Financial Systems & Strategy Specialist (Excel Expert & Cost Optimisation Advisor – Project-Based)

Company: Magpie Tutors Language Academy (MTLA Education)
Location: Remote
Contract Type: Project-Based (with potential ongoing retainer)
Compensation: £80–£100 setup project (?6,000–?8,000) + £8–£20/hr for analysis and monthly review

About MTLA

Magpie Tutors Language Academy (MTLA) is a UK-based education company offering English and literacy programmes for international students. We are currently developing our financial systems to support our 2026 operations and require an experienced financial and Excel specialist who can help us bring structure, clarity, and strategy to our expense tracking and forecasting.

This is a project-based role with potential for an ongoing monthly retainer, ideal for a professional comfortable working independently with a small, purpose-driven UK startup.

Role Overview

You will work directly with Dea (Director) and Justine (Bookkeeper) to review and improve MTLA’s financial tracking systems.
Your goal: to refine our existing Expense and P&L sheets, link data across pages, create clear dashboards, and provide strategic insights into how MTLA can save money, plan budgets, and operate more efficiently.

Key Responsibilities
Phase 1 – Review & Restructure
Review existing Excel financial sheets (Inputs, P&L, Sales Tracker, Staff/Student Expenses, Company Settings)
Add and improve formulas (SUMIFS, INDEX-MATCH, INDIRECT, etc.)
Link sheets for automatic updates across all financial categories
Improve formatting, layout, and practicality for business decision-making
Standardise currency, date, and validation formats

Phase 2 – Build Linked Expense & Forecast System
Create a clear dashboard showing total income, expenses, savings %, and profit margins
Build 12-month financial projection templates
Automate VAT, commission, and percentage calculations
Add visual charts and colour-coded formatting for insights

Phase 3 – Strategy & Cost Optimisation
Analyse existing business expenses to identify cost-saving opportunities
Use AI tools to research supplier comparisons and recommendations (e.g., travel memberships, subscription alternatives)
Develop a strategic financial plan including savings and reallocation suggestions
Present findings and recommendations to the Director in a clear summary

Retainer (Optional, Ongoing)
Attend 1–2 monthly financial review meetings (remote)
Maintain and update tracker sheets
Provide strategic advice on future budgets and cash flow decisions

Required Skills
Advanced Excel and Google Sheets knowledge (data linking, pivot tables, dashboards, formulas)
Financial analysis and forecasting experience
Strong problem-solving and attention to detail
Ability to communicate complex data in clear, simple terms
Familiarity with small business or UK-style bookkeeping is an advantage
Analytical mindset and initiative to suggest improvements
Confident using AI tools (ChatGPT, Notion AI, etc.) for financial insight

Project Duration & Compensation
Phase Duration Rate Type
Phase 1 1 week (ASAP) £40 fixed Fixed Fee
Phase 2 1-2 weeks £40 fixed Fixed Fee
Phase 3 Presentation £8-10/hr Hourly (meetings, analysis)
Retainer 1–2 hrs/month £8–£20/hr Ongoing optional

Total project setup: ~3-4 weeks (hybrid fixed + hourly model) - If work can be completed sooner preferred.
Future work: Optional monthly retainer for continued support and system maintenance

Ideal Candidate
Based in the Philippines
Has proven experience building financial trackers or dashboards for international clients
Understands startup environments (flexible, dynamic workload)
Interested in long-term collaboration as MTLA grows

How to Apply
Please send your CV or portfolio to ----------
with the subject line:
“Application – Financial Systems & Strategy Specialist (Your Name)”
Include:
A short introduction about your relevant experience
Example(s) of Excel or dashboard projects you’ve created
Your availability and hourly/project rate proposal

About MTLA
MTLA delivers English education and academic preparation programmes to international students through both online and residential settings. We are building our 2026 financial system to support growth, clarity, and sustainable business planning — and we’re looking for a team member who can help us make that vision reality. We are a family-style start-up, we are currently a small team who strive to develop and to improve young peoples' education.