Finance Project Manager – Mega Living Landscapes (5-Year Fixed-Term Contract)

Sanparks; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 630,000 - 945,000; Full time

Job summary

SANParks is seeking a Finance Project Manager for Mega Living Landscapes (5-year fixed-term). Based at Groenkloof, Pretoria, the role manages all financial and administrative aspects of GEF/GBFF-funded projects, ensuring PFMA compliance and donor requirements across budgets, sub-awards, and reporting.

Responsibilities include coordinating financial reports, maintaining the General Ledger, and supporting audits and risk management. A strong background in finance systems and IFRS/GRAP is essential.

Qualifications

• NQF Level 7 qualification in Financial Accounting, Financial Administration, Business Administration or relevant equivalent qualification.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in financial administration.
• Minimum 2 years’ supervisory experience.
• Valid Driver’s License.
• Knowledge of PFMA.
• Knowledge in financial systems, i.e. Pastel Accounting, Great Plains, etc.
• National treasury regulations.
• Procurement and asset management systems or practices.
• Knowledge of financial reporting standards (IFRS, GRAP).
• Knowledge of general ledger reconciliation.
• SANParks policies and procedure.
• Advanced excel.
• Analytic and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and prepare financial reports for submission to the WWF US, the GEF Implementing Agency, ensuring GEF requirements are met.
• Maintain an accurate and complete General Ledger functions for the region.
• Perform projects’ accounting functions.
• Prepare financial plans on a financial system.
• Monitor cash flow reports/statements and predict future trends.
• Budget management: prepare, administer, and maintain the GEF project budget and monitor status.
• Prepare ad-hoc, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports.
• Coordinate the development of the finance risk register and maintain it.
• Review documentation from proposed subrecipients per WWF pre-award process.
• Perform subrecipient risk analysis and develop a risk mitigation plan for the project.

Skills

5 years’ financial administration

2 years’ supervisory experience

Knowledge of PFMA

Knowledge in financial systems

National treasury regulations

Procurement and asset management

IFRS and GRAP knowledge

General ledger reconciliation

Advanced Excel

Analytical and attention to detail

Education

NQF Level 7 in Financial Accounting/Administration

Tools

Pastel Accounting

Great Plains

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Finance Project Manager – Mega Living Landscapes (5-Year Fixed-Term Contract)

SANParks unveiled a highly ambitious vision, called Vision 2040, following a collaborative and inclusive process to re-imagine and co-create a new future for conservation areas with a concerted effort to include the citizens of the country and world at large in the co-creation of National Protected Areas of the future within Mega Living Landscapes (MLL). In support of this vision, SANParks has secured grant funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF-8) and the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) to catalise implementation of Mega Living Landscapes.

The Project Finance Manager: MLL reports to the Senior Project Manager: MLL and will be based at Groenkloof Office, Pretoria. The position is a 100% project funded, will be responsible for managing all financial and operational aspects of the GEF and GBFF-funded projects. This includes project budgeting, contracting, subrecipient monitoring and evaluations, financial tracking and reporting, and administrative functions. The role provides financial and administrative assistance to program staff and grantees, ensuring that budgets and agreements comply with the PFMA and its regulations and WWF policies, procedures, systems, and donor requirements. The Project Finance Manager will coordinate the financial aspects with project partners and Sub Executing Agencies and ensure compliance with GEF and WWF standards and policies.

