Overview
Financial Director Jobs in Panama City, Panamá, Panama at The Casco School
Title: Financial Director
Company: The Casco School
Location: Panama City, Panamá, Panama
The Finance Director will lead and direct the Accounting & Finance team and manage the day-to-day operations of the Function. The role reports directly to the School Director and will work closely with the Board and The Casco School’s senior leadership team on financial matters, with a clear remit to deliver high-quality reporting, robust controls, and reliable execution across the finance cycle. The role is the school's primary point of contact for external auditors and other financial counterparties on operational matters.
The Finance Director will lead and elevate the financial function of The Casco School, transitioning it from a solid operational base to a forward-looking, strategic driver of growth and sustainability. The incumbent is responsible for shaping financial strategy, strengthening controls, enhancing reporting quality, and acting as a key partner to the leadership team and Board in decision-making.
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategic Financial Leadership
- Develop and execute a medium- to long-term financial strategy aligned with the school’s growth ambitions.
- Lead financial planning, forecasting, and scenario modelling (enrolment, expansion, pricing strategy).
- Advise the Head and Board on investment decisions, cost structures, and capital allocation.
- Build a data-driven culture, translating financials into actionable insights.
2. Financial Control & Governance
- Ensure robust financial controls, policies, and procedures are implemented and consistently applied.
- Guarantee full compliance with Panamanian legal, tax, and regulatory requirements.
- Oversee audits and act as the primary point of contact for external auditors and advisors.
- Strengthen internal controls to support scale and reduce risk.
3. Reporting & Performance Management
- Deliver timely, accurate, and insightful monthly reporting to management and the Board.
- Move reporting from historical to forward-looking performance analysis (KPIs, margins, cost per student, etc.).
- Establish and track key financial and operational KPIs across the school.
- Provide clear commentary and recommendations, not just numbers.
4. Operational Finance Oversight
- Lead and develop the existing accounting team (3- 4 staff), improving efficiency and clarity of roles.
- Oversee cash flow management, working capital, and treasury.
- Ensure strong processes across billing, collections, payroll, and procurement.
- Identify and implement systems improvements and digital tools to streamline finance operations.
5. Financing & Growth Support
- Design and execute financing strategies (debt and investment, or alternative funding).
- Build relationships with banks, investors, and financial partners.
- Support potential campus expansion or new site development with robust financial modelling.
- Evaluate commercial opportunities with a clear ROI lens.
Profile & Experience
Essential
- 12+ years of experience in finance, including senior leadership roles (Finance Director / Head of Finance / CFO level exposure).
- Strong background in financial planning & analysis, control, and reporting.
- Proven ability to build or upgrade financial structures in growing organisations.
- Experience managing teams and improving performance.
- High level of financial rigour combined with commercial acumen.
Highly Desirable
- Experience in education, services, or multi-site operations.
- Experience in Panama or Latin America regulatory environments.
- Track record of working closely with boards or investors.
Personal Attributes
- Strategic thinker with hands-on execution ability (not purely conceptual).
- Comfortable with challenging leadership constructively and influencing decisions.
- Highly organised, with attention to detail and strong follow-through.
- Clear communicator able to translate complex financial information into simple, actionable insights.
- Proactive and solutions-oriented, with a bias for action.
