Senior Director (P4) (Finance: Revenue Administration Division) at University of Johannesburg

Job description:

• The Senior Director: Revenue Administration provides direction, leadership, and strategic oversight for the University’s Student Finance function. This role ensures divisional operational effectiveness, strict compliance with statutory regulations and institutional policies, and outstanding service delivery to students. The portfolio encompasses the comprehensive administration of fee setting, billing, collections, sundry internal/external debtors, and the management of internal and external bursaries and scholarships (including NSFAS) to safeguard the financial sustainability of the University.

Responsibilities: 

The incumbent will be expected to:

Strategy Development & Implementation:

• Plan, monitor, and control the overall strategic and operational planning of the Division
• Encourage mutual trust and build high-performing teams.

Management of Student Finance:

• Direct the full Student Finance function, including fee setting, billing, and the administration of internal/external bursaries and loans (NSFAS/DHET).
• Ensure seamless student enrolment by coordinating inter-office functions across faculties and support divisions.

Student Debt Management:

• Establish and maintain credit control policies, analytical tools, and systems that optimize debt recovery and mitigate bad debt risk while protecting student wellbeing.
• Oversee accounts handed over to external collections.

Bursaries and Scholarships:

• Manage the allocation, forecasting, and administration of internally and externally funded bursaries.
• Manage external suppliers/contractors regarding allowance disbursements.

Sundry Debtor Management:

• Oversee policies, billing integrity, cash flow management, and credit control mechanisms for all sundry income streams.

Governance and Reporting:

• Identify strategic and operational risks, deploy mitigating controls, and report progress to the CFO and MEC Risk Management Committee.
• Partner with finance stakeholders to complete UJ’s Annual Financial Statements and statutory reports.

Resource Management:

• Perform accurate forecasting, divisional budgeting, and allocation for funds under management (~R4.5 billion p.a.) and the divisional budget (~R70 million p.a.).

Stakeholder Management:

• Cultivate collaborative relationships with internal structures (Faculties, SRC, Internal Auditors) and external entities (NSFAS, DHET, Donors, External Auditors).

People Management & Development:

• Drive performance management, talent attraction/retention, transformation, and grievance/disciplinary procedures in line with HCM policies.

Corporate Governance & Compliance:

• Enforce professional conduct, manage absolute compliance with relevant legislation, and ensure the division successfully meets all audit requirements.

Minimum requirements

• Professional Registration: Active registration with SAICA as a Chartered Accountant, or with ACCA, or with CIMA as a CGMA.
• A Financial Management Postgraduate qualification and/or advanced technical or professional certification (NQF Level 8).
• Minimum of 10 years of experience within a financial environment with proven experience in financial operations (revenue management, debtors, reconciliations, and financial sub-systems).
• At least seven (7) years of demonstrated experience managing a medium-to-large staff contingent and executive leadership.
• Comprehension and practical ability to perform across key financial management components, including IFRS requirements.

Recommendations:

• Experience within the higher education sector.
• Working experience with student financial systems such as ITS or similar enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.

Competencies and Behavioural Attributes:

• Strategic financial management and analytical skills.
• Comprehensive student revenue, credit control, and debt management capabilities.
• Sound knowledge of financial systems, governance, compliance, and risk management.
• Strong leadership, people development, and talent management abilities.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• High-level decision-making, conflict resolution, and negotiation skills.
• Proven ability to plan, develop, coordinate, and direct complex institutional initiatives.
• Stakeholder engagement and relationship management.