Location

Groenkloof National Park (Head Office)

Requirements

Required Qualifications, Experience and Skills

• NQF Level 7 qualification in Financial Accounting, Financial Administration, Business Administration or relevant equivalent qualification
• 5 years’ experience in financial administration
• 2 years’ supervisory experience
• Valid Driver’s License
• Knowledge of PFMA
• Knowledge in financial systems, i.e. Pastel Accounting, Great Plains, etc
• National treasury regulations
• Procurement and asset management systems or practices
• Knowledge of financial reporting standards (IFRS, GRAP).
• Knowledge of general ledger reconciliation
• SANParks policies and procedure
• Tools and techniques for asset verification
• Advanced excel
• Analytic and attention to detail

Added Advantages:

• Post Graduate Qualification in Accounting / Finance
• Chartered Accountant (CA (SA)/ CIMA/ Professional membership.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and prepare financial reports for submission to the WWF US, the GEF Implementing Agency, ensuring GEF requirements are met
• Maintain an accurate and complete General Ledger functions for the region
• Perform projects’ accounting functions
• Perform income return reconciliations
• Manage debtors and creditors control function
• Support Management with preparation of audit file
• Coordinate the development of the finance risk register and to maintain it
• Prepare financial plans on a financial system
• Assist with the preparation and management of budgets, reconcile the financial system and ensure effectiveness of the hand-held system in factories
• Monitor cash flow reports/statements and predict future trends
• Manage income budgets of all factories
• Prepare ad-hoc, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports
• Records management of all financial dataAssess and manage the financial risks
• Prepare financial information to trial balance for internal and external auditors
• Asset Management:
• Coordinate and maintain the inventory management function
• Develop, manage and report on a sound asset and stock system in line with SANParks and funding organisations criteria.
• Fleet Management:
• Coordinate the fleet administration function for the region
• Administer traffic transgressions fines with SANParks vehicles and recovery of monies payable from employees.
• Manage insurance claims process and record keeping of theft and Loss
• Budget Management:
• Prepare, administer, and maintain the GEF project budget, ensuring accurate and current data.
• Review and monitor the budget status against the annual budget and project work plan.
• Ensure appropriate spending levels and correct coding.
• Identify problems, recommend corrective actions, assist in budget revisions, and communicate issues to the Project Manager.
• Ensure GEF requirements are met, including the budget structure in the ProDoc Budget, and that all expenses are associated with incremental costs.
• Review documentation from proposed subrecipients per WWF pre-award process.
• Perform subrecipient risk analysis and develop a risk mitigation plan for the project.
• Grant and Consultant Agreements:
• Support, prepare, and monitor grant and consultant agreements, ensuring compliance with agreement terms
• Ensure timely processing of agreements and payments in accordance with SANPARKs policies and WWF policy and procedures.
• Prepare paperwork for approval, secure signatures, and distribute documents to appropriate parties.
• Review and analyse sub-recipient financial reports to ensure compliance with WWF-US and GEF Implementing Agency reporting requirements, including project partner co-financing.
• Notify grantees of any problems or discrepancies and provide technical assistance to resolve issues.
• Support for Supervision Missions:
• Provide requested documentation and other assistance for WWF US, GEF Implementing Agency Annual supervision missions.
• Evaluation Assistance:
• Assist in independent mid-term and final evaluations by providing requested financial information.
• Provide feedback on evaluation reports and ensure corrective actions based on mid-term evaluation recommendations related to financial issues.
• Administrative Compliance:
• Maintain information and files on all project financial and administrative aspects, including agreements.
• Regularly monitor compliance with PFMA and WWF reporting requirements and individual project deadlines.
• Ensure all project reports are acknowledged and routed to appropriate individuals for review and as per delegation of authority.
• Administrative Support:
• Support project management and coordination of day-to-day administrative operations and special projects.
• Identify, coordinate, and expedite communication of information and issues within SANParks PMU and interdepartmentally and externally with sub-recipients, the Project Steering Committee, the WWF US, the GEF Implementing Agency, and independent evaluators, as necessary.

Please Note

Employment Equity

SANParks is committed to Employment Equity, and appointments will be made in accordance with the organisation’s Employment Equity Plan. Women and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Vetting and Verification

The successful candidate will be subject to security clearance, qualification verification, reference checks, and such other vetting processes as may be required by SANParks and project funders.

Annual Package: R 630,000.00 – R945,000.00