Chief Financial Officer

Company Description ECA Global is a leading private higher education group founded in Australia, owning multiple higher education brands across Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Parramatta. The group has expanded its presence with new campuses in the United Kingdom and operates in Europe, China, the Philippines, Brazil, Nepal, and India. ECA Global welcomes around 15,000 students annually from diverse international backgrounds. The organization focuses on delivering quality education and student support services in a global, multicultural environment. Team members join a growing, international education group with opportunities for cross-border collaboration and impact.
We are seeking a highly experienced and strategic IBC - Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to lead the complete financial function for an upcoming International Branch Campus (IBC) of a reputed international university in India. This is a build-and-lead role. The CFO will be responsible not only for managing finance after the campus becomes operational but also for establishing the financial framework, controls, systems, processes, policies, budgets, banking relationships, reporting structures, and compliance mechanisms required to successfully launch the campus.
The CFO will work closely with the international university, Board, senior leadership, regulatory advisors, auditors, bankers, legal counsel, and other stakeholders to ensure that the campus is financially sustainable, compliant, commercially viable, and ready for operations.
Key Responsibilities
1. Finance Set-Up: Establish finance policies, SOPs, controls, approval matrices, Delegation of Authority, systems, chart of accounts, and finance team before launch.
Financial Planning: Develop the business plan, 3–5 year financial model, budgets, forecasts, break-even analysis, scenarios, and financial risk plans.
Student Revenue & Fees: Design fee structures and controls for collections, scholarships, discounts, refunds, instalments, receivables, and revenue reconciliation.
Governance & Controls: Establish robust controls covering procurement, payments, payroll, expenses, CAPEX, banking, contracts, and segregation of duties.
Tax & Regulatory Compliance: Ensure compliance with Indian taxation, Companies Act, FEMA, RBI, GST, TDS, transfer pricing, accounting standards, and other applicable regulations.
International/Group Finance: Manage financial reporting, intercompany transactions, cross-border payments, foreign exchange, and alignment with the international university’s finance framework.
Treasury & Cash Flow: Establish banking, cash-flow forecasting, liquidity management, payment controls, and working-capital processes.
Budget & Cost Management: Lead budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, cost optimisation, and financial performance monitoring.
Procurement & Vendors: Establish vendor onboarding, due diligence, procurement controls, contract review, payment terms, and cost-saving initiatives.
CAPEX & Campus Development: Manage CAPEX budgets, investment evaluations, project expenditure, approvals, and financial monitoring of campus development.
Audit & Assurance: Coordinate statutory, internal, tax, group, and regulatory audits; maintain audit-ready records and close observations.
Board & Management Reporting: Provide timely financial reporting, dashboards, insights, risk analysis, and recommendations to senior management and the Board.
Payroll & People Costs: Establish payroll, employee-cost controls, reimbursements, manpower budgeting, compensation, and benefits processes.
Financial Risk Management: Identify and mitigate risks relating to enrolment, collections, liquidity, FX, taxation, compliance, CAPEX, vendors, systems, and fraud.
Finance Team Leadership: Recruit, develop, and lead a high-performing finance team capable of supporting the campus from pre-launch through steady-state operations.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Finance function, policies, systems, SOPs and controls established before campus launch
Accurate 3–5 year financial model and annual operating budget
Maintain expenditure within approved budgets with proper approval for exceptions
Accurate fee accounting and strong collection performance
Accurate cash-flow forecasting and adequate liquidity maintained
100% statutory and regulatory filings completed within prescribed timelines
Monthly financial reports submitted within agreed timelines
100% timely and accurate reporting to Group/University Finance
Audit completed on schedule with timely closure of observations
Identify and implement measurable cost-saving opportunities
Campus setup expenditure maintained within approved CAPEX budget
No major financial-control failures or unauthorised transactions
Key financial risks identified, monitored, and mitigated
Finance team recruited and operational before required launch milestones
Qualifications
Chartered Accountant (CA) from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India is strongly preferred.
MBA/PGDM in Finance or equivalent qualification will be an advantage.
Strong knowledge of Indian taxation, accounting, corporate finance, financial controls, and regulatory requirements.
Knowledge of international financial reporting and cross-border transactions is preferred.
Experience
15+ years of progressive finance experience, with significant experience in senior finance leadership.
Previous experience as CFO, Finance Director, Financial Controller, or equivalent senior finance position preferred.
Experience in establishing or scaling a finance function from the ground up will be highly valued.
Experience in international higher education, university, International Branch Campus, multinational organisation, or another regulated sector will be an advantage.
Strong experience working with international stakeholders, Group CFOs, Boards, auditors, regulators, and professional advisors.
Experience with FEMA/RBI, foreign exchange, cross-border transactions, and international reporting is preferred.

Work arrangement
No