Chief Officer (Post Level 8): Department of Finance (Job ID: 6474) at University of the Free State

Duties and responsibilities

Tax Compliance and Risk Management 

• Ensure compliance with all tax regulations and statutory requirements, by:
• reviewing applicable local and international tax legislation,
• validating tax positions and interpretations,
• monitoring compliance adherence across entities,
• escalating non-compliance risks to management.
• Oversee preparation and submission of all tax filings, by:
• reviewing corporate income tax, VAT, and statutory submissions,
• validating accuracy and completeness of supporting data,
• approving submissions prior to deadlines,
• monitoring submission timelines and compliance calendars.
• Manage tax audits and regulatory engagements, by:
• coordinating responses to tax audits and inquiries,
• reviewing documentation and supporting evidence,
• liaising with regulatory authorities,
• tracking and resolving audit findings.
• Monitor tax changes and implement system and process updates, by:
• analysing legislative changes and their impact,
• advising management on implications,
• coordinating updates to financial systems and processes,
• validating implementation of required changes.

Financial Reporting Oversight 

• Oversee non-regulatory financial reporting processes, by:
• reviewing monthly, quarterly, and annual reports,
• validating accuracy and completeness of financial data,
• ensuring alignment with reporting frameworks,
• approving reports prior to submission.
• Ensure compliance with NRF reporting frameworks and requirements, by:
• reviewing reporting standards and requirements,
• validating reporting outputs against frameworks,
• coordinating reporting inputs across stakeholders,
• monitoring adherence to reporting timelines.
• Oversee external audit coordination for NRF reporting, by:
• coordinating audit preparation activities,
• reviewing audit requirements and documentation,
• liaising with external auditors,
• monitoring resolution of audit findings. 

General Ledger Governance and Financial Structure    

• Ensure governance of chart of accounts and account structures, by:
• reviewing and maintaining account numbers,
• validating structural changes and new accounts,
• approving updates to chart of accounts,
• monitoring alignment with reporting requirements.
• Manage financial hierarchies and reporting structures, by:
• reviewing financial trees and hierarchies,
• validating alignment with organisational structure,
• approving updates to reporting structures,
• monitoring consistency across systems.
• Oversee financial system configuration and controls, by:
• reviewing posting rules and system controls,
• validating configuration changes,
• approving system updates,
• monitoring system integrity and performance.
• Control accounting period management processes, by:
• approving opening and closing of accounting periods,
• validating completeness of transactions prior to closure,
• monitoring adherence to period-end processes,
• resolving exceptions and delays.

Reconciliation and Financial Control Environment

• Ensure completeness and accuracy of balance sheet reconciliations, by:
• reviewing reconciliation outputs and supporting schedules,
• validating accuracy of reconciled balances,
• monitoring completion status across accounts,
• escalating unresolved discrepancies.
• Enforce resolution of outstanding reconciliation items, by:
• reviewing aged reconciling items,
• setting and monitoring resolution timelines,
• coordinating with responsible stakeholders,
• escalating long-outstanding items.
• Strengthen internal controls and financial data integrity, by:
• reviewing existing control frameworks,
• identifying control weaknesses and gaps,
• implementing control improvements,
• monitoring effectiveness of controls.

Leadership and Capability Development

• Lead capability development within the Accounting and Financial Management Division, by:
• training and guiding staff on financial processes and compliance,
• reviewing staff performance and development needs,
• providing technical leadership and support,
• monitoring application of training in operations.
• Drive process improvement and system optimisation initiatives, by:
• Identifying inefficiencies in financial processes,
• recommending improvement initiatives,
• overseeing implementation of process changes,
• monitoring impact and sustainability of improvements.

Strategic Financial Governance and Oversight

• Provide strategic oversight of financial data architecture and governance, by:
• reviewing alignment between systems, reporting, and compliance requirements,
• validating financial data structures across entities,
• advising management on governance improvements,
• monitoring implementation of governance frameworks.

Inherent Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or an advanced diploma/BTech degree/postgraduate certificate on NQF Level 7 in accounting or closely related field.
• Minimum of three (3) years’ relevant working experience in tax, financial reporting or financial systems.

Recommendations

• Experience within the higher education environment.
• Knowledge of the university systems, policies and procedures.
• Professional membership to an accountancy body (attach proof).