Director of Finance and Operations 1 July 2018

Transcription

1 Frankfurt International School An der Waldlust Oberursel Germany Director of Finance and Operations 1 July

2 Our Mission Our mission is to be the leading, culturally diverse and family- oriented international school with English as the principal language of instruction. We inspire individuals to develop their intellect, creativity and character to become independent, adaptable, socially responsible and internationally minded citizens, by ensuring a dynamic, inquiry -driven education of the highest standard.

3 Institutional Background FIS was established in 1961 as a non-profit entity to provide an exceptional English-language educational experience for children of professionals coming to Frankfurt from around the globe. Today FIS comprises four divisions and has a total enrollment of over 1,800 students on two campuses in Oberursel and Wiesbaden. The demand for enrollment exceeds capacity each year with waiting lists established for most grade levels. The FIS Mission Statement commits the school to achieving the highest standards in education and this is reflected in its outstanding teachers and facilities. Teachers are internationally recruited and represent more than ten different nationalities. Many local German professionals are also employed as German teachers or in administrative support roles. Annual revenues at FIS exceed 50 million and it holds assets in excess of 120 million. Adding to the school s financial strength, a recent donation to the school enabled a separate FIS Foundation to be established. The purpose of this Foundation is to manage the principal of this endowment and direct the income from investments to further support school initiatives. The school is governed by a 12-member Board of Trustees. Six of the members are current FIS parents elected by the community, five members are appointed, and one member is elected by the faculty as its representative. The Board governs through school policy and monitors the progress of the school s Strategic Plan.

4 School Life T he professional experience at FIS is centered on inspiring students to achieve their greatest potential. The school year generally begins in mid-august and ends toward the end of June. During the summer holiday is when the campus renovation projects are completed and a summer camp is offered to those staying in the area. There are four holiday periods during the year for a fall break, New Year break, late-winter break and spring break. As a family-oriented school, FIS offers many opportunities for engaging students and adults beyond the school day. The REAL (Recreation Enrichment and Learning) Program offers after school classes for both children and adults. Numerous festivals, trips and evening events offer families an opportunity to socialize and form strong communal bonds. Professionals at FIS enjoy the opportunity to attend conferences at FIS and beyond to further their ability to support the school and its students. The school belongs to the European Council of International Schools (ECIS) and the Association of German International Schools (AGIS), both of which hold professional development conferences in Germany or elsewhere in Europe.

5 The Position Frankfurt International School (FIS), one of Europe s largest and oldest international schools, has long been recognized as a leader in the field of international education. The school has over five decades of experience in providing a caring yet challenging environment for students and families from over 50 nationalities. It has been well documented that the presence of FIS in the Frankfurt Rhine-Main region is one of the key reasons international companies have chosen to expand their business and relocate their families to the area. After almost three decades of service, the FIS Director of Finance and Operations will be retiring in June of The school now seeks an experienced leader in the field of finance to help support the growth and development of FIS. As part of a creative FIS leadership team, the successful candidate will help to implement strategies that will support the school s effort to achieve its ambitious mission. The successful candidate will take charge of a department and seasoned staff that has oversight for the institution s financial management, facilities maintenance and development, safety and security, personnel affairs, transportation, and purchasing. In comparison to the private business sector, this position would be equivalent to that of a Chief Operating Officer (COO) or Chief Financial Officer (CFO) position. The FIS Director of Finance and Operations reports directly to the Head of School and maintains significant interactions with the Board of Trustees through committee work and contract negotiations.

6 Challenges and Opportunities The position of Director of Finance and Operations is critical to the success of FIS. In addition to managing key support services departments, this individual is in a unique position to identify further opportunities for creating an efficient and effective working environment. As a non-profit institution, FIS must ensure that it continually explores ways to achieve greater efficiencies and cost-control measures. However, education is a service industry and the school cannot lose sight that it is consumer driven and must continually deliver an education that is second to none. With the advent of Brexit, FIS is entering a unique period in its history. More than ever it is being relied upon to support the growth of the incoming business community. At the present time, the school has chosen to maintain its current size in the face of rising demand in order to protect its ability to provide increasingly higher levels of service. All members of the FIS leadership team will be be involved in ensuring that the school meets its strategic objectives during this exciting time of change. The demographics at FIS makes it one of the most diverse institutions in Germany. As a leader in the field of education, it is also a part of one of the fastest changing work environments, requiring professionals to be continually thinking about needs of the future generation. Finally, as a workplace that serves the needs of international children, it is a highly rewarding endeavor for each member of our tight-knit community.

7 Successful Candidate The successful candidate for this position will have the following responsibilities at FIS. 1. School Leadership and Direction Supports the development of policies and procedures for the effective operation of the school Supports the Leadership Team in implementing the school s mission and beliefs Directs all accounting and payroll operations 2. Financial Management, Planning and Control Directs the management of the financial affairs of the school Ensures that all operations are in accordance with German tax and commercial law Directs the collection, safekeeping, and distribution of all funds Responsibility for budget development and long-range financial planning 3. Management of School Campus, Facilities and Services Ensures school campus facilities are managed and developed to a high standard of safety and practical use Directs the school s real estate and insurance programs. Directs purchasing processes and procedures 4. Human Resources Directs a robust Human Resource procedure in compliance with German labor law Produces relevant personnel data for budgeting process Supports the Head of School in Human Resource matters and represents the school at labor court 5. Risk Management/Security Responsible liaison for the German police, and Regional Security Officer at the US Consulate. Supports in recruiting, hiring, training, supervising, and evaluating all clerical, financial, and support staff Supports the Head of School on financial affairs Together with the Head of School, negotiates remuneration matters with the unions Supports the administration of a budget control system for the school. Supports the school s external auditors to ensure all legal obligations are met Responsibility for the FIS Foundation Accounting & Annual Audit Responsible for a facility expansion program with the help of the Assistant Director of Facilities & Operations Ensures FIS adheres to the German building codes and contractual obligations Directs the school s pension scheme via the personnel and business offices Supports the school s labor law advisor on personnel matters. Obtains effective legal and other general advice as needed Salary and benefits highly competitive within the non-profit school industry.

8 Application Details Leadership Profile Highly organized with keen financial and operational skills Innovative problem solver Exceptional leadership and collaboration skills A visible participant in the life of the school community Firm, fair and effective communicator Minimum Qualifications Required: University degree in business or financial management Ideally ten years supervisory experience in a related field Fluent in speaking and writing English and German Advanced computer skills International business experience preferred A candidate s letter of introduction and references should be sent no later than 15 January 2018 to: Dr. Paul Fochtman Frankfurt International School e.v. An der Waldlust Oberursel Germany or FandODirectorSearch@fis.edu FIS reserves the right to close the search early if a successful candidate is identified. References will not be contacted until the latest stages of the interview process and only with permission of the candidate.