Manager: Operations at Stellenbosch University

Duties    

• The following duties are required to be performed and reported on by the incumbent to the Senior Director: Operations. 
• The incumbent will act in a supporting role to the Senior Director: Operations. 

Internal Audit (IA)

• Working with the Senior Director: Operations and the IA service providers on the development and finalisation of the annual IA plan.
• Engaging with the University's IA service providers and managing their delivery on IA reviews throughout the year.
• Drafting and/or reviewing IA review scope documents, as well as the final reports produced by the IA service providers after completion of their work.
• Updating and managing the `tracking tool' used by the University for completed IA reviews and resulting recommendations and following up on the implementation of IA recommendations.
• Identifying matters stemming from the IA reviews (or the Fraud and Corruption hotline) that may require forensic investigations.
• Drafting and reviewing SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for various units and departments across campus and managing the SOP register. 

Fraud and Corruption (F&C) hotline

• Extracting, reviewing and assessing all complaints lodged on the F&C platform and providing suggested action/next steps.
• Managing the matters lodged on the platform by doing follow ups with the impacted departments, units or faculties, and ensuring that the matters get addressed and/or resolved.
• Engaging with the University's F&C platform service provider and providing them with feedback and updates. 

Forensic Assignments

• Drafting and/or reviewing forensic engagement scope documents, as well as the final reports produced by the forensic service providers.
• Managing and/or facilitating the completion of the forensic engagements.
• Reviewing reports produced by the service providers in order to extract key findings and suggested next steps for the University.     

Property

• Supporting the Senior Director: Operations with all ad hoc or special property related projects, as well as strategic planning for University properties. This excludes the infrastructure development aspect of properties.
• Reviewing contracts and SLAs dealing with University property acquisitions and/or disposals.
• Engaging with the University's legal team and facilitating engagement between them and external lawyers.
• Commissioning of, and/or the review of, valuation reports prepared by independent expert property valuers. 

Transformation

• Working with the Senior Director: Operations on the short-term and long-term strategic plans for Transformation at the University.
• Engaging in all Transformation related committees, meetings and forums at the University.
• Assisting with the development and execution of Transformation related workshops and/or events hosted by the Operations team.
• Assisting and supporting BBEEE related projects and tasks for the University. 

Finance

• Obtaining and understanding of the SU Oracle SUNFin finance system to be able to extract and prepare relevant financial information and dashboards for the Operations Unit.
• Providing support and assistance on cost centre budgets for the Operations Unit. 

Corporate Finance

• Performing due diligence on new projects being considered by the Operations Unit or other units at the University.
• Performing high level equity, or property related, valuation calculations and being able to review and understand equity valuation reports prepared by other professionals or service providers.
• Drafting and developing business plans and financial models for new projects.
• Reviewing business proposals and financial models submitted to the Operations Unit, and extracting or summarising key thoughts and concerns to evaluate the opportunity. 

General

• Drafting and/or reviewing engagement agreements, MOUs, SLA, OTPs, SPAs insofar as it relates to any of the above disciplines or special projects.
• Assisting with the preparation of reports, summaries, data and graphs for the Audit and Risk Committee relating to, amongst others, internal audit reviews, forensic assignments, and the F&C hotline.
• Preparing reconciliations of engagement letter fees, budgets and invoices for services rendered by various service providers.

Job Requirements    

• CA(SA) or equivalent.
• At least five years' work experience in a finance and/or internal audit and/or property and/or corporate finance environment.
• Five years' relevant work experience at a tertiary institution or similar environment would be beneficial.
• An experience-based understanding of property, finance, trusts and tax (VAT) would be beneficial.
• Fully bilingual with the ability to read and write in a second language would be advantageous

Recommendation        

• A passion for, and a belief in the need for, Transformation, especially within a university environment.
• A good understanding of internal audit and property related matters. Knowledge of VAT, property trusts and PV solar and sustainable energy will also be advantageous.
• An ability to review, and develop the structure of, legal documents of a commercial nature.
• Outstanding interpersonal relationship skills and the ability to liaise appropriately with individuals at management and other levels, both within and outside the University.
• Discretion and the ability to work in complete confidence and to maintain confidentiality and exercise impeccable ethics.
• The ability to reduce/limit conflict with various stakeholders and team members.
• High-level organisational ability with the proven ability to prioritise projects and tasks constantly.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and proven computer proficiency in the use of the Microsoft Office packages including, amongst others, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, OneNote, and Outlook.
• Good analytical skills accompanied by excellent skills in effective planning, problem-solving, decision-making and time management.
• Proven ability to work both on own initiative and as a team member, and to function effectively under pressure without compromising accuracy.

Closing Date:

• 19-Jun-2025