Kaplan International Colleges offers university preparation in partnership with leading universities in Nottingham, Sheffield, Liverpool, Glasgow, Brighton, Bournemouth, Bristol and London, allowing international students to progress onto a wide range of degree programmes at these partner institutions. In addition to first-rate teaching and excellent study facilities, KIC programmes offer a
high level of personal support as well as access to the facilities and resources of our university partners. KIC also operates partnerships in the United Arab Emirates, Kurdistan, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, China, Australia and the US preparing students for entry to higher education programmes.
Job Title: Finance Officer
Kaplan International Colleges – Victoria Island, Lagos
The Role
We are seeking a qualified accountant to manage the finances of our Nigerian Operations for both the Sales office and the college; this is a broad role, to include Accounting, Accounts Payable, Payroll and Compliance (VAT, Tax, statutory reporting and liaison with the company secretary) and also to include cash flow management and Credit Control. The role will have responsibility for reporting and will also support Planning activity (budgeting and forecasting). It will also work to support the business locally from a commercial perspective, actively participating in cost negotiations with suppliers, supporting college staff.
The role will report into the UK-based Finance Director, with local reporting lines to the Director of the Sales office (DSO) and the College Director (CD).
The role has a Finance Administrator reporting to it and will work closely with the the sales office staff, the College Operations Manager, the Facilities Manager and Student Services as well as the UK based Head office Finance Team and Legal. We use a number of different systems to manage our activities. CLASS.net is our student CRM and sales ledger system. Great Plains holds our General Ledger, and our management information system is XLR.
Responsibilities
Accounting and reporting
Maintenance of a clean and up-to-date general ledger (including balance sheet reconciliations, reconciliations of sub-ledgers/ subsidiary systems to the GL)
Journal entries to complete the accounts to the month end timetable (+3 working days)
Ensure intercompany transactions are properly invoiced and supported and any related taxes are correctly applied
Supporting HQ Finance to ensure the financial information is correctly understood and reported
Using pre-build reports to provide the DSO and CD Office with up to date information in relation to their Operations
Providing adhoc analysis as required
Planning
Supporting the DSO and CD with budgeting and forecasting
Working with the Operations Manager and Student services to gather costs for the College to support the annual fee review
Payroll
Working with our 3rd party payroll services provider to ensure they have the correct information for payroll for all staff (permanently and temporary)
Accounting for payroll and payroll related taxes
Processing salary payments
Ensure all statutory / contractual deductions are made and that payments are made to the relevant authorities (eg payroll taxes, pensions)
Consolidating payroll services – currently 2 providers are used, one for national staff and the other for expats)
Cash flow management and managing the relationship with the bank
Ensuring the company has sufficient funds to meet its financial obligations
Liaising with the bank to ensure we have commercially favourable terms
Ensure the use of surplus funds is optimised by placing them on deposit until required/ returned to the UK
Manage the finalisation of the move to a single bank and manage the relationship with that bank
Ensuring funds transfers between Nigeria and UK are managed properly to ensure full compliance with local requirements and to ensure funds owed to the UK are not trapped in Nigeria
Support the UK Finance Director with ensuring dividends are paid in the most tax efficient way
Accounts Payable and Suppliers
Ensure all invoices are properly authorised in accordance with the Group Authorisation matrix
Ensure supplier invoices are paid to meet payment terms
Ensure pending invoices are accrued at month end, to provide a full picture of the costs of the business
Where invoices relate to student expense, ensure the funds have been collected from student or sponsor before payment is made.
Ensure the Supplier ledger is kept up to date and that all issues with suppliers are resolved promptly.
Ensure the correct sales tax treatment of costs
Support the business in negotiations with suppliers on contracts
Maintain records of all contracts and leases.
Student ledger Management and Credit Control
Book all receipts for students on the student ledger
Process adjustments to student charges on the ledger
Work with the college to collect pending funds from students and sponsors and advise them of any outstanding payments.
Tax and Compliance
Take in house the VAT filings from our 3rd party accountant and ensure these regulations are followed and filings are timely
Work with the 3rd party accountant for corporate tax accounting and filing and payment to meet statutory deadlines
Work with Group Legal in the UK and local Company Secretary to ensure all group and all statutory returns are delivered.
Work with the UK FD and local advisors to ensure the business is operated in a tax efficient manner.
Desired Skills and Experience
Qualified accountant (ACA or equivalent) who has excellent accounting experience working in an international company
Precise and accurate with a good eye for detail
Experience of payroll, Tax and VAT and of working with external service providers
Very good interpersonal skills, able to deal with non-finance staff and with suppliers, students and their parents and student sponsors and the bank
Very organised to be able to deliver to pre-set deadlines and able to cope with conflicting priorities.
Able to work unsupervised
Excellent Excel skills and good experience of Accounting systems (Great Plains experience an advantage)
About this company
How to Apply
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