About the position
Background:
- Excellent career opportunity for a CFO within the education sector to ensure the financial integrity, liquidity and capital discipline of the company
Minimum Requirements:
- Professional qualification: CA(SA)
- 8 - 12 Years’ experience in a financial management role: education sector exposure advantageous but not essential
- A commercial track record beyond accounting or audit
- Demonstrated multi-entity consolidation and ownership of an external audit
- Demonstrated cash and working-capital management in a constrained, turnaround or high-growth-strain setting
- Demonstrated financial modelling, budgeting, and reforecasting owned personally
- Demonstrated hands-on leadership of a lean Finance team
- Willing to commute to Head Office regularly and occasional travel to campuses across the country
- Preference for Johannesburg, Bloemfontein or Cape Town -based candidates
Responsibilities:
- Lead the Finance Department and ensure efficient financial operations of all business units in the portfolio
- Oversee accounting, budgeting, cash flow management, audit, payroll, billing, and financial compliance in accordance with financial operational requirements
- Manage and oversee the financial consolidation process across all business units
- Present financial statements that are accurate, complete, and timely, in full compliance with IFRS and applicable South African regulatory requirements
- Ensure robust internal controls and risk management practices are implemented and standardised across the Group
- Provide oversight and recommendations in terms of capital raising requirements
- Contribute to assessing the financial viability of potential mergers and acquisitions
- Responsible for reporting to Exco and the Board on the financial activities of the business
- Translate strategic initiatives into financial models and execution plans
- Support the CEO and Chief Strategy Officer in: Growth planning, new school rollouts/expansion and pricing and revenue strategies
- Develop financial models to support decision-making, expansion, and scenario planning
- Conduct ratio analysis to provide more comprehensive financial oversight and support informed decision-making
- Analyse profitability, cost structures, and operational efficiencies across business units
- Present and provide clear financial insights to guide decision-making of the Executive team and Board
- Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual management reports, including variance analysis and performance dashboards on both a division basis and a consolidated basis
- Translate strategic initiatives into financial models and execution plans
- Support the CEO and Chief Strategy Officer in: Growth planning, new school rollouts/expansion and pricing and revenue strategies
- Develop financial models to support decision-making, expansion, and scenario planning
- Conduct ratio analysis to provide more comprehensive financial oversight and support informed decision-making
- Analyse profitability, cost structures, and operational efficiencies across business units
- Present and provide clear financial insights to guide decision-making of the Executive team and Board
- Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual management reports, including variance analysis and performance dashboards on both a division basis and a consolidated basis
- Own the 13-week rolling cash forecast at group and entity level, maintained weekly
- Own banking relationships, bank mandates, and the payment authorisation matrix
- Develop funding solutions for new projects and the expansion of existing schools
- Perform financial due diligence for new school acquisitions, greenfield developments, or partnerships
- Evaluate Capex requirements, cost projections, fee structures, and projected returns for new schools
- Assess affordability and sustainability of expansion plans using long term financial modelling and recommend the most optimal financing options
- Collaborate with other departments to ensure expansion decisions are aligned with strategic goals
- Ensure compliance with South African regulations and expected governance standards including tax/return requirements
- Manage annual audits and liaise with external Auditors
- Implement processes to mitigate financial risk, including debt management, covenant monitoring, and insurance oversight
- Participate in any due diligence processes and close out finance related findings including updated finance policies, standard operating procedures and training
- Provide financial support and strategic insights to the Executive team and Board
- Communicate financial performance and key risks in a clear, accessible manner to non-financial Stakeholders
- Engage with potential Lenders and/or Investors such as banks, funders, and financial institutions when required
TO APPLY:
- Only if you meet the minimum job requirements and experience as mentioned above, you may submit a detailed updated CV.
- Please Apply Online and complete your registration via our website to enable and protect you as a candidate and to accept the new POPIA terms and conditions.
- This will then create your permanent profile with which you can apply for all jobs as advertised by AJ PERSONNEL.
- However, you may remove your profile from AJ PERSONNEL when you are no longer in the job market.
- Please take note that the applicants who do not adhere to the minimum requirements will not be considered for the respective position.
- Note our clients may expire jobs at their own discretion.
- AJ PERSONNEL will only respond to shortlisted candidates.
- If you have not received a response within two (2) weeks from applying, your application was then unsuccessful for that specific position, however your profile remains on our system for future opportunities.
Desired Skills:
- Chief Financial Officer
- CA (SA)
- Capex
- Mergers & Aquisitions
- Communication Skills
