Role 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  Maintain 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 wellorganised 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 decisionmaking  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 fastdeveloping educational project