Job Summary
Position Overview:
The Director, Financial Planning is a senior leadership role responsible for driving integrated financial planning, performance management, and strategic decision support across AKU Pakistan, including clinical services, academic programs, research initiatives, and donor-funded activities.
Reporting to the Vice President Finance & CFO, the incumbent will lead the end-to-end planning cycle—budgeting, forecasting, performance monitoring, and long-range financial strategy—while ensuring alignment with AKU’s mission of excellence in healthcare, education, and research. The role serves as a key strategic partner to institutional leadership, enabling data-driven decision-making, strengthening financial discipline, and enhancing organizational effectiveness. The incumbent will also lead business process improvement, digital transformation, and the adoption of automation and AI-enabled tools to improve efficiency, accuracy, and insight generation across Finance.
In addition, the Director will foster a high-performance culture within the Finance function, oversee talent development, and enhance collaboration across clinical, academic, and administrative domains—ultimately improving the quality of time, information, and decision-making processes across the institution.
Role and Responsibilities:
1. Strategic Planning & Direction:
- Lead and facilitate institutional financial strategy development aligned with AKU’s mission and priorities.
- Support the VPF & CFO in setting strategic direction, including long-term financial sustainability and growth.
- Integrate financial planning across clinical, academic, research, and donor-funded activities.
- Develop forward-looking financial scenarios and identify risks and opportunities.
- Enable structured and data-driven decision-making across leadership forums.
2. Financial Planning, Budgeting, Analysis & Performance Monitoring:
- Lead annual budgeting, rolling forecasts, and multi-year financial planning processes.
- Oversee performance reporting including KPIs, variance analysis, and actionable insights for Executive Committee and Board.
- Develop integrated financial models incorporating patient volumes, enrollment, research funding, and cost drivers.
- Monitor financial performance and proactively address gaps with relevant stakeholders.
- Strengthen planning processes across AKU globally for consistency and agility.
3. Strategic Projects, Feasibilities & Decision Support:
- Lead development of business cases and feasibility studies for clinical expansion, academic programs, and capital investments.
- Provide financial insights to support prioritization of strategic initiatives.
- Support preparation of Board materials, investment proposals, and strategic papers.
- Evaluate financial impact and sustainability of major institutional initiatives.
4. Stakeholder Management & Business Partnering:
- Serve as a strategic partner to Deans, Hospital leadership, CEOs, and functional heads
- Facilitate alignment between Finance and academic, clinical, and administrative units
- Communicate complex financial insights in a clear and actionable manner
- Ensure responsiveness to stakeholder needs and institutional priorities
5. Process Improvement, Automation & AI Enablement:
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives to streamline financial planning, budgeting, and reporting processes.
- Identify and implement automation opportunities to reduce manual effort and cycle time.
- Drive adoption of advanced analytics and AI tools for forecasting, scenario planning, and decision support.
- Collaborate with IT and data teams to enhance data systems integration and governance.
- Establish frameworks for responsible, ethical, and effective use of AI in Finance.
- Promote a data-driven culture through training and change management.
6. Governance, Reporting & Compliance:
- Strengthen financial governance, policies, and planning discipline.
- Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and donor restrictions.
- Oversee reporting frameworks for leadership and governance bodies.
- Enhance transparency and accountability in financial processes.
7. Talent Management & Organizational Development:
- Lead and develop a high-performing teams.
- Oversee talent acquisition, performance management, and succession planning.
- Partner with HR to implement performance frameworks and capability development.
- Drive a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
8. Donor & Restricted Funds Financial Oversight:
- Support planning, monitoring, and reporting of donor-funded and restricted programs.
- Ensure alignment of fund utilization with donor intent and institutional priorities.
- Partner with development teams on financial evaluation of funding initiatives.
Required Skills
Skills and Qualification:
Education:
- MBA, ACA, ACCA, CFA, or equivalent professional qualification.
Experience:
- Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in financial planning, strategy, in senior finance leadership roles. Experience within healthcare, higher education, or complex, multi-entity organizations is preferred.
- Proven track record of leading large teams and driving transformation initiatives, including those involving digital innovation and analytics-driven finance.
Knowledge & Competencies:
- Strong strategic thinking with the ability to translate strategy into execution.
- Advanced financial modelling, analytics, and data interpretation capabilities.
- Proven experience in business process re-engineering, automation, and digital/AI-enabled finance transformation.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence senior academic, clinical, and administrative leaders.
- Strong communication, storytelling, and presentation skills, including Board-level engagement.
- High level of adaptability and ability to operate effectively in complex, fast-paced environments.
- Strong leadership capabilities with a focus on team development and performance culture.
- Should be a self-starter.
- High degree of integrity, accountability, and professional judgment.
*Comprehensive Reference checks will be conducted.