About the School – Hastings School, Azulinas
1415 students | 56 nationalities | 6 sites | 1 school. Hastings School, founded in 1971, serves students aged 2‑18 from a diverse community and is nestled in the heart of Madrid, Spain. We are a prestigious, premium international school within the Cognita family of schools. Our holistic educational approach delivers outstanding academic results. In the last two years our graduates have moved on to many of the world’s best universities, including the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, UCL, Duke University, University of Edinburgh, King’s College London, KU Leuven, LSE, University of St Andrews and Delft University of Technology, to name a few.
We want students of all ages to enjoy their educational journey at Hastings from day one, to fulfil their academic potential and develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they will need in the future. We use a series of learning habits as part of our learner power approach: Collaboration, Creativity, Curiosity, Empathy, Reflection, Resilience, Responsibility and Thinking.
About Cognita
Cognita is a global leader in independent education, founded in 2004. We are a growing community of over 100 schools in 21 countries—Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East—serving more than 100,000 students. Each of our schools is proudly unique, yet we share a collective purpose to create an environment where everyone can "thrive in a rapidly evolving world".
About the Role
As a Senior Accountant & Controller, you will play a key role in managing the school’s financial health. You will oversee day‑to‑day accounting operations, including verifying, posting and reconciling accounts payable and receivable. You will prepare accurate financial statements, support month‑end and year‑end closing processes, and ensure compliance with accounting standards and regulatory requirements. Your work will directly contribute to strategic decision‑making by providing clear financial insights and maintaining robust internal controls.
This is a permanent, full‑time role immediately available.
Responsibilities

Manage daily accounting operations, ensuring accurate and timely recording of all financial transactions.
Reconcile accounts payable and receivable across multiple legal entities.
Prepare and review financial statements for internal and external reporting.
Support month‑end and year‑end closing activities and related audit processes.
Maintain and strengthen internal control procedures to safeguard school assets.
Provide detailed financial analysis to support strategic planning and decision‑making.

Qualifications

Relevant degree in Accounting or Business Administration.
Proven experience in finance or audit, preferably in an educational or non‑profit setting.
Strong knowledge of financial reporting, budgeting and regulatory compliance.
Experience working with multiple legal entities and managing complex reconciliations.
Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills, able to work under pressure.
Fluency in English; proficiency in Spanish is required.
Commitment to accuracy, collaboration, integrity and excellence.

How to Apply
Complete the application before the closing date: 14th December 2025.
Cognita Schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff, volunteers and third parties to share this commitment. Safer recruitment practices and pre‑employment background checks will be undertaken before appointment.
We are an equal opportunities employer committed to diversity and treating all employees with dignity and respect regardless of background. Early applications are encouraged; the right applicant may be interviewed and appointed prior to the closing date.
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