The Finance module is designed to provide participants with information and experience in receiving and interpreting financial data within the school environment. We will explore the ethics and law around financial decision making, benchmarking of independent schools, financial sustainability and governance, internal financial reporting and reviewing financial statements. A budget exercise that participants undertake in small groups is a tool used to understand the major drivers of a school's finances. The module is participatory and aimed at the non-financial manager.

Learning Intentions:

• Gain an awareness of the financial documents used by independent schools
• Develop an understanding of the major drivers of a school budget
• Examine issues of financial sustainability and risks associated with enrolment fluctuations
• Develop an understanding of the "business" of running a school - insurance, planning, revenues and expenses.
• Connections to the 2021 National Standards will be made.

Facilitator Biography

Sanjay Chauhan, CPA, CGA
Director of Finance, St. George’s School

A CPA with 27 years of experience working in banking, tech, retail, warehousing, construction and now at St. George’s School for the last 6 years. Sanjay has specialized in treasury, hedging, strategic planning, data analytics and reporting in both public and privately held organizations with local and international operations.

Outside of school, Sanjay has been married for 25 years with a son that graduated from St. George’s School and a daughter that graduated from Stratford Hall. Sanjay was born and raised in Vancouver and had spent 14 years living in the Okanagan.