European Financial Controller – Infrastructure & Campus Life

The company

ESCP Business School is the world-renowned business school, founded in 1819, that trains the responsible leaders of tomorrow. Located in the heart of Paris, it offers innovative and multicultural teaching, supported by a network of six European campuses. Recognized for the excellence of its management programs, it fosters engagement, international awareness, and personalized support for talent throughout their studies.

Post description

ESCP is seeking a European Financial Controller, acting as a true Business Partner to the Infrastructure, Real Estate, IT and Campus Life departments. These areas are essential to student satisfaction, which is a decisive factor in rankings in particular.

In a rapidly transforming multi-campus environment, ESCP is rolling out an investment programme of nearly €300 million over the next five years, mainly in real estate and technological infrastructure.

The purpose of the role is to strengthen the financial steering of these activities by developing an integrated approach linking expenses, investments, operational performance and student experience.

The scope notably covers real estate, leases, building maintenance and security, IT infrastructure, telecommunications, insurance, cleaning, living spaces and student services.

Main Responsibilities

1. Business Partner to the Real Estate, IT and Campus Life Departments

Support operational departments in managing their financial performance and strategic projects.

Real Estate

• Contribute to the European real estate strategy and campus master plan.
• Carry out investment analyses: acquisition versus leasing, business cases, renovations, extensions and relocations.
• Build forecasts, budgets and business plans, financial models and multi-year projections.
• Monitor budget execution, with active involvement from contract structuring through to purchase orders, delivery of works and payment of service providers.
• Track cost variations and propose corrective actions with the real estate teams.
• Analyse the economic performance of assets and monitor key indicators: cost per square metre, occupancy rate, cost per student, ROI, energy performance, and propose improvements with the Student Experience, Campus Life and Real Estate teams.
• Produce analyses for Executive Management and governance bodies.

IT

• Financially steer digital transformation programmes and technology investments.
• Assess business cases including ROI, and monitor operating costs, licences, infrastructure and projects.
• Campus Life
• Support those responsible for student and association life in managing their resources.
• Challenge budgets and contribute to trade-offs between costs, service quality and student impact.

1. Campus Life Performance Management

• Develop and monitor performance indicators: NPS, student satisfaction, service usage, engagement and retention.
• Measure the return on investment of Campus Life initiatives.
• Build dashboards combining financial and operational data.
• Identify levers to improve the student experience and economic efficiency.

1. Investment Steering and Financial Control

• Contribute to the steering of the €300 million investment programme.
• Monitor commitments, cash outflows and budget trajectories for multi-campus projects.
• Assess the impact of real estate and IT investments on attractiveness and the student experience.
• Coordinate budget cycles and forecasts.
• Ensure the monitoring of budget execution, variances and action plans.
• Carry out forward-looking analyses and financial scenarios.

1. Harmonisation and Continuous Improvement

• Harmonise management practices across campuses.
• Develop a performance culture combining financial results and user impact.
• Contribute to the development of reporting tools, ERP, BI and data analytics.

Profile required

• Higher education degree in finance.
• 5 to 10 years’ experience in management control, audit or financial advisory.
• Fluent professional English and a strong understanding of financial issues.
• Strong skills in analysis, financial modelling and performance management.
• Ability to communicate, summarise and support decision-makers.
• Autonomy, rigour, proactivity and a business partner mindset.
• Interest in investment, real estate and transformation topics within an international environment.

Required languages

• English - Level advanced

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