ROLE DESCRIPTION
PUBLIC SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAMME
FINANCE MANAGER
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Reports to: Programme Director
Direct Reports: None
Project responsibilities:
The Finance Manager is responsible for the establishment and management of the organisation’s finances and the management of all partner school finances.
About the Public School Partnerships
All participants of the programme are driven by a deeply held belief that every child has the right to high quality education regardless of socio-economic status and every parent and educator should be empowered to provide it.
The programme aims to demonstrate the potential for excellence in even the most challenged school environments, by supporting schools with additional governance capacity, increased accountability, and flexibility in school management.
Key responsibilities:
The Finance Manager will provide support to both the organisation, in its journey to becoming a fully-fledged independent NPO, as well as the schools by:
Assuming the role of Finance Manager within the context of the DG Murray Trust and through the process of becoming independent of the DG Murray Trust, managing:
Financial strategy, planning and policy development
Budgeting
Managing of day-to-day financial activities
Auditing
Financial risk management
Asset management
Managing the transition into independent NPO
Assuming the role of SGB Treasurer in the partner schools and to chair the Finance Sub-Committee in order to:
Drive and implement each school’s annual budgeting, cashbook submissions, departmental reporting and activities with external auditors
Coordinate and oversee each school’s routine financial functions, enacted according to policy, including payments, receipts, cashbooks, petty-cash, asset-registers, as associated reporting
Implement smooth financial processes and procedures, through training and accountability
Maintain a complete understanding of school budget, incomes, expenditures, cash flow and current position and building capacity and empowering SGB members in the various aspects of financial governance.
Assume responsibility for the school’s financial function insofar as HR and employment of SGB staff, including
Work collaboratively with school staff including secretaries, bursars, Principals or other administrators – supporting, mentoring, empowering and ultimately enabling as required
Oversee the use of donor funding made available to the school:
Oversight that funding transferred to the school is used for the agreed purposes
Oversight that funding paid directly to service-providers is correctly contracted and that the associated services are satisfactorily delivered to the school
Monitoring that funding made available is utilized according to budget, and making financial reporting to donors
Qualifications & experience
CA qualified, or similar University-level qualification in finance, accounting and governance functions
5+ years practical experience in a financial management role, assuming headline responsibility for an organisation’s financial functions
Previous experience in a school environment, WCED environment, or non-profit environment are preferred, but not required.
Driver’s licence and access to a car
An ability to work flexible working hours, including evening and weekend work
Skills & knowledge
Strong command of Microsoft excel, and versatility in a variety of accounting software packages.
Project/programme management skills and knowledge
Understanding of complexity of diversity and discrimination across all factors, including but not limited to class, race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, culture and religion
Understanding of systems of governance
Multi-lingual (Xhosa and Afrikaans) would be an advantage
Case management, documentation and reporting skills
Attributes
Demonstrated passion for education and commitment to the belief that every single child deserves access to a high quality education
Proven ability to juggle a complex workload, prioritise effectively, take the initiative, problem solve, be flexible, and work with minimal supervision
Highly organised, self-reliant, good problem-solving, results-oriented, multi-tasker with superior management skills and excellent judgment
Friendly and positive disposition, with professional demeanour and the ability to work effectively and collaboratively as part of a cohesive and supportive team
Trustworthy and reliable, with the ability to handle confidential information discreetly
Demonstrated ability to build consensus, facilitate collaboration and problem-solving and manage conflict among varied stakeholders in matrixed environments
Ability to clearly define strategic issues and make tough decisions in the face of ambiguity and incomplete information
Strong interpersonal skills that contribute to a collegial working environment
An entrepreneurial approach to problems in the face of complexity
Attention to detail, completed-ness, the ability to sense-check and critique one’s own work and to deliver work within identified timeframes
Excellent lateral management – successfully engaging others in empathetic, positive and productive working relationships, prioritising ‘the human factor’ in all educational endeavors.
Strategic thinker
Ability to set boundaries and maintain confidentiality
Resilient
To Apply
Please send a cover note and CV to [email protected], on or before 30th April 2021.
Short-listed applicants will be contacted within 2 weeks of submission.