Careers at GIZ South Africa, Lesotho & eSwatini

• GIZ is seeking a Finance Specialist: Financial Processing and Business Partner Registration to support accurate, compliant and timely financial processing of incoming invoices and documentation for contracts, procurement of goods and services, logistics and events, as well as business partner registration management.
• This position is based at the GIZ South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini Country Office in Hatfield, Pretoria.

What You Need to Succeed - Minimum Requirements
You must have:

• A University degree in a relevant specialisation, specifically Accounting and Auditing
• At least 5 years or more relevant working experience in comparable positions
• Strong experience in invoice management and audit
• Experience with an international donor agency
• In-depth knowledge of:
• Debtor accounting
• Creditor accounting
• Accounting software
• Advanced working knowledge of ICT tools and ERP systems
• Willingness to try something new in terms of digitalisation
• Ability to deliver on time and respect deadlines
• Strong time management, prioritisation and workflow management capabilities
• Ability to handle data and information confidentially
• Very good communication and writing skills
• Very good knowledge of the English language
• A proactive attitude towards personnel and institutional changes
• Strong teamwork skills
• Strong intercultural skills and the ability to work in a diverse team
• A results-orientated, innovative and independent working style
• Willingness to update skills as required by the tasks to be performed

Desirable / Advantageous

• Qualifications in Business Administration, equivalent to a BA or MBA
• Knowledge of German
• Knowledge of GIZ Accounting and Finance processes and rules

What You Will Be Doing: 

• Financial Processing and Invoice Management
• Conducting financial checks and processing invoices for:
• Services
• Consultants
• Logistics contracts
• Procurement of goods
• Events
• Travel-related documentation

Checking accountability documents and vouchers submitted for:

• Grant Agreements
• Financing Agreements
• Local Contribution Contracts

Ensuring the material correctness of each invoice according to the relevant:

• Contract
• Procurement file
• Event file
• Ticket file
• Travel file
• Ensuring that all documents required to support invoice payments are provided
• Preparing proper invoice reconciliations according to the relevant contract
• Ensuring that prepayments are correctly linked and settled
• Maintaining SAP data relating to invoice checks
• Obtaining confirmation of performance from the relevant responsible officer
• Obtaining payment approvals in line with internal signatory requirements, where not directly provided in SAP
• Ensuring correct VAT charges
• Ensuring complete financial contract files and uploads
• Managing invoice-check registration and booking confirmation in SAP

Business Partner Registration - you will be responsible for:

• Registering and maintaining SAP business partner master records
• Maintaining vendor master data and business partner records
• Ensuring accuracy of:
• Bank details
• Tax information
• Payment terms
• Business partner records
• Conducting business partner verification
• Ensuring appropriate business partner screening to protect GIZ against financial, reputational and legal risks
• Checking the integrity, compliance, economic suitability and professional suitability of business partners
• Ensuring that business partner data is accurate and up to date to prevent payment errors and compliance risks
• Verifying vendor compliance with tax regulations and internal policies before transactions are processed
• Sending out invitations for business partner registration
• Creating business partner records for contractors

Financial Administration, Compliance and Process Support

• Ensure financial administration functions are carried out in accordance with GIZ standard procedures
• Coordinate effectively with the finance team and the Commercial Affairs Department at GIZ Head Office
• Act as an intermediary between business partners and GIZ regarding financial contract implementation
• Provide effective services to GIZ clusters, projects, units, Head Office, business partners and counterparts
• Perform tasks independently and in compliance with GIZ processes and rules
• Support financial planning, monitoring and accounting
• Provide advisory services to projects, business partners and counterparts
• Provide effective support to internal and external stakeholders regarding GIZ rules and regulations
• Contribute to the development and implementation of department processes
• Identify relevant administration issues and formulate implementation-oriented solutions
• Support the further development of templates and instruments that introduce innovation and change
• Manage knowledge by documenting and sharing know-how and learnings
• Resolve issues within the area of responsibility and escalate more complex matters where required

General Duties

• Report problems with financial administration and compliance without delay
• Remain open to job rotation of tasks and responsibilities within the Finance Unit
• Develop processes in line with organisational development priorities
• Improve processes, checklists and templates in line with GIZ rules and regulations
• Champion digital transformation and the implementation of new systems and tools
• Ensure professional and proactive communication with all stakeholders
• Coordinate and conduct training sessions on behalf of the Unit
• Contribute to accurate and timely quarterly KPI reporting
• Use risk management approaches to support business continuity planning
• Prepare in advance for scheduled Country Office internal controls and audits
• Deputise for other Finance Specialists when required
• Perform other duties and tasks at the request of management
   

go to method of application »

• GIZ supports the PYEI in implementing its strategy to expand income-generating opportunities and employment pathways for young people.
• This role will support the delivery of a key Presidency priority initiative and will involve high-level engagement with senior government, private-sector and development partner stakeholders.

What We Need From You

Qualifications:

• An advanced degree in Public Policy, Development Studies, Economics, Education or Skills Development, Social Sciences, or another relevant discipline.

Professional Experience

• At least 10 years’ experience in public policy, management consulting, and/or economics.
• A strong understanding of government, labour market dynamics, youth employment policy, and employer behaviour.
• Experience working across government, business, and delivery partners.
• Proven ability to manage complex, cross-cutting coordination processes.
• Strategic thinking and policy-to-implementation capability.
• Experience producing high-quality briefs, reports, and presentations for senior leadership.
• Demonstrated experience working in a high-pressure team environment.

