Special Projects Associate - Finance

ALX Africa; Remote; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading non-profit organization in South Africa seeks a Special Projects Associate to drive execution of key finance projects. The role involves planning, tracking, and ensuring compliance for various finance cycles while maintaining several operational systems. Ideal candidates will have 3+ years in project management, strong organizational skills, and proficiency in Google Suite. This full-time position offers the chance to contribute to impactful financial operations within a dynamic team.

Qualifications

• 3+ years’ experience in operations, finance operations, project management, or a similar coordinating role.
• Strong project management and organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple work‑streams and deadlines.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to synthesise complex information into clear summaries.

Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate, and track key finance projects and cycles.
• Support day-to-day rhythm of the Finance team by organizing key meetings and tracking action items.
• Maintain light-touch systems to monitor progress against goals.

Skills

Project management

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Tech-savvy

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Google Suite

Excel

Job description

ALX Africa, a non‑profit organisation under the ALX Foundation, is dedicated to unlocking the potential of Africa's digital future. Formerly part of Sand Tech Holdings, we've embarked on an independent journey to provide world‑class tech skills training and career acceleration programmes. Our mission is to bridge the digital divide, upskill and reskill talent, and create a generation of innovative leaders. By 2030, we aim to empower 2 million Africans to secure sustainable tech careers.

With hubs in 8 cities across Africa and counting, we provide safe access to quality learning and a dedicated network of expert instructors. Our innovative programmes equip learners with the practical skills and knowledge needed to succeed in today's rapidly evolving tech industry. Through a combination of rigorous coursework, industry partnerships, and hands‑on projects, we prepare our students for in‑demand roles in software engineering, data science, and cybersecurity.

We achieve this by:

• Providing young professionals with access to the most in‑demand tech skills that will power the future.
• Empowering the next generation of technology innovators, entrepreneurs, and business leaders through challenging, real‑world coursework.
• Building a lifelong, impactful community of tech professionals that support them at all stages of their career journey.

The Special Projects Associate plays a critical role in enabling the Finance function to operate with excellence, discipline, and clarity. Working closely with the VP of Finance, this role drives execution across key Finance projects and cycles, ensures accountability for deliverables, and maintains the operational systems that keep the team aligned and on track. The associate acts as the central coordinator for planning, project tracking, compliance workflows, and cross‑functional collaboration, helping Finance deliver high‑quality outcomes consistently and efficiently.

RESPONSIBILITIES

In this role, you will:

• Plan, coordinate, and track key finance projects and cycles (e.g., budgeting, cost reviews, tax/compliance work, new tools or processes), ensuring clear timelines, owners, risks, and next steps.
• Support the day‑to‑day rhythm of the Finance team by organising key meetings, preparing agendas and summaries, tracking action items, and keeping priorities and deadlines visible.
• Set up and maintain light‑touch systems (trackers, check‑ins, dashboards) to monitor progress against goals, deadlines, and OKRs, flagging risks or bottlenecks early.
• Coordinate key touch‑points with Shared Services teams (People, Legal, IT Operations & Business Automation teams) on tax compliance, payroll, banking, contracts, and other overlapping workstreams.
• Keep shared workflows clear, well‑documented, and on track, ensuring that handovers, responsibilities, and decisions are communicated effectively.
• Coordinate engagement with external partners (banks, auditors, tax consultants, and other advisers) to support key finance cycles.
• Track deliverables and timelines for audits, filings, tax submissions, banking changes, and other compliance activities, ensuring deadlines are met and documentation is complete.
• Maintain and regularly update all finance policy documents (SLAs, procurement, expenses, payroll, travel) and ensure they are clearly communicated and stored in a central, accessible location.
• Run internal compliance checks, flag exceptions, and follow up on resolutions.
• Support internal finance audits and control reviews, gathering evidence, and document outcomes and agreed actions.

REQUIREMENTS

• 3+ years’ experience in operations, finance operations, project management, or a similar coordinating role.
• Strong project management and organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple work‑streams and deadlines.
• High proficiency in Google Suite, spreadsheets (Google Sheets/Excel), and basic dashboards or reporting tools.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to synthesise complex information into clear summaries.
• Ability to translate complex financial and operational information into clear, compelling slide presentations and visual narratives for internal and executive audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to manage sensitive information with discretion and professionalism.
• High levels of discretion and professionalism with sensitive financial and people data.
• Tech‑savvy with proficiency in Google Suite, and comfortable adopting new systems and improving workflows.
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to high‑quality execution.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience preferred.

Person Attributes

• Courage: Willingness to speak up, challenge the status quo, and embrace new challenges.
• Humility: Openness to learning, seeking help when needed, and a focus on serving others.
• Adventure: A passion for setting ambitious goals, tackling difficult tasks, and finding joy in the journey.
• Initiative: Proactive problem‑solving, a sense of ownership, and a willingness to go above and beyond.
• Resilience: The ability to bounce back from setbacks, persevere through challenges, and emerge stronger.
• Commitment to maintaining the highest levels of confidentiality and discretion in safeguarding sensitive information.

EMPLOYMENT TYPE

Full‑time

Disclaimer

ALX Africa does not charge fees or request payments at any stage of hiring. Be cautious of anyone claiming otherwise. Report suspicious activity [e-mail]