General Manager - Accountancy School Ireland

Job Title: General Manager, Accountancy School Ireland

Location: Dublin City Centre, Ireland (hybrid working model)

Contract: Full time, Permanent

Overview

We are seeking a senior, commercially driven business leader to support the effective transition of leadership within The Accountancy School as the founders step back following the sale process. The successful candidate will work closely with the current leadership team to drive continued growth and expansion across the School, while also supporting integration with Hibernia College in line with the existing strategic plan, including the MSc in Corporate Governance.

This role will also involve building and managing strategic relationships with SMEs, as well as leading accountancy and law firms across Ireland. As a key position within the organisation, it is designed as a clear succession pathway and will play a central role in shaping the future growth of the business.

In addition to commercial leadership, the role carries responsibility for maintaining the strong reputation of The Accountancy School brand, ensuring continued academic quality and its market-leading position. The role will also focus on backend operational integration within Hibernia College to enable scalable international growth, with an initial focus on the UK and the Middle East.

The successful candidate will work closely with Academic, Operations, Registry, Compliance, IT, and Finance teams to ensure that the business is structurally prepared to scale effectively in international markets.

Key Responsibilities

General

• Commercial Growth and Revenue Development in line with targets, and geographical expansion.
• Lead, deliver and scale revenue growth across the Accountancy School and support the development and new initiatives to support that growth plan.
Develop and execute a multi-year business development and growth strategy aligned to organisational objectives.
• Lead and manage the development of the new product and propositions strategy and roadmap for Accountancy School including multi modal and AI opportunities.
• Identify and secure new revenue streams including enterprise partnerships, corporate education, and professional pathways.
• Own commercial targets, forecasts, and performance reporting.

Strategic Partnerships and Market Engagement

• Build and maintain senior level relationships with SMEs, accountancy firms, and law firms across Ireland.
• Develop strategic partnerships with professional bodies, employers, regional funding bodies and industry stakeholders.
• Position the organisation as a preferred education partner for professional and executive development.
• Represent the organisation at industry events, professional forums, and stakeholder engagements.

International Expansion and Market Entry

• Lead the commercial and strategic planning for international expansion, with a primary focus on the UK and the Middle East.
• Identify and develop international partnership models including institutional, employer, and government aligned opportunities.
• Support market entry strategies including pricing, positioning, and route to market.
• Work with internal teams to ensure programmes are commercially viable and market relevant internationally.

Backend Integration and Operational Scalability

• Manage backend integration across Hibernia College systems to support international scalin
• Work closely with Operations, Academic Registry, Compliance, IT, and Finance to ensure processes are aligned and scalable
• Identify and address operational risks or constraints that could impact growth or learner experience
• Embed scalable governance and operational frameworks to support sustainable international expansion

Leadership and Internal Collaboration

• Work in close partnership with Academic leadership to align programme development with market demand.
• Ensure the maintenance of the highest standard of academic quality and student experience through the continued development, support and engagement of the faculty.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Sales to shape value propositions, messaging, and go to market strategies
• Provide commercial insight to inform pricing, portfolio development, and investment decisions
• Build, mentor, and lead a growing commercial and partnerships function

Succession and Strategic Leadership Development

• Progressively assume broader organisational leadership responsibilities over a two/three-year period
• Contribute to senior leadership and board discussions on strategy, growth, and governanc
• Develop a deep understanding of the academic, regulatory, and commercial model of the organisation
• Prepare to transition into the CEO role subject to performance, capability, and board approval

Person Specification

Essential Experience and Skills

• Proven senior experience in business development, partnerships, or commercial leadershi
• Strong track record of driving revenue growth and scaling organisations or business units
• Experience working with professional services, education, accountancy, legal, or regulated sectors
• Demonstrated experience managing complex internal stakeholders and operational dependencies
• Commercially astute with strong negotiation and strategic planning skills
• Experience contributing at senior leadership or board level

Leadership and Personal Attributes

• Highly ambitious with a clear ambition to grow their career into and MD/CEO or with some prior experience
• Credible and confident leader capable of influencing at senior and external stakeholder level
• Strategic thinker with the ability to execute operationally
• Values led, collaborative, and resilient in a growth focused environment
• Strong communication and relationship building skills

Desirable

• Experience in higher or professional education environments
• Experience and knowledge of ACCA
• Exposure to UK and or Middle East education or regulatory landscapes
• Previous responsibility for budgets, P&L responsibility, and organisational leadership

What We Offer

• A senior leadership role with significant influence over growth and strategy
• Clear and supported pathway to CEO within approximately two/three years
• Opportunity to lead international expansion from Ireland into priority markets
• Competitive remuneration package aligned to experience and progression
• Pension