What You Will Be Doing

• The Senior Technical Advisor: Inclusive Hiring Lead will oversee the implementation of Lever 1: Inclusive Hiring by driving systemic changes in hiring practices across the public and private sectors.
• The objective of this lever is to ensure that all new entry-level jobs added to the economy are accessible to young people, without displacing older workers.

In this role, you will focus on:

• Working with industry to reduce structural and behavioural barriers to youth hiring.
• Strengthening and aligning government incentives and regulations to favour inclusive hiring.
• Mobilising employers to adopt youth-inclusive recruitment and retention practices.

Your key responsibilities will include:

Policy and Incentive Alignment

• Support the review and reform of government incentive instruments, including DTIC incentives, Employment Tax Incentive, BBBEE codes, and YES, to maximise youth employment and inclusive supply-chain outcomes.
• Work with National Treasury, DTIC, DPSA, DHET and DEL to align fiscal, regulatory and administrative levers in support of inclusive hiring.
• Provide technical inputs into Cabinet, cluster and interdepartmental processes related to inclusive hiring reforms.

Employer Mobilisation and Behaviour Change

• Support the design and rollout of targeted employer mobilisation initiatives, including the Business-Government Partnership on Employment and related advocacy campaigns.
• Engage large employers, sector bodies and SMMEs to identify barriers to youth hiring and co-design practical solutions.
• Promote evidence-based inclusive hiring practices, including alternative assessments, work-readiness support, proximity-based recruitment and onboarding support for youth.

Public Sector Inclusive Hiring

• Support audits of entry-level vacancies below level 6.
• Support centralised youth recruitment and placement mechanisms.
• Support pathways for interns, National Youth Service participants and graduates into permanent roles.
• Work with DPSA and line departments to align workforce planning, retirement policies and graduate recruitment with youth employment objectives.

Enabling Platforms and Intermediaries

• Strengthen the role of SA Youth and the National Pathway Management Network as primary recruitment and matching platforms for inclusive hiring.
• Support the scaling of intermediaries that reduce hiring risk for employers and improve retention outcomes for youth.
• Promote alignment between inclusive hiring efforts and demand-led skilling, work-integrated learning and outcomes-based funding mechanisms.

Monitoring and Learning

• Track progress against inclusive hiring targets across sectors and programmes.
• Identify implementation bottlenecks and escalate systemic risks to the Presidency Project Management Office.
• Capture lessons learned and support the replication of successful inclusive hiring models across sectors.

go to method of application »

• GIZ supports the PYEI in implementing its strategy to expand income-generating opportunities and employment pathways for young people.
• This role requires a dynamic and independent team player who enjoys designing and co-creating new interventions, building sustainable project and partner structures, engaging with multiple stakeholders and managing project and contract-related processes.
• The role will support the delivery of a Presidency priority initiative and will involve high-level engagement with senior government, private-sector and development partner stakeholders.

What We Need From You:

Qualifications

• A postgraduate university qualification at Master’s level in Development Studies, Economics, Education or Business.

Professional Experience

• 10 years’ relevant working experience.
• Experience and knowledge of youth employment strategies, including funding mechanisms for large-scale, systems-wide interventions.
• Knowledge and understanding of the South African skills development and post-school education and training system.
• An understanding of skills supply and demand principles.
• Familiarity with skills requirements and growth areas in the South African economy.
• Familiarity with outcomes-based funding instruments and approaches.
• Familiarity with SMME development strategies in the South African economy.
• The ability to engage in multiple stakeholder processes, especially those involving private and public sector collaboration in the skills development sector.
• Demonstrated experience in high-level stakeholder management, including engagement with the public and private sectors.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to break complex deliverables into manageable plans with realistic tasks.
• The ability to work as part of a team and independently in a structured, methodical manner.
• Excellent writing and communication skills, with fluency in English.

The following will be advantageous:

• Knowledge of and experience with principles and standards of contracts and tenders with the public and private sector.
• Experience within the context of international development cooperation.

Other Knowledge and Competencies

• Strong interpersonal, intercultural and communication skills.
• A self-driven, quick-to-learn, flexible and highly motivated approach.
• Flexibility and mobility, including readiness to travel nationally and internationally, if required.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, if required.
• A valid driving licence.
• Relevant ICT skills, including Microsoft Office, MS Teams, Outlook and SharePoint.

What You Will Be Doing

• The Senior Technical Advisor: PYEI Interim Support will lead the development, planning and implementation of the overall support intervention to the PYEI, including the performance of underlying project processes.
• In this role, you will support youth employment and related enabling interventions across the PYEI focus areas, including inclusive hiring, growth sectors, sustainable self-employment, the informal economy, demand-led skilling and outcomes-based funding.

Technical Support and Stakeholder Engagement

• Lead the development, planning and implementation of overall support interventions to the PYEI.
• Establish and strengthen collaboration and communication channels with relevant stakeholders, including experts and policymakers across the different lever focus areas and the wider PYEI ecosystem.
• Lead engagement with the private sector on relevant lever-related interventions, including South African business representatives, industry associations, chambers and the German private sector.
• Initiate, develop, support and manage the implementation of the GIZ/PYEI cooperation across the respective outputs with different stakeholders, implementation partners and the private sector.
• Contribute to the technical design of measures, terms of reference and activities.
• Ensure quality implementation by external resources and service providers contracted through performance contracts or financing agreements.
• Take responsibility for the achievement of target indicators, as well as monitoring, reporting and knowledge management in line with reporting cycles.
• Oversee financial planning, reporting and adjustments where necessary, in line with GIZ standards, rules and regