Job Description

Zurich International School is an independent day school in the Greater Zurich Area serving around 1,300 students aged 3 to 18 from all over the world.



Our mission is to

surface and inspire each learner's curiosity, critical thinking, and high expectations for learning

, so that they positively impact their family, community, and the world. We believe that strong, sustainable operations are a key enabler of excellent learning. As a school community, we are guided by our shared values of

Respect, Humility, Courage, and Joy

.



We are seeking a

Head of Finance

who combines financial excellence with leadership, clarity, and a strong sense of purpose.

Head of Finance

Start date 1 April 2026, 80% - 100%

As Head of Finance, you play a critical role in ensuring the financial sustainability and operational excellence of ZIS. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, you provide both strategic insight and hands-on leadership, enabling informed decision-making across the school.



You lead the Finance (incl. Purchasing) team and act as a trusted partner to the Senior Leadership Team, the Board's Finance Committee, and other stakeholders. With a forward-looking mindset, you continuously strengthen financial processes, governance, and digital maturity--always in service of the school's mission and community.

Main responsibilities include the following:

Take full accountability for accurate financial reporting and tax as well as AO, AP, AR and liquidity management. Responsible for finance and controlling and leading quarterly forecasts, annual budget and long-term financial planning. Lead the procurement team and develop the school's purchasing process. Build confidence and shared understanding of financials within the Senior Leadership Team and Board Finance Committee and peers. Oversee finance and controlling functions with a pragmatic, solution-oriented approach. Ensure strong alignment between financial processes and broader operational functions. As a leader you develop and empower a diverse finance team with clarity, respect, and trust as well as foster strong working relationships across departments in a multicultural environment.

Qualification and Experience:

A relevant degree and a minimum of 5 years experience in a similar management role. A proven combination of strategic thinking and pragmatic, hands-on doing. Demonstrated adaptability and growth mindset, with the ability to operate effectively in a dynamic school environment where priorities evolve, decisions balance educational and financial perspectives, and continuous improvement is expected. Strong emotional intelligence and stakeholder awareness, enabling constructive collaboration with educators, administrators, parents, and governance bodies, and the ability to translate financial rigor into accessible, trust-building dialogue. Resilience and flexibility under complexity, maintaining clarity, professionalism, and calm when navigating ambiguity, competing demands, and the relational nature of a mission-driven educational organization. Strong written and verbal communications and interpersonal skills, in both English and German. Experienced handling of ERP systems, database management and software implementation. Demonstrated success leading teams and building strong work relationships in culturally diverse organizations. A values-driven leader who acts with integrity, humility, and courage.

We offer:

Varied and interesting tasks in a dynamic, multicultural environment A meaningful leadership role in a mission-driven, international school environment. Varied and engaging responsibilities with real impact on the organization. A strong, collaborative, and supportive international community. A team-oriented leadership culture aligned with our values. Attractive employment conditions, including: + 40-hour work week
+ Generous vacation policy (6 weeks per year)
Competitive remuneration package in line with industry standards
+

We look forward to receiving your complete application!