Finance Manager

African Leadership Academy

African Leadership Academy

This job is no longer accepting applications

See open jobs at African Leadership Academy.
Accounting & Finance
Chicago, IL, USA
Posted on Wednesday, April 19, 2023

FINANCE MANAGER

About the Academy

African Leadership Academy (ALA) seeks to transform Africa by identifying, developing and connecting a new generation of young leaders who will lead the continent towards lasting peace and shared prosperity for all. Since our inception in 2008, we have worked to lay the foundations of this audacious mission by identifying and developing a group of exceptional young leaders who will work together to shape Africa’s future. To deliver on this mission and further their careers, we have created six sector network communities made up of our young leaders, partners and friends of ALA. These networks are focused on addressing Africa’s greatest challenges around agribusiness, governance, infrastructure, health, education and the arts.

Position Responsibilities

African Leadership Academy seeks to appoint an experienced Finance Manager based at its campus in Honeydew. The candidate will work closely with the Chief Financial Officer, and other members of the finance team. The role involves:

Management reporting and coordination

  • Provide financial leadership and professional financial management for the school, including that of its extended facilities in accordance with the internal policies.
  • Oversee the maintenance of accounts and records by managing disbursements, expenses and income.
  • Assure financial accuracy by analysing business unit and consolidated income statements and balance sheets and other accounting statements and reports.
  • Ensure that management reporting process runs smoothly by coordinating timely submission of different sections of the monthly management and flash reports.
  • Compile the full management and flash report. Ensure that the accuracy and relevance of the content thereof is in line with agreed parameters and specified timelines.
  • Coordinate a timeous delivery of SBS departments’ monthly and quarterly deep dive reports for ExCo review.
  • Reporting to management and stakeholders and providing advice how the academy and future business decisions might be impacted.
  • Annual financial statements preparation, including drafting of the report text.
  • Draft the annual financial statements in readiness for audit and ties the amounts and balances to the final TB submitted to the auditors.
  • Address any journals recommended by the auditors during the audit process by ensuring that they are passed and reflected in the Annual Financial Statement (AFS).

Finance Planning & Analysis

  • Develop financial plans and budgets, analyse financial data to support decision-making, and providi financial forecasts to business units.
  • Monitor income and expenditure in relation to the academy’s budget, and produce monthly management reports for the CFO, ExCo and other governing bodies (Finance and Board Committee).
  • Deliver comprehensive financial planning, ensure robust financial systems and controls to safeguard finances and ensure efficiency and value for money.
  • Provide budget holders with advice on matters relating to their budgets.

Finance Day-to-Day Operations

  • Team Management: Leading and managing the finance team, setting performance targets, and providing guidance and training to team members.
  • Drive compliance in all finance-related matters and ensure compliance with organisational, intercompany and local policies and statutory requirements.
  • Responsible for monitoring adherence to expense policies by reviewing weekly payment runs and approving payment requests.
  • Collaboration with banks. This includes clearing foreign transactions and exchange rate dealing.
  • Cash Management: Ensuring the availability of funds to support business operations, managing cash flows, and optimizing working capital.
  • Takes an active interest in seeking opportunities for continuous improvement and standardizing processes.

Audit Planning and Execution

  • Ensure that prior-year’s audit queries are adequately addressed before commencement of the audit. Engage with external auditors before audit for planning of an efficient audit.
  • Assist the CFO in audit execution by assigning roles and responsibilities during audit.
  • Ensure that the audit if effectively executed, within time and budget.

Treasury management

  • Maintain and oversee all bank accounts including the procurement and executive credit cards.
  • Prudent cashflow management to ensure maximum returns on our cash investment.
  • Be responsible for cash flow projections and all elements of cash handling including collections and disbursements, banking and security and fundraising.
  • Ensure the academy is always liquid to fund operations (short- and long-term financial needs).

Legal and Governance Administration

  • Updating and maintaining of governance records in the CFO’s office, including signed meeting minutes, CIPC records and Signed Resolutions.
  • Advise senior management and governing bodies on the financial implications of government and local authority policies and provide appropriate guidance on financial governance.
  • Developing strategies that work to minimize financial risk and ensure the impact directly impacts on organizational outcomes for the mission of the academy.

Coordination of SBS function

  • Ensure the Finance department and assigned departments OKRs are aligned to the Organization’s by defining the Division’s strategic objectives vs other Divisions.
  • Keep track of all on-going Division’s projects and ensure teams adhere to deadlines through follow-ups and raising red flags.
  • Define and quantify the cost of SBS to other Divisions, departments, and programs.
  • Manage strategic relationships with stakeholders such as bankers, lawyers, and other consultants to ensure timely and effective service delivery.

Special projects

  • Supporting systems automation and process optimization within SBS. Ensure workflows are continuously reviewed and improved to enhance efficiencies.
  • Supervise the academy’s computerised finance accounting package ensuring that required back-ups are carried out and kept securely.
  • Pursue income and sponsorship generation opportunities including the review of donor/grant agreements with the Development Team.
  • In conjunction with the Head of Operations, monitor expenditure on capital projects.
  • Be responsible for the school’s asset register ensuring that it is maintained and regularly updated
  • Be conversant with the general principle of taxation applicable to the school and the financial implications of charitable/non-profit status.
  • Advancing Fintech solutions to improve SBS delivery.
  • Reviewing and developing Finance and Procurement policies and procedures to enhance internal controls.
  • Other projects as assigned by the Chief Financial Officer.

Secondary Responsibilities

  • Systematic filing of documents and records
  • Lead audit preparation and assist in the production of financial statements, budgets, and other financial reports.
  • Other ad hoc support responsibilities as assigned by the departmental seniors.

Profile of the ideal candidate

  • CA (SA) Preferably
  • High ethical standards
  • Willing to learn and able to handle new projects while keeping up routine responsibility
  • Objectivity and sound judgement
  • Analytical, independent and problem solver
  • Able to work on their own with minimum supervision
  • Good organizational skills
  • Adapts to change easily
  • Able to handle bulk requests

Desired Experience

  • Minimum of 5 years in accounting/finance roles of which at least 3 years should be strong focus on general ledger accounting and trial balance management.
  • A university degree in accounting or equivalent; with further professional qualifications required.\
  • Demonstrate team management experience
  • Demonstrate good IT skills in using Advanced Excel, PowerPoint, Sage, Cadency, Tableau
  • Demonstrate strong financial and analytical skills.
  • Pro-active, structured and solution-oriented mindset.
  • Demonstrate strong communication skills with both internal and external stakeholders at all levels displaying tact and influence.
  • Knowledge of Sage Intacct accounting system will be an added advantage.
  • Experience of working with foreign currency will be an added advantage.
  • Working knowledge of general office administration duties to establish and support work functions highly desirable.

Start Date: June 2023

Reporting: This position reports to the Chief Financial Officer

Location: Honeydew, Johannesburg

This job is no longer accepting applications

See open jobs at African Leadership Academy.