Director: Student Finances at University of the Western Cape/Universiteit van Wes-Kaapland

Reporting to the Executive Director : Finance & Services , the key responsibilities will include:

• Strategically manage and smooth running of the student finances sections.
• Develop and implement comprehensive financial reporting frameworks that provide accurate and timely reports and insights to support decision making.
• Management of accuracy and timely student billings and collection functions. Lead the annual billing and collection process, working closely with senior management to ensure alignment with strategic objectives.
• Monitor financial performance against budgeted collections and forecasts, identifying areas for optimisation and improvement.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to analyse financial data and provide strategic recommendations for collections and interventions.
• Stay abreast of industry trends, regulatory changes, and best practices to continuously refine business processes.
• Direct management, development and motivation of the student finance team.
• Streamline business processes and introduce new systems that will enhance sector best practice.
• Management of relevant service providers and service level agreements.
• Management of compliance with legislation and regulations.
• Reporting on financial matters to various management and governance structures.
• Design of policies, standard operating procedures and business processes that achieves efficiency and effectiveness.
• Foster relationships with stakeholders and represent the Department of Finance and the University on various platforms.
• Management of all student finance audits and regulatory requirements including accounting, annual financial statements calculations and disclosures.
• Implement and facilitate policy and business processes that support the enhancement of student billings and collections.
• Participate in various leadership and stakeholder engagements.
• Ensure data integrity and the use of modern systems to build and maintain business intelligence capabilities, financial reviews and reporting.
• Manage various special projects as required.

Minimum Requirements

• Chartered Accountant (SA) or equivalent
• Five years in a management role and relevant experience. 

Skills:

• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate complex financial data into actionable insights.
• Strong leadership and team management experience, with the ability to inspire and motivate your team to achieve their best.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.