The Director – Group Head, Business Planning & Analysis is a senior leadership role responsible for shaping and driving the Group’s financial strategy, long-range planning, and performance management framework. The role serves as a strategic partner to the Group Chief Financial Officer and executive leadership team in enabling disciplined capital allocation, supporting strategic growth initiatives, and enhancing overall financial and operational performance across the Group.

The incumbent will lead the Group Business Planning & Analysis function, transitioning the organization from predominantly historical financial reporting to forward-looking, insight-driven financial leadership. This role combines strategic financial planning, investment evaluation, and capital allocation leadership with hands-on ownership of planning, forecasting, and performance management across the Group.

Key Accountabilities

Strategic Financial Planning and Long-Range Modelling

• Lead the development and maintenance of the Group’s integrated long-range financial plan.

• Translate strategic priorities into robust financial models covering revenue, margins, and capital deployment.

• Provide scenario modelling, sensitivity analysis, and strategic recommendations.

• Support executive leadership in evaluating strategic and financial scenarios. Table relevant market scans including competitor benchmarking, regulatory shifts, best practices etc

Group-wide Planning, Budgeting and Forecasting

• Lead Group-wide annual budgeting and rolling forecast processes.

• Establish disciplined planning frameworks to improve visibility and accuracy. Enhance data dashboards, utilize AI to streamline and drive predictive analysis.

• Ensure alignment between strategy, operations, and financial outcomes.

• Facilitate a community of best practices sharing among institutional finance teams to elevate standards across the region.

Performance Management and Decision Support

• Design and implement comprehensive performance management frameworks.

• Develop financial dashboards, KPIs, and performance metrics.

• Partner with business leaders to drive performance improvement.

• Drive profitability by analysising areas for revenue enhancement and cost optimization. Lead "win-win" consolidation initiatives (e.g., software licensing, facilities, insurance, marketing spending) where the Group can add value to the individual institutions.

Investment Evaluation and Capital Allocation

• Lead financial evaluation and business case support/development for investments. (i.e. Exec Ed etc). Provide financial business partnering support to moonshot ventures.

• Support capital allocation frameworks and funding strategy.

• Ensure disciplined investment decision-making aligned with Group priorities. Rigorously evaluate CapEx proposals and acquisition targets to ensure ROI meets group hurdles.

Stakeholder Management and Executive Support

• Serve as a trusted financial advisor to executive leadership.

• Support Board and executive reporting.

• Build strong relationships across Group leadership – primarily HE Vice Chancellors, School’s Leadership. Must have strong interpersonal skills and the ability to influence outcomes

Experience

• 18+ years of experience in FP&A, corporate finance, commercial finance or strategic finance.

• Leadership experience at the group or regional level.

• Education Industry Experience will be a significant plus

• Experience in complex or multinational organizations.

• Demonstrated experience managing or overseeing operations across Southeast Asia. Familiarity with the cultural and business nuances of the region.

Education and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field.

• MBA, CFA, CPA, CA, or equivalent preferred.

Core Competencies

• Ability to influence without authority – must have the maturity to navigate a decentralised organisation by establishing strong relationships and by demonstrating value add.

• Comfort and maturity in engaging with peers, senior academic leaders and the founding family.

• Strong financial modelling and analytical capability.

• Strong commercial and strategic thinking. Commercial agility of being able to straddle the entire education spectrum – Cradle to cradle

• Excellent stakeholder management with strong communication & interpersonal skills.

• Must be able to travel within the region/ institutions when required.

Strategic Impact of the Role

This role is central to strengthening the Group’s financial discipline, enabling strategic decision-making, and supporting long-term value creation through disciplined planning, investment evaluation, and performance management.

🌟 Why Join Us

• Play a pivotal role in shaping Group-wide financial strategy

• Work directly with senior leadership and decision-makers

• Lead transformation from traditional reporting to insight-driven finance

• Drive impact across a regional, high-growth organisation