Faculty Finance and Business Manager (AD.06.3)

Wits University; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 800,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university in South Africa is seeking a Faculty Finance and Business Manager to provide strategic financial management to support teaching and research objectives. The role involves collaboration with faculty leadership, driving decision-making for financial sustainability, and overseeing budgeting, forecasting, and compliance in a complex environment. Candidates should come equipped with a recognized accounting qualification and extensive finance management experience.

Benefits

Retirement fund

Medical aid

Bursaries

Qualifications

• 5 - 8 years of finance management experience in a complex environment.
• Competence in budgeting, forecasting, and strategic financial/business planning.
• Experience in managing staff and working across multifunctonal teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate budgets and financial management across the Faculty.
• Ensure compliance with financial standards and university policies.
• Manage financial staff and support audit readiness.

Skills

Budgeting

Forecasting

Financial management

Leadership

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Problem solving

Education

BAcc / BCom (Acc), PGDA or equivalent

CA, ACCA, ACMA or equivalent

Advanced postgraduate qualification (MCom, MBA)

Job description

To provide strategic and operational financial management for the Faculty, ensuring sound financial governance, compliance, business planning and resource optimisation to support teaching, research and other Faculty related objectives. The role acts as a Finance Business partner to the Dean and Faculty leadership, driving informed decision-making and financial sustainability. Applications are invited for appointment to a full-time permanent position as Faculty Finance and Business Manager. The successful candidate will report to the Faculty’s Executive Dean. The incumbent will collaborate with the Faculty Executive team and provide financial / business leadership to the Faculty, Schools and Centres. The individual will organise and monitor the financial outcomes of the Faculty and provide insightful guidance and financial accountability, and financial and operational analysis to the Dean.

Detailed Description Responsibilities

• Lead, plan and coordinate on budgets,
• Forecasting,
• Financial management and reporting across the Faculty, Schools and Centres,
• Ensuring compliance to financial standards, University policies and procedures,
• Supporting audit readiness,
• Act as a liaison between Faculty and central University,
• Management of financial staff including staff training; financial systems development; as well as contracts management.

Job Requirements Qualifications, experience and competencies required

• Applicants should have a recognised accounting qualification (preferably a BAcc / BCom (Acc), PGDA, or equivalent) and professional registration (such as CA, ACCA, ACMA, or equivalent,
• Appropriate skills and technical competencies,
• Possess progressively responsible experience in a similar position in a complex computerised environment,
• Demonstrate competence in budgeting, forecasting and strategic financial / business planning,
• Relevant financial management and accounting skills,
• Ability to competently manage staff,
• Strong leadership, communication and interpersonal skills, along with a strong business acumen would be important,
• An innovative and proactive approach to solving problems,
• At least 5 – 8 years of Finance management experience in a complex sector environment,
• Experience in managing staff and working across multifunctional teams,
• Advantage : Experience in the Higher Education Sector,
• Advanced postgraduate qualification, such as MCom, MBA.

The Faculty offers a generous remuneration package which includes a retirement fund, medical aid and bursaries, subject to the University’s regulations.