Manager - Reporting (Group Finance) - Aldar Education

About the Role
The company is currently seeking a Manager - Reporting (Group Finance) to support our schools in the UAE at Headquarters. This is an exciting opportunity to join the highly successful family of schools and help shape the future of Abu Dhabi’s leading school group.
Founded in 2007 with just 250 students, the company has expanded into a highly sought-after education provider, managing more than 25 premium and super-premium schools and academies. Partnered with prestigious institutions such as Rugby School, King’s College Wimbledon, and Cranleigh, we now serve over 38,000 students through 5,000 educators of over 100 nationalities, delivering world-class education from nursery through K12. Our impact goes beyond the classroom as we contribute to the UAE’s vision for a sustainable, knowledge-based economy through premium education. We hire educators and industry professionals who embody our values, bring passion for education, and are dedicated to shaping the leaders of tomorrow.

As a Manager - Reporting, you will be responsible for managing the company's management reporting, statutory reporting, compliance reporting, and financial reporting processes, ensuring accurate, timely, and IFRS-compliant reporting across the organization. You will lead the preparation of key management reporting deliverables, including Group Reporting Packs (GRP), Investment Committee presentations, Executive Management Team reports, and CFO MIS packs. Additionally, you will develop and enhance MIS dashboards for budget owners, conduct monthly financial performance review sessions, and provide meaningful financial insights to support effective decision-making, financial governance, and business performance management.

Responsibilities
Main Duties:

• Manage month-end closing, management reporting, statutory reporting, compliance reporting, internal controls, and ICFR activities across the company.
• Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting, robust financial controls, compliance with Group policies and accounting standards, and effective finance support for strategic projects and business initiatives.

Specific Duties:

• Support the month-end closing and Group reporting processes across all the company businesses, ensuring compliance with Group timelines and reporting requirements.
• Prepare and deliver accurate, timely, and insightful management reports to support executive decision-making.
• Lead the preparation of consolidated statutory financial statements in compliance with IFRS and other applicable regulatory requirements.
• Drive Internal Control over Financial Reporting (ICFR) initiatives to strengthen financial governance, risk management, and compliance.
• Support the implementation of new IFRS standards, Delegation of Authority (DoA) frameworks, finance policies, and standard operating procedures.
• Identify opportunities to improve and streamline financial closing, consolidation, and reporting processes through automation and standardization.
• Provide technical accounting expertise and support on complex transactions and business initiatives.

Functional Responsibilities:

• Prepare and manage the monthly closing calendar in line with Group reporting deadlines and ensure timely completion of all reporting requirements.
• Prepare monthly management reporting packs, including Investment Committee Presentations, Department MIS reports, Executive Management Team reports, Group Reporting Packs, and other ad hoc reports requested by stakeholders.
• Consolidate and review financial results across the company businesses, providing meaningful analysis and insights to management.
• Standardize balance sheet reconciliation templates and consolidate balance sheet schedules across the company to improve visibility, consistency, and control.
• Develop and maintain live budget and reporting dashboards in collaboration with ERP, Digital, and Finance teams, and provide training to end users where required.
• Prepare the monthly CFO MIS Pack covering all entities, including managed schools, to provide a consolidated view of financial performance.
• Prepare consolidated statutory financial statements and supporting disclosures in accordance with IFRS requirements.
• Prepare and coordinate compliance and regulatory reporting requirements, including country-by-country reporting and other statutory submissions where applicable.
• Perform technical accounting assessments on complex transactions and business scenarios and provide guidance and training to Finance teams.
• Support the implementation of new IFRS standards by assessing business impacts, coordinating adoption activities, and delivering relevant training.
• Monitor and strengthen Internal Control over Financial Reporting (ICFR) by reviewing key controls, identifying control gaps, and supporting remediation plans across the company.
• Coordinate internal and external audit requirements and support timely resolution of audit observations and recommendations.
• Review finance policies, procedures, and reporting frameworks periodically and recommend enhancements to strengthen governance and operational efficiency.
• Act as a backup resource for Treasury and Tax functions to ensure business continuity and uninterrupted support to operations.
• Support strategic finance projects, system enhancements, ERP initiatives, and process improvement programs across the organization.
• Manage the establishment of new legal entities, maintenance of the Chart of Accounts, creation of new GL accounts, and alignment of statutory, management, and Group reporting structures within the Unified Chart of Accounts framework.

Qualifications
Minimum Qualification:

• Bachelor's degree in finance
• Qualified accountant (CA/CPA/CMA) preferred

Minimum Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Commerce, or a related discipline. Professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CPA, CA, or equivalent) preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive finance experience, including at least 2–3 years of core financial reporting, statutory reporting, consolidation, and technical accounting experience.
• Strong knowledge of IFRS, financial consolidation, management reporting, internal controls, and financial governance frameworks.
• Experience in ICFR, statutory audits, regulatory compliance, and finance transformation initiatives is highly desirable.
• Proficiency in ERP systems and financial reporting tools, with experience in system enhancements and process automation.
• Education sector experience is preferred.
• Strong analytical, stakeholder management, communication, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced and evolving environment.

Job Specific Knowledge & Skills:

• Financial Reporting & Consolidation – Strong expertise in management reporting, statutory reporting, IFRS compliance, and financial analysis.
• Technical Accounting & IFRS – Ability to interpret and implement accounting standards and assess complex accounting transactions.
• Internal Controls & Governance – Strong understanding of ICFR, risk management, compliance, and financial governance frameworks.
• Project & Process Management – Ability to lead finance transformation initiatives, process improvements, system implementations, and automation projects.
• Leadership & Team Management – Proven ability to lead, develop, and motivate teams while driving accountability and performance.
• Stakeholder Management & Business Partnering – Effective collaboration with cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders to support business objectives.
• Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills – Strong capability to interpret financial data, identify issues, and provide actionable recommendations.
• Communication & Influencing Skills – Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Planning & Execution – Highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple priorities while meeting tight deadlines.
• Continuous Improvement Mindset – Focus on enhancing controls, improving reporting quality, and driving operational efficiencies through process optimization and technology.

This job description is not all-inclusive and may be amended at any time. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. We are also mindful of our national development strategy and encourage UAE Nationals in their application at our company.

The company is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Offers of appointment are subject to satisfactory references and police clearance.