Governance Officer at The National Student Financial Aid Scheme

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Support to Board and Committee Processes

• Assist in preparing agendas, packs, and minutes
• Coordinate meeting logistics and invitations
• Ensure timely follow-up on action items and resolutions

Governance Registers and Compliance Monitoring

• Maintain up-to-date statutory registers (conflicts of interest, declarations, attendance)
• Assist with compliance tracking and reporting processes

Policy and Legal Support

• Assist in the review and formatting of governance-related policies and frameworks
• Maintain version control and repository of all approved policies and charters

Records and Information Management

• File and organise governance documents in accordance with POPIA and internal protocols.
• Ensure secure, audit-ready documentation handling

Communication and Liaison

• Communicate with Executives regarding Board requirements and deadlines
• Liaise with stakeholders to ensure timely document submissions

DESIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
Minimum requirements:

• NQF Level 7 in Public Administration, Business Administration, Law, Governance or Compliance Management
• At least 3–5 years’ experience in a governance, compliance, legal, or board secretariat environment, preferably in a public entity, regulator, or Schedule 3A institution.
• Sound knowledge of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), Treasury Regulations, and applicable government prescripts.
• Working knowledge of the King IV Report on Corporate Governance, including principles related to Board composition, ethics, performance, and accountability.
• Experience in preparing Board and Committee documentation, including meeting agendas, packs, minutes, registers, and follow-up resolutions.
• Familiarity with the functioning of Board and Executive Committees in a regulated or governance-heavy institution.
• Working knowledge of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), King IV Code on Corporate Governance, National Treasury Regulations and Board and Committee operations
• Proficient use of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) for reporting, document tracking, and records management

Preferred

• Postgraduate diploma or short course in Corporate Governance, Compliance Management, or Company Secretarial Practice, or LLB
• Experience working with a Schedule 3A public entity, state-owned enterprise, or funding institution
• Exposure to or certification in either the Chartered Governance Institute of Southern Africa (CGISA), Certified Compliance Professional (CCP) or similar
• Familiarity with governance platforms such as SharePoint, Board Portal Software (e.g. BoardEffect, Diligent), or Adobe Sign
• Experience supporting audit, risk, or legal compliance committees
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for board reporting
• Experience in supporting the legal, audit, or risk committees of a Board.
• Knowledge of the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and data handling responsibilities in governance.
• Familiarity with document and compliance management systems, such as SharePoint, Board portals, or Adobe Sign.
• Exposure to drafting or updating governance-related policies and statutory registers.
• Prior experience in assisting with ministerial submissions, compliance audits, or AGSA reporting processes.