School Senior Accountant

International Schools Partnership; Wrocław; On-site; PLN 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading international education organization in Wrocław is seeking a Senior Accountant to ensure accurate financial reporting, maintain strong internal controls, and optimize cash management processes. The ideal candidate will have extensive accounting experience, strong technical skills, and the ability to manage workloads effectively. Proficiency in Polish and English is required for this role.

Qualifications

• Several years of accounting and finance operational experience.
• Strong knowledge of IFRS.
• Experience with information systems and implementing ERPs.

Responsibilities

• Ensure accurate financial reporting of all accounts.
• Maintain strong controls around billing and collections.
• Monitor budgeting and expenditure effectively.
• Assist with local cash management and financial controls.

Skills

Strong technical accounting skills

Fluency in Polish

Fluency in English

Advanced Excel skills

Interpersonal skills

Ability to manage varied workloads

Job description

Senior Accountant - ASW

Purpose of Role

The role will initially report to the Finance Controller Europe, and once the school is onboarded, this position will report to the Chief accountant – Poland with a dotted line to the School Finance and Operations Director, with a dotted line to the Chief Accountant – Poland. The role is the school’s main finance point of contact with these boards. The role will also support the School Finance and Operations Director to drive revenue growth and profitability, improve margins through the more efficient use of resources and better procurement.

Key Responsibilities

Core Finance

• Ensure general ledger and financial statements are complete and accurate.
• Ensure that payables, receivables, and invoicing functions of the school are complete, accurate and fully reconciled.
• Ensure the school has a clear, adequate and effective billing and collection process.
• Establish and maintain strong controls around credit collections for the school. Monitor school debtor levels and proactively lead discussions with parents to ensure debt is collected timely.
• Establish a robust system of control for the purchase of goods and services.
• Ensure we are getting the best value for money from the school suppliers by implementing the school’s procurement policy.
• Ensure maintenance of the fixed asset register and ensure adequate treatment of acquisitions and disposals.
• Ensure general ledger reconciliations including deferred income and cash and relevant Balance Sheet accounts are performed.
• Design, maintain and enforce a robust internal control system and compliance environment for all functions in the school and maintain a documented system of policies and procedures.
• Responsibility for ensuring that local cash management is optimised.
• Liaise with banks, audit, legal and tax providers as necessary. Comply with government reporting requirements and tax filings.
• Ensure the schools always have adequate insurance cover.
• Work closely with HR on people related processes such as payroll, performance evaluations, annual salary increments.
• Make sure finance system users are trained and are using the systems correctly and to their full potential.

Financial Reporting

• Ensure the timely reporting of all monthly and annual financial information per the reporting timetable, including but not limited to:
  • KPI reporting.
  • Monthly budget variance reports and work with the School Principal on corrective actions to ensure the budget is met.
  • Monthly review of actual expenditure for capital projects versus approved budget spend, highlight deviations and implement controls to avoid overspend.
  • Reporting of cash collections and debtors reporting.
• Establish processes to ensure accurate data collection and review of monthly KPI data for the schools’ enrolments and the schools’ headcount.

Operational & Commercial Support

Undertake such other reasonable responsibilities and tasks that may, from time to time, be assigned by the School Finance and Operations Director or Chief Accountant - Poland.

Skills, Qualifications and Experience

The successful candidate will need to have several years accounting and finance operational experience in a commercial environment. They will be a self‑starter who uses initiative, can manage a varied workload, is deadline driven and has the commitment to seeing a change process through from start to finish.

• Strong technical accounting skills including a good knowledge of IFRS
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships at senior levels of the school and wider organization and influence key stakeholders
• Excellent written and verbal communication and influencing skills
• Flexibility, multi-tasking mindset and an ability to deal with shifting priorities
• Advanced Excel skills
• Demonstrable understanding of working with information systems and implementing ERPs
• Fluent in written and spoken Polish and English

ISP Principles

Begin with our children and students.

Our children and students are at the heart of what we do. Simply, their success is our success. Wellbeing and safety are both essential for learners and learning. Therefore, we are consistent in identifying potential safeguarding and Health & Safety issues and acting and following up on all concerns appropriately.

Treat everyone with care and respect.

We look after one another, embrace similarities and differences and promote the well‑being of self and others.

Operate effectively.

We focus relentlessly on the things that are most important and will make the most difference. We apply school policies and procedures and embody the shared ideas of our community.

Are financially responsible.

We make financial choices carefully based on the needs of the children, students and our schools.

Learn continuously.

Getting better is what drives us. We positively engage with personal and professional development and school improvement.

ISP Commitment to Safeguarding Principles

ISP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All post holders are subject to appropriate vetting procedures, including an online due diligence search, references and satisfactory Criminal Background Checks or equivalent covering the previous 10 years’ employment history.

ISP Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

ISP is committed to strengthening our inclusive culture by identifying, hiring, developing, and retaining high‑performing teammates regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender expression, age, disability status, neurodivergence, socio‑economic background or other demographic characteristics. Candidates who share our vision and principles and are interested in contributing to the success of ISP through this role are strongly encouraged to apply.