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Associate Director - Financial Planning & Analysis - Aldar Education
Aldar Education
Source: Headcount Labs · original listing ↗
Job data: Headcount Labs, ODbL 1.0. Job descriptions belong to their employers.
Source date: 10/11/2026
About this role
Job Description Aldar Education is seeking an Associate Director - Financial Planning & Analysis for our HQ in Abu Dhabi. This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled professional to join the highly successful Aldar family of schools and to help shape the future of Abu Dhabi’s leading school group. Since its inception in 2007 with just 250 students, Aldar Education has grown into a highly sought-after education provider, with more than 25 owned and managed premium and super-premium schools and academies- in partnership with some of the world’s most prestigious institutions including Rugby School, King’s College Wimbledon, and Cranleigh. The Group now serves over 38,000 students through 5,000 educators from more than 100 nationalities to deliver world-class education across a broad range of curricula and learning pathways from nursery through to K12. At Aldar Education, our impact goes far beyond the classroom: we are proud to contribute to the UAE’s vision for a sustainable, knowledge-based economy through premium education. With this in mind, we hire educators and industry professionals who not only embody our values and cultural ethos but also bring a genuine passion for education—qualities central to our mission of shaping the leaders of tomorrow. If you are passionate about excellence and ready to make a meaningful impact, we invite you to apply and be part of our journey. This is an exciting opportunity to join the highly successful Aldar family of schools and to help shape the future of Abu Dhabi’s leading school group. To lead Aldar Education's group-wide Financial Planning & Analysis function, providing the CFO and Executive Leadership Team with accurate planning, forecasting, performance insight and decision support. The role owns the annual budget, rolling forecasts, management reporting, long-range planning and financial performance analysis across schools and HQ functions. The role also leads Corporate Finance activities, including funding strategy and requirements,investment appraisal, strategic financial modelling, capital allocation analysis and the evaluation of growth and expansion opportunities. The role leads the FP&A team and establishes the systems, data, governance and analytical standardsrequired to support sound financial and investment decisions. Main Duties: Lead the group-wide FP&A function across the school portfolio and HQ functions. Own the annual budget, rolling forecast, five-year plan and in-year reforecasting cycles. Provide clear, timely management information and performance insight to the CFO and executive leadership. Strengthen budgetary control, cost discipline, financial accountability and corrective-action tracking. Lead school and functional performance reviews, translating financial and operational data into actionable recommendations. Develop FP&A capability through effective team leadership, standardised processes, planning tools and datagovernance. Lead Corporate Finance analysis, funding assessments, investment appraisal and strategic financial modelling for growthand expansion initiatives. Specific Duties: Planning, budgeting and forecasting Lead the annual budget process for all schools and HQ functions, including assumptions, timetables, templates, challenge sessions and final consolidation. Own rolling forecasts and scenario modelling for enrolment, tuition revenue, staffing, operating costs, capitalexpenditure and cash flow. Consolidate the Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Statement for the full portfolio, ensuring consistency and reconciliation across entities. Maintain the five-year financial plan and ensure alignment with approved strategic and operational priorities. Establish planning assumptions, sensitivity ranges and clear version control for all budget and forecast submissions. Allocate work effectively, review key outputs and maintain resilience across critical planning and reportingcycles. Build strong working relationships across Finance, schools and HQ functions while maintaining independent financial challenge. Management reporting and insight Own monthly school, HQ and group management reporting, including actual versus budget and forecastanalysis. Produce concise executive commentary explaining material variances, drivers, risks, opportunities and required management actions. Develop dashboards and scorecards combining financial and non-financial measures, including enrolment, capacity utilisation, staffing ratios, revenue per student and cost per student. Ensure reporting is accurate, consistent, decision-focused and delivered to agreed deadlines. Respond to ad hoc analysis and group reporting requirements with clear assumptions and audit trails Performance management and business partnering Lead regular performance reviews with school and functional leaders, challenging results constructively and agreeing recovery or improvement actions. Partner with business leaders on workforce planning, resource allocation, pricing, cost optimisation andoperating-model decisions. Evaluate business cases, growth initiatives and operational investments through financial modelling, scenario analysis and post-investment review. Identify portfolio-wide performance trends, benchmarks and opportunities to improve financial sustainability andoperational efficiency. Track agreed actions, benefits and financial outcomes, escalating significant risks or delivery gaps to the CFO. FP&A governance, systems and data Define and maintain FP&A policies, calendars, templates, controls and approval requirements. Maintain a single, controlled source of planning and reporting data, with documented ownership andreconciliation procedures. Drive continuous improvement and automation of planning, reporting and analytical processes within the ERPand supporting tools. Ensure models are robust, transparent, appropriately controlled and supported by documented assumptions. Coordinate with Financial Control to ensure management information reconciles to the general ledger andapproved financial records. Leadership: Lead, coach and develop the FP&A team, setting clear objectives, service standards and development plans. Allocate work effectively, review key outputs and maintain resilience across critical planning and reportingcycles. Build strong working relationships across Finance, schools and HQ functions while maintaining independent financial challenge. Corporate Finance and strategic investment Lead financial evaluation of strategic growth opportunities, new schools, acquisitions, partnerships, capacity expansion and major investment initiatives. Develop and review investment models, business cases, valuation analysis, sensitivity analysis and scenario assessments to support executive and Board decisions. Identify medium- and long-term funding requirements arising from approved business plans, capital programmes and growth initiatives. Support the CFO in evaluating external and intercompany funding options, including the financial implications,affordability and impact on cash flow and returns. Prepare financial analysis and decision materials for Executive Leadership, Board and investment approvalforums. Assess capital allocation priorities and provide recommendations based on strategic alignment, financial returns,risk and affordability. Monitor the long-term financial performance and return profile of school assets and major investments against approved business cases. Conduct post-investment reviews and track the delivery of approved financial benefits, assumptions andreturns. Coordinate with Aldar Group Finance, advisers, lenders and relevant stakeholders on Corporate Financematters as required. Establish and maintain appropriate Corporate Finance models, processes, controls, documentation and approval records. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business or a related discipline. Professional accounting qualification such as ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CPA or CA strongly preferred; relevant master’s degreedesirable. Minimum Experience: Minimum 12 years of progressive finance experience, including at least 5 years leading FP&A, budgeting,forecasting or management reporting teams. Demonstrable ownership of complex, multi-entity or multi-site budgeting, forecasting and management-reporting cycles. Strong experience presenting financial performance, risks and recommendations to CFO and executive-level stakeholders. Advanced financial modelling, scenario analysis and business-case evaluation experience. Experience with ERP, planning and business-intelligence tools; education, services or other multi-site operatingenvironments preferred. Experience supporting growth, transformation or performance-improvement programmes desirable. Experience in investment appraisal, funding analysis, capital allocation, valuation or Corporate Finance projects. Job Specific Knowledge & Skills: Expert knowledge of FP&A disciplines, including driver-based planning, rolling forecasts, variance analysis, scenario modelling and long-range planning. Strong understanding of the Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Statement, and the links between operational drivers and financial outcomes. Advanced Excel and financial-modelling capability; able to review model logic, assumptions, controls andoutputs. Strong data and systems orientation, with the ability to improve ERP, planning and business-intelligence reporting processes. Commercial judgement and the confidence to challenge assumptions, influence senior stakeholders andconvert analysis into decisions. Clear executive communication, including concise written commentary and presentation of complexinformation. Strong people leadership, coaching, prioritisation and quality-review capability. High standards of accuracy, ownership, confidentiality and deadline management. Fluent written and spoken English; cultural sensitivity and effectiveness in a diverse stakeholder environment. Strong knowledge of investment appraisal methods, including discounted cash flow, net present value, internal rate of return, payback analysis and sensitivity modelling. Ability to evaluate funding requirements, capital allocation choices and the financial implications of strategic growth decisions. What We Offer: Aldar Education is a family of world-class, child-centered, and innovative schools based in the UAE. We educate students across our group of owned and managed schools and as we grow, so does our need for highly skilled, inspirational, and dedicated school and educational leaders. We offer an attractive remuneration package including a range of benefits. Our future-focused learning model includes both students and staff, so we place a special emphasis on professional development, coaching, and training. Successful candidates will have access to a wide network of professionals and opportunities to both lead and contribute to training others as well as developing themselves. This job description is not all-inclusive. Aldar Education reserves the right to amend this job description at any time. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. We are dedicated to our national development strategy and encourage UAE Nationals in their application to our company. Aldar Education 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. Job Info Job Identification 3251 Posting Date 11/10/2026 Apply Before 11/30/2026 Job Schedule Full time Locations 3rd floor, Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi, AE Place of Work Aldar Education HQ Only for UAE National No Academic Year 2026-2027 Reference Template HQ Leadership Contract