge, and delivery discipline.

Why This Role Matters

• Poor planning and weak insight lead to reactive decision‑making and misallocated resources.
• Strong FP&A support helps divisions make earlier interventions and better cost‑benefit trade‑offs.
• This role sits where divisional assumptions meet financial accountability.
• The role requires judgment over precision, with the ability to translate financial insight into business action.

What You Will Actually Do

• Deliver budgets, forecasts, and performance analysis for assigned divisions, business areas, products, or initiatives.
• Partner with divisional stakeholders to understand operational drivers, planning assumptions, and financial implications.
• Shape management reporting and performance narratives that support clear decisions by senior stakeholders.
• Challenge assumptions and surface practical trade‑offs behind business decisions.
• Translate strategic priorities into clear financial targets, monitoring mechanisms, and actionable recommendations.
• Contribute to continuous improvement in planning processes, models, and tools.

Examples of This Role in Practice

• Reframing a divisional cost overrun discussion into trade‑offs senior stakeholders can actively decide on.
• Challenging optimistic forecasts using scenario analysis and a clear view of operational drivers.
• Working with a division to convert business priorities into realistic budgets, forecasts, and performance measures.
• Highlighting early performance signals that prompt timely course correction.
• Partnering with stakeholders to align financial plans with operational reality and execution constraints.

What Will Help You Succeed

• Strong FP&A, financial modelling, or business finance experience applied to real decisions.
• Ability to build trusted relationships with divisions while maintaining independent financial challenge.
• Confidence engaging senior stakeholders with clarity, commercial understanding, and practical recommendations.
• Comfort operating with imperfect data, shifting priorities, and evolving business needs.
• Curiosity about how strategy, operations, and financial outcomes connect across PayNet’s divisions.