Head of Finance Systems

About the role

Cognita, a global network of independent schools, is looking for a Head of Finance Systems to report to the Director of Enterprise Technology. The role owns the technology powering Finance across the group: ERP, payments, planning and budgeting. It sets the roadmap, leads the team and ensures every platform is secure, scalable and built around Finance needs. The position is based in Dubai or London, with a hybrid pattern of about four days a week in the office.

Key responsibilities

• Own the strategy: run the lifecycle and performance of ERP, payments and planning systems and shape the Finance technology roadmap with the Finance Centre of Excellence.
• Turn Finance needs into requirements, investment cases and delivery plans that scale across regions and legal entities.
• Lead major implementations, upgrades and improvements with strong governance, testing and adoption, keeping a transparent, prioritised backlog.
• Simplify and automate Finance technology and processes.
• Set SLAs, support and release processes, and ensure configuration, access and integrations meet security, audit and compliance standards.
• Manage strategic vendors on performance, licensing, renewals and value.
• Coach and develop the Finance Systems team and build partnerships across Finance, Data & AI and Technology Services.

Required profile

• Experience leading enterprise Finance systems or ERP in a complex, multi-entity organisation.
• Record of delivering major implementations, upgrades, integrations and continuous-improvement programmes.
• Strong people, stakeholder and vendor leadership, including senior Finance stakeholders.
• A degree or professional qualification in Finance, IT or Business (or equivalent experience).
• Ongoing development in ERP, financial systems, product ownership or service management.

Required skills

• Solid grounding in service management, change control and structured delivery.
• Ability to shape roadmaps, prioritise competing demand and turn Finance requirements into scalable solutions.
• Nice to have: NetSuite and/or NSPB experience in multi-entity, multi-country environments; knowledge of integrations, data governance and automation; a recognised accounting, ITIL, Agile or project management qualification; experience in education or another international, service-led organisation.

The closing date for applications is 1 November 2026. The role involves occasional travel to Cognita offices, schools and partner locations, and support during critical Finance periods or major releases.