Brand Chief Finance Officer

Crawford International; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

A South African education group is seeking a Brand Chief Financial Officer to drive EBIT maximization and manage financial operations. You will coordinate the budget development and enhance internal controls within the organization. The ideal candidate should possess a B Com with completed Articles CA (SA) or MBA, along with at least 7 years of experience in a similar role. This position is essential in delivering the strategic objectives of the Brand.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 7 years working experience in a Financial Manager/ CFO role in a similar-sized organisation.

Responsibilities

• Drive EBIT maximization and optimal capital allocation.
• Coordinate the budget development of the Brand and schools.
• Enhance internal control and continuous business process improvement.
• Manage financial operations including billing and collection.

Skills

Problem solving

Project management

Data analysis

Excellent communication skills

Education

B Com with completed Articles CA (SA) or MBA

Job description

Key Purpose Statement

The role of the Brand Chief Financial Officer is to drive EBIT maximization and optimal capital allocation to deliver the short and mid-term objectives of the Brand, in line with the Brand strategic plan.


Principal Accountabilities

EBIT maximization

• Drive billing completeness by monitoring controls of billing input
• Implement controls for bursary application or renewal and ensure adherence to brand policies and guidelines.
• Based on profitability analysis, identify levers to maximize other income and minimize costs and drive business outcome.
• Develop a mid-term plan for Brand capital allocation, to deliver the Brand strategic objectives.

Planning

• Coordinate the budget development of the Brand and schools, in line with the Strategic mid-term plan.
• Facilitate the development of Brand and school business plan and drive implementation of the planned activities to deliver the budget. Manage the risks and opportunities.
• Drive EBIT forecast accuracy and develop timeously profit recovery measures if needed to deliver budget.
• Develop financial model to project IRR of main investment projects.

Enhancement of internal control and continuous business process improvement

Continuously assess coverage and effectiveness of the Brand and school internal control system and drive enhancement.

• Maintain Brand governance and internal control system (approval framework, policies, guidelines, risk control matrix for all key processes with business impact).
• Continuously test effectiveness and coverage
• Conduct training and sensitization campaigns
• Document and maintain RACI matrices, SOP
• Develop controls, check lists
• Identify opportunities for efficiency, cost saving, customer experience enhancement and revenue maximization in business processes and drive continuous improvement
• Drive yearly asset count and improvement of asset safeguarding controls

Manage financial operations (billing, collection and procure-to-pay)

Drive effectiveness of fee collection and credit check of fee payers upon admission or re-registration:

• Coordinate and control monthly Pre-suspension/suspension/termination campaigns and yearly non re-enrolment campaigns.
• Coordinate and control financial clearance and credit check operations prior to student admissions..
• Continuously drive initiatives to minimize debt

Coordinate billing operations and milestones

Drive optimal procurement decisions, suppliers paid on time and procurement requirements met timeously to deliver academic service.

• Control GSS SLA KPI for the source-to-pay cycle
• Identify opportunities to drive centrally cost savings
• Continuously monitor process quality and drive improvement
• Review and approve expenditures and process exceptions, in line with the Group policy and approval framework

Reporting

• Compile month-end reporting and control quality and SLA for GSS input
• Maintain financial dashboards and management reports to drive decision-making for the Brand and Principals

Competencies (Skills /Behavioural Attribute)

• Problem solving
• Map process flows
• Map RACI chart (roles and responsibilities)
• Project management
• Data analysis
• Good negotiator
• Excellent communication skills

Qualifications:

• Minimum requirement is B Com with completed Articles CA (SA) or MBA

Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years working experience in a Financial Manager/ CFO role in a similar-sized organisation.

Start date: 01 October 2025