Brand Chief Financial Officer – Niche Brands at ADvTECH

Job Purpose
The Brand Chief Financial Officer is responsible for driving operating profit growth and ensuring optimal use of capital in support of the division’s financial strategy and sustainability. The role requires strong people management (to oversee the finance team) and partnership across marketing, human resources and academic teams, and active participation in the strategic leadership of the division.

• Drive operating profit growth across all schools through active management of revenue and costs
• Lead budgeting, forecasting and long-term financial planning with strong focus on forecast accuracy
• Drive effective fee collection processes and minimise bad debts through disciplined execution and working closely with Advtech Group Shared Services
• Oversee capital allocation and ensure investments deliver value aligned to strategy
• Develop financial models to support new school developments and expansion opportunities
• Ensure strong financial governance, controls and audit outcomes
• Provide clear financial reporting and insights to support decision-making
• Partner closely with marketing, human resources and academic leaders as part of an integrated business partner model
• Play an active role in the strategic leadership of the Niche Brands division
• Manage a finance team of approximately 6 to 8 people, including school bursars, a management accountant and a financial manager
• Building capability within the finance team through coaching, succession planning, and structured development of finance talent
• Enabling informed decision-making through clear insights, dashboards, and financial storytelling

Education (Formal Qualification required)

• Minimum - CA (SA)
• Ideal - CA (SA) and MBA/postgraduate business management qualification
• Minimum 5 years of experience in relevant role/field. Experience in education sector preferred and beneficial.

Summary of Key Responsibilities

Output 1 – EBIT Delivery

• Drive EBIT performance through proactive management of revenue and cost levers, including delivery against both EBIT % and EBIT Rands targets
• Actively mitigate financial risks (e.g. enrolment shortfalls) through rapid cost actions and revenue interventions to protect EBIT delivery
• Ensure billing completeness through strong control environments and validation processes
• Implement disciplined bursary management aligned to brand policy
• Identify and execute opportunities to grow ancillary revenue streams
• Develop and implement a mid-term capital allocation plan aligned to Brand strategy
• Track and manage performance using clear EBIT metrics and recovery plans where required

Output 2 – Planning

• Lead integrated budgeting processes across the Brand and schools aligned to strategic objectives
• Drive forecast accuracy through monthly tracking and variance accountability (targeting tight variance to year-end actuals)
• Ensure timely development and execution of business plans across schools
• Identify risks and opportunities and implement mitigation or acceleration actions
• Develop financial models, including:
• Investment models (IRR, payback, scenario modelling)
• 10-year commercial plans supporting brand growth strategies
• Support expansion through high-quality, decision-ready financial modelling for new sites and strategic initiatives
• Build forecasting capability across bursars and finance team

Output 3 – Enhancement of internal control and continuous business process improvement

• Maintain and continuously enhance the Brand’s governance and control environment
• Ensure strong compliance outcomes, including high internal audit ratings and clean external audit results
• Maintain approval frameworks, policies, Standard Operating Procedures, and risk control matrices
• Conduct regular control reviews and effectiveness testing
• Drive training and awareness on governance and compliance
• Lead initiatives to improve process efficiency, cost optimisation, and customer experience
• Drive asset safeguarding and annual asset verification processes
• Identify and embed improvements across finance and operational processes

Output 4 – Manage financial operations (billing, collection and procure-to-pay)

• Drive effective debtors management, including:
• Execution of fee collection campaigns with strong success rates
• Non-re-enrolment campaigns
• Admission credit checks and financial clearance processes
• Implement strategies to minimise bad debt and improve collections performance
• Monitor and improve bad debt metrics as a % of revenue
• Coordinate and control end-to-end billing processes and timelines
• Ensure efficient procurement practices, including:
• Timely supplier payments
• Alignment with academic and operational needs
• Manage and monitor Advtech GSS (Group Shared Services) SLA performance across finance processes
• Drive centralised cost-saving opportunities
• Monitor process quality and implement continuous improvement initiatives
• Review and approve expenditure in line with Group policies

Output 5 – Reporting

• Deliver accurate and timely month-end reporting
• Ensure quality and SLA adherence for GSS inputs
• Maintain robust financial dashboards enabling real-time performance visibility
• Provide actionable insights to MD and Principals to support decision-making
• Track key metrics including EBIT, CAPEX utilisation, debtors performance, and forecast accuracy

ADDED EXPECTATION: Leadership & Team Development

• Build a high-performing, engaged finance team with strong culture and accountability
• Coach and develop Financial Managers and bursars, including supporting new role transitions and succession pipelines
• Drive finance capability through structured training, stretch assignments, and cross-functional exposure
• Create a culture of ownership, responsiveness, and action-orientation within the finance function
• Maintain strong stakeholder relationships across Principals, Support Office, Advtech Finance community and GSS
• Contribute beyond formal role by stepping into broader leadership and project responsibilities where required