Finance Assistant

Finance Assistant

Start date: early 2026

Proposed interview dates: January 

Contract Type: Fixed term (possible non-fixed term)

NLCS Kobe

NLCS Kobe will initially serve students in Grades 1 to 6, with plans to expand to Grades 7 and 8 as the school grows. Located on Rokkō Island, the campus offers convenient access to the vibrant commercial centres of both Osaka and Kobe. In partnership with The Hakko Group, NLCS Kobe will benefit from state-of-the-art facilities, providing premium education for families in the Kansai region. A world-class Senior School campus is set to open in 2028. This architecturally stunning building, nestled in the Rokkō Mountains above Kobe, is designed to enhance students' educational experiences in a tranquil, natural setting while exemplifying sustainability and modern design.

Finance Assistant 

The Finance Assistant position supports our fast-growing international school business through the execution of proper finance processes and controls related to NLCS Kobe. The role will support the Finance Manager for development of financial reports, processes, and procedures while maintaining high quality standards and appropriate internal control for NLCS Kobe and our partner company, Hakko LR Co Ltd. This role would be ideal for an early to mid-career individual with experience and interest in finance and accounting.

This role provides an opportunity to work in both a domestic and international business context, as well as gain experience working in both English and Japanese. This position supports the immediate finance and accounting needs of NLCS Kobe and works cross functionally with the Hakko Accounting and Finance team. The successful candidate will have general accounting experience in Japan as well as some exposure to international practices, proficient with computers and finance platforms, organized and with an eye for detail, comfortable communicating in day to day English and managing finance related documents in English. 

All of our employees are also expected to take part in daily school life, so comfort working with children is also a must. 

Responsibilities: 

Perform AR reconciliation / invoicing and monitor outstanding AR balances

Perform AP and expense reimbursement  

Petty cash management

Assist in annual external and internal control audits

Assist with invoicing customers, posting customer payments and vendor accounts payable

Support special projects not related to finance as well as cover day to day duties in a school (student supervision, welcoming visitors, participating in school functions) 

Experience and Education Required:

Bachelor’s degree in accounting or business administration or similar field / background

3-5 years experience in a finance or accounting role in Japan

Candidates must possess skills to comprehend domestic and international transactions and in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), while also learning the assigned IFRS.

Intermediate to advanced experience with Microsoft tools (especially Excel), comfort operating in Google Workspace and other finance related platforms

Skills Required:

Mindset of continuous process improvement and ability to make independent judgements 

Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills and proven experience in cultivating collaborative working relationships with teams across an organization

Work with various teams and individuals in a multicultural context 

Must meet deadlines and deliver quality results with a positive “can do” attitude

Superior attention to detail and accuracy