Director of Finance

As an independent and not-for-profit school, there is need to be proactive and resourceful, shouldering significant responsibility but with close support from the COO and with a strong team. The school’s financial position is one that permits fairly significant cash surpluses to be achieved, but the broader context is not without challenge, and so there is need for financial prudence and effective strategic planning to future-proof the school.

The not-for-profit nature is at the very core of DC’s culture. Every riyal in income goes directly and wholly to assisting and improving pupil incomes; none to corporate owners or franchise fees. This identity sets the tone for much of what you’ll do in the role and also how you’ll do it.

You’ll be replacing a strong Director of Finance who has been in the role for over eight years. Many of the team of nine stay with the school for a long time. There's a need for a supportive style of leadership and management, carefully balancing the needs and wants of faculty staff with the practical implications of such demands and against the context of an approved budget and stated delegations.

The role is important, and there is a desire for longevity in the role, with salary increases through long service. In addition, there is a unique balance where out of term, the hours are much reduced, and annual leave is especially generous.

About you

Above all else, there is a need for you to be professional, act with transparency and integrity, and ensure processes are followed and evidence provided.

The finance team is loyal and diligent, so you’ll need to have emotional intelligence in addition to your financial professionalism. It’s also vital that you ensure proactive links with other departments across the whole staff body from all of your team.

You must be highly computer literate and always looking to embrace new technologies to work more effectively and efficiently. With excellent communication and interpersonal skills, you must be able to interface directly with an incredibly varied range of stakeholders and work flexibly and highly responsively.

You must be calm under pressure and able to prioritise. It can be a very busy role, especially during term-time and fee-collection periods. You should be sleeves-rolled-up in style but also able to delegate, empower, and monitor the work of others so they develop.

In summary, you will be comfortable working under your own initiative in a proactive manner to meet intent and provide suggestions. You’ll help others to overcome challenges and take real pride in the tangible benefits you will help deliver for our special community.

About us

Doha College is a not-for-profit, high-profile, leading British International School in Qatar delivering a well-balanced, all-embracing English National Curriculum to pupils aged 3–18.

There are 2,700 students and 400 staff (in addition to 100 contractors) on a new and impressive 90,000m2 campus with a vibrant and diverse community.

With a new and experienced Principal at the helm, we’re all excited for what looks to be an incredibly promising future. Recently, the school was rated Outstanding in all areas during the latest BSO inspection and was incredibly proud to be recognised as the only school in the whole of Qatar as one of the ‘World’s Leading 100 Private Schools’ in the Spear’s School Index 2024.

The offer

This is a sponsored hire for those that are not already under the sponsorship of their spouse in Qatar. When you’ve finished reading this JA, you should either be highly motivated for the role or clear in the knowledge that it and we are not for you.

By means of the details:

Salary: QR 23,690 month on appointment rising to QR 30,900 month (through 10 increments – each time increment coming after 2 full academic years of service) in addition to a 150 QR month transportation allowance and 150 QR telephone allowance.

Accommodation allowance: QR 8500 month for single status (if unmarried or married without children) or QR 11,650 month if on family status (if with one or more child/children).

Annual leave: 48 working days in total (30 days of annual leave plus 18 days for Qatari and British Public Holidays) rising to 53 working days after 5 years of continuous service.

Miscellaneous: Annual travel allowance and private medical insurance.

School holiday working: Standard working hours are 7am to 2.30pm. Out of term-time, working is at a much more relaxed pace, and the hours are reduced to 8am to 1pm. When Ramadan falls during term, then hours are 9.00am to 2.00pm each day. At all times, though especially during term-time, there is need for additional work as required operationally, and this is without additional remuneration or TOIL. Attendance at some Board meetings on an evening is required but in the region of 6–7 annually.

Culture: We value and look after our staff well. Termly breakfasts, an Employee Assistance Programme and parking on campus are some of the obvious ways we show that, but there are many more. Working at a not-for-profit school will have a very different feel to a commercial position.

Please note: The above is provided so that you can consider if this position would be right for you. As such, the offer isn’t one that would be subject to negotiation; please only apply if you’re keen.

Final remarks

We expect to receive a high number of applications, and it will not be possible to respond to every applicant. Should you not hear from us within a week of the closing date, you have not been successful this time, but we are grateful for your interest. Only short-listed individuals will be able to receive feedback from the COO.

Closing date: 1st August 2024                  

Pre-interview tasks: Long-listed candidates will have a 15-minute Zoom with the COO, then those that appear a good fit will have tasks to complete remotely. Submissions will be reviewed for a short-list to be selected for interview, which will take place on campus or remotely for those not in the country.

Interview date: 22nd August 2024

Target start date: 1st October 2024 or ideally before (for handover)

Please note: Due to government requirements, we can only consider applicants that are above 18 and below 50 years old at the start of contract.

Doha College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including reference checks with previous employers and a criminal records check. Teaching staff will also be subject to a Barred List and Prohibition from Teaching Check. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.

Our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy can be found here.

As an equal opportunities employer, Doha College is committed to a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion. We believe that a diverse staff body reflects and supports the diversity of our students and wider society and leads to a cognitive diversity that promotes excellence in all areas.