Chief Financial Officer - Service/Hospitality Industry

Company Overview:

Our client, with more than 40 years' presence, operates a family of international schools in Bangkok. Known for their peaceful and green campuses, they offer an international curriculum from toddler programs to primary education. With a focus on individualized learning, their highly qualified teachers and state-of-the-art facilities provide a nurturing environment for children aged 18 months to 11 years. 

They are experiencing rapid, strategic growth and transformation. Their organizational culture is committed to fostering a dynamic and agile workplace where innovation and strategic planning is paramount. With new schools in the pipeline to add to the existing portfolio of five, their unique position in Bangkok requires them to stay competitive and enhance our educational experience.

Role Overview:

We are seeking a hands-on and strategic Chief Financial Officer (CFO) with a commitment to driving operational performance, financial efficiency, and data-driven decision-making within our organization.

The CFO will play a crucial role in enhancing financial strategies that support our growth and operational excellence, while fostering a high-performance finance team focused on accountability, collaboration, and professional development.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Financial Leadership:

• Financial Strategy: Lead the development and implementation of financial strategies aligned with the company's operational goals, growth plans, and long-term sustainability.
• Decision Support: Provide financial analysis, scenario modeling, and data-driven insights to enable senior management and the Board to make informed, performance-focused decisions.
• Board Advisory: Act as a key financial advisor to the Board, ensuring alignment of financial strategies with the organizations vision, values, and commitment to educational excellence.

2. Performance Management and Financial Planning:

• Budgeting and Forecasting: Drive a disciplined budgeting and forecasting process that  accurately projects revenue, expenses, operational costs, and cash flows, ensuring alignment with organizational strategy.
• Performance Analysis: Implement data analytics to monitor and report on financial and operational performance metrics. Regularly assess KPIs to identify trends, variances, and opportunities for cost optimization and operational efficiencies.
• Cost Control & Efficiency: Champion a data-driven approach to monitoring and managing operating expenses across departments, implementing effective systems to drive efficiencies.

3. Operational Financial Management:

• Resource Allocation: Ensure the optimal allocation of financial resources to support operational priorities, growth initiatives, and long-term sustainability, maintaining liquidity for current and future needs.
• Cash Flow & Working Capital: Oversee cash flow and working capital management to guarantee financial stability and liquidity to enable timely and strategic investments in core operations and educational programs.
• Internal Controls: Strengthen and maintain financial control systems, policies, and processes that safeguard assets, manage risk, and uphold transparency across the organization.

4. Financial Reporting & Compliance

• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all financial reporting complies with Thai and international standards.
• Financial Reporting: Lead the preparation of accurate and timely monthly and annual financial reports, providing insights to internal stakeholders for strategic alignment.
• Risk Management: Establish comprehensive risk management frameworks, and ensure compliance with tax, audit, and statutory requirements.

5. Leadership & Team Development

• Team Building: Develop and lead a high-performing team through mentorship, skill-building, and fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Serve as a bridge between finance and other departments, ensuring financial insights and data-driven insights directly inform operational decisions.
• Change Management: Lead initiatives to improve financial processes and systems, supporting a high-growth environment and aligning with organizational transformation and strategic goals.
• Emotional Intelligence (EQ): Demonstrate high EQ, building trust and strong cross-functional relationships ensuring a collaborative and supportive work environment.
• Mentorship & Coaching: Act as a coach and mentor, supporting professional growth and development to build internal capabilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field; CPA, MBA, or advanced certification (e.g., CFA) preferred.
• Minimum 10+ years of progressive finance experience, with a significant portion in a leadership role in a high-growth organization.
• Proven track record in a high-growth environment
• Demonstrated expertise in performance management, budgeting, and operational financial strategy.
• Experience in M&A and fundraising activities is a strong advantage.
• Strong proficiency in financial modeling, forecasting, analysis and financial software.
• Hands-on, adaptable and proven ability to lead and inspire finance teams in a dynamic environment.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate financial data into strategic insights for cross-functional teams.
• In-depth knowledge of Thai and international financial regulations and reporting standards.
• Fluency in English is preferred.