Finance Officer

SEK International Schools; Al Wajh; On-site; SAR 442,000 - 576,000; Full time

Job summary

An international school in Saudi Arabia seeks a Finance Officer responsible for day-to-day financial operations, including managing income, controlling expenditure, and providing financial reporting. This key role involves ensuring compliance with local regulations and collaborating closely with school leadership. The ideal candidate will have a relevant accounting qualification and 5–8 years of experience, preferably within the Saudi context, and will need to work independently while supporting the needs of the school.

Benefits

Opportunity to build robust financial systems

Support from established SEK finance network

Professional working environment

Qualifications

• 5–8 years of relevant experience in finance or accounting role.
• Experience working within a Saudi context is highly desirable.
• English required; Arabic is a significant advantage.

Responsibilities

• Manage all school income processes, including issuing invoices.
• Process payments to suppliers and maintain financial records.
• Prepare regular financial reports for school leadership.

Skills

Strong understanding of financial operations

Attention to detail

Ability to explain financial information

Experience in Saudi financial regulations

Education

Degree or professional qualification in accounting or finance

Job description

Overview

The Finance Officer is responsible for the effective day-to-day financial operations of the school. This includes managing income and expenditure, maintaining accurate financial records, ensuring compliance with Saudi regulations, and providing clear financial information to support school decision-making. The Finance Officer will be the sole finance professional on site, working closely with the Head of School and Project Manager, with access to guidance and support from the wider SEK finance network in Saudi Arabia. This role is particularly important in a startup school environment, where strong systems, accuracy, and financial control are essential.

Key responsibilities

Income, fees, and family payments

• Manage all school income processes, including:
• issuing invoices and fee statements
• tracking payments from families
• following up on late or missing payments
• Maintaing accurate records of all family payments and outstanding balances
• Work closely with the Admissions Officer to:
• confirm payment status prior to student enrolment
• ensure alignment between admissions decisions and financial compliance
• Ensure the fees policy is correctly applied and consistently communicated

Expenditure and financial records

• Process payments to suppliers and service providers in a timely and controlled manner
• Maintain clear and well-organised records of:
• invoices
• contracts
• payments and commitments
• Track expenditure and provide clear financial information to those responsible for budgetary decisions
• Ensure all financial data is accurate, up to date, and easily accessible

Financial reporting and oversight

• Prepare regular financial reports (e.g., monthly) showing:
• income received
• expenditure to date
• remaining available budget
• Provide reliable financial information to school leadership to support planning and decision-making
• Ensure financial records are prepared and maintained to support:
• annual accounts
• internal and external audits

Compliance and Saudi context

• Support compliance with relevant Saudi financial and regulatory requirements, including invoicing and VAT where applicable
• Assist with company registrations, licences, and official financial filings, working in coordination with the Project Manager and external advisors
• Follow SEK group financial standards and protocols, adapting proven systems from the sister school

Collaboration and systems

• Manage the school’s local accounting systems, building on established practice from the sister school
• Coordinate with the SEK Riyadh finance team to seek guidance, escalate issues, and ensure alignment
• Work closely with colleagues in admissions, operations, and leadership to ensure financial processes support school needs

Experience, qualifications, and skills

• A formal qualification in accounting or finance (degree or professional qualification required)
• Approximately 5–8 years of relevant experience in a finance or accounting role
• Strong understanding of financial operations, controls, and reporting
• Experience working within a Saudi context is highly desirable
• Clear, methodical approach with strong attention to detail
• Able to explain financial information clearly to nonfinancial colleagues
• Comfortable working independently while collaborating across teams
• English required as the working language
• Arabic is a significant advantage
• Saudi national preferred

Why join us?

• A key role in the successful launch and operation of a new international school
• Opportunity to build robust financial systems from the outset
• Support and guidance from an established SEK finance network
• A professional working environment within a unique and fast-developing educational project