Head of FP&A

Job Purpose

The Head of Financial Planning & Analytics (FP&A) plays a strategic leadership role in overseeing the planning, forecasting, financial modeling, and analytics activities for the organization’s 24 schools across the United States and Latin America. This leader will manage a team of FP&A professionals, including regional analysts and the analyst dedicated to cash planning and analytics, and will serve as a trusted advisor to senior executives, regional leaders, and school Heads.

This role is instrumental in driving insight-driven decision-making, financial discipline, and strategic resource allocation to enable long-term growth and operational excellence in a mission-driven education environment.

Job Responsibilities

Strategic Planning & Forecasting

• Lead the development of annual budgets, rolling forecasts, and long-term financial plans for all U.S. and LATAM schools.
• Prepare budgets and forecasts with and for business units, completing consolidated/aggregated reports and analysis for Regional and Board presentations and submission.
• Work with school finance and leadership teams to create regular forecasts and budgets though appropriate template creation.
• Preparation of financial models for evaluating new business, new projects, capital expenditure and other investment appraisals.
• Work with business units (schools) to analyse and report monthly capital expenditure actuals, forecasts and variances.
• Support the preparation and review of 3-5 year strategic business plans for business units (schools) in terms of performance and capital expenditure.
• Partner with the Regional Finance Director and Heads of School to ensure budget alignment with strategic and academic priorities.
• Provide actionable insights and recommendations based on trend analysis, forecasting scenarios, and KPIs.

Reporting

• Design and implement standardized financial reporting packages and dashboards to track performance across schools, functions, and regions.
• Analyze school-level and regional performance drivers, including enrollment trends, cost structure, and staffing models.
• Encourage ‘Best Practice’ processes across the region, including standard format for month end reporting and variance analysis reporting as well as improving the in-school reporting for decision making.
• Work with the business units (schools)  to provide accurate and timely variance analysis for management account reporting.
• Deliver monthly and quarterly reporting packs to senior leadership with clear narratives and insights. Detailed reviews on a monthly basis of schools performance and variance analysis, with impact on future periods known.

Collaboration and Strategic Support

• Act as a financial advisor to Heads of School and regional leads, translating financial concepts for non-financial stakeholders.
• Partner with HR and Operations to evaluate the financial impact of organizational changes, hiring strategies, and policy adjustments.
• Support grant and philanthropic funding proposals with modeling and financial projections.

Talent Development

Required Skills/Abilities

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Economics, Accounting, or a related field; MBA or CFA preferred.
• 7+ years of experience in financial planning and analysis, with at least 3 in a leadership role in a multi-site, multinational context.
• Experience in the education sector or purpose-driven service organizations preferred.
• Proven experience managing cash flow and liquidity planning in a complex operating environment.
• Strong track record of implementing forecasting tools, dashboards, and business intelligence systems.
• Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills
• Strategic thinker with excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Ability to communicate complex financial information clearly and influence senior leaders.
• Highly collaborative and adaptable to diverse cultural and organizational settings.
• Fluent in English; Spanish fluency highly preferred.