International Schools Partnership Careers

International Schools Partnership Ltd

Position: Financial Planning & Reporting Analyst – Madrid Schools

Location: Madrid Schools/Hybrid

Overview: -

The Financial Planning & Reporting Analyst – Madrid reports into the Head of Finance – Madrid. This position is responsible for supporting the regular reporting and analysis of management and business performance information, for the schools in Madrid.

The Financial Planning & Reporting Analyst provides information and support to the Head of Finance – Madrid and the school management teams, ensuring effective communication and clear understanding of management reporting, key performance indicators and analysis against budget and forecast targets for the schools in Madrid.

Detailed activities and responsibilities: -

Management Reporting, Analysis and Interpretation: -

• Report and review timely and accurate management reporting information, and KPI data, into the PBCS consolidation system, in accordance with internal reporting deadlines.
• Support in the monthly school management performance reporting and commentary, comparing actual P&L performance to budget, forecast (when applicable) and prior year.
• Ensure accurate, useful and insightful analysis and interpretation of P&L and KPI variances, to allow senior management, to assess performance and make strategic business decisions for the Madrid schools.
• Ensure completion of additional supporting analysis as required, to satisfy internal reporting requirements.
• Work closely with admissions and HR schools’ teams to ensure KPI enrolment and staff data is accurate and consistent.
• Support in the annual budgeting and bi-annually forecasting process for the schools, in accordance with internal deadlines. Review submissions to challenge and ensure reasonable based on past performance and current trends.
• Ensure a comprehensive understanding of the assumptions, underlying the school budgets and bi-annually forecasts, including key data assumptions and performance indicators, such as student enrolments, employees, fee increases, fee discounts, inflation, capital investments etc.
• Assist in the preparation of capital investment plans and associated funding requests for review by the Head of Finance – Madrid and for approval by the Division / Group.
• Monitor approved Capex investment plan assumptions against actual expenditure monthly and highlight deviations from approved spend.
• Ad hoc tasks and responsibilities, as required by the role.

Business Partnering and Commercial Support: -

• Support in providing financial guidance, support and analysis to the school management teams, to support the ongoing development and growth of the schools.
• Manage and coordinate procurement ordering and purchasing for the Madrid schools, providing any financial analysis or financial information needed to make sound procurement / purchasing decisions for the schools.
• Support in the supplier management for Madrid schools, working closely with the Head of Finance and with those in the regional and school team, who work with IT and non-IT suppliers.
• Support the schools in the establishing and adhering to a standardized purchasing process, ensuring all purchase orders are reviewed against Budget/Forecast, approved and matched to final supplier invoices, before recording into Netsuite.
• Support in the follow up of any supplier purchasing / invoicing queries.
• Participate in review calls, or face to face meetings, where possible, with the Head of Finance and school management teams, to provide an overall understanding of matters impacting school performance against budgets, forecasts and year and over performance.
• Ensure full understanding of the key underlying drivers of the performance and provide support in evaluating actions to mitigate deviations from targets.
• Support in the identification and evaluation of business and financial risks and opportunities, which could impact the delivery of the financial targets and forecasts.
• Support on integration of any new school acquisitions in Madrid.

Cash Flow and Capex

• Support to ensure local cash management for the three schools is optimised.
• Support in the production of cash flow budget and forecast analysis to ensure schools have adequate funding for operations.
• Support in the analysis of monthly capital expenditure for all major projects versus Budget and Forecast.
• Support in the completion of financial analysis to support Capex investment papers for the three schools.

Financial and Reporting Systems: -

• Work closely with the regional teams to evaluate how the PBCS Financial Systems can be developed to facilitate an efficient reporting process across the region.

Desired Skills, Experience and Qualifications: -

• Business Administration or/and Finance qualifications are needed.
• 5 years+ of Financial Reporting experience, preferably in a multi-currency environment.
• Prior experience in using the NetSuite/PBCS applications or any other ERP systems would be advantageous.
• Excellent knowledge of MS Office applications is needed (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Ability to build good working relationships with all members and levels of the organization.
• A methodical, highly organized approach to the execution of assigned tasks and responsibilities.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Attention to detail, strong writing, interpersonal and communication skills.
• Positive, proactive, passionate, personable, results orientated, ambitious professional, who is keen to progress within a global organization.
• Cross-functional teamwork experience.
• Up-to-date International Technical Accounting Standard knowledge.
• Fluent written and spoken English and Spanish a requirement. Additional language skills an advantage.
• Ability to handle confidential information with maturity and discretion.
• Capacity to take initiative and solve problems with minimal supervision.
• Ability to travel occasionally.
• Previous experience working in the education sector would be an advantage, but not essential.

Key Relationships:

To be successful in this position, the Financial Planning & Reporting Analyst – Madrid must build strong working relationships with the following groups:

• Finance team for Madrid schools and colleagues in other schools in the region
• Billing and Collections team for Madrid schools 
• Regional Finance team
• Administrative and School Management teams for the Madrid schools.

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 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.

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 and satisfactory Criminal Background Checks or equivalent covering the previous 10 years’ employment history.

ISP Commitment to Diversity, 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.