Director, Finance - Planning

Director, Finance - Planning

Department: Finance

Entity: Aga Khan University

Location: Karachi, Pakistan

Introduction:

Chartered in 1983, Aga Khan University (AKU) is a private, autonomous and self-governing international university with 13 teaching sites in 6 countries distributed across three continents. As an integral part of the Aga Khan Development Network, AKU provides higher education in several disciplines, carries out research pertinent to the countries in which it exists and has campuses, programs and/or teaching hospitals in Afghanistan, Kenya, Pakistan, Tanzania, Uganda and the UK. As an international institution, AKU operates on the core principles of impact, quality, relevance, and access; and AKU is a model of academic excellence and an agent of social change.

As an equal opportunity employer, AKU believes in promoting a diverse and inclusive culture and is committed to adopt appropriate standards for safeguarding and promoting a respectful relationship with and between diverse workforce of its faculty, staff, trainees, volunteers, beneficiaries, wider communities, and other stakeholders with whom it works, including children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees/trainees and partners to share this commitment.

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.

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.

Requirements:

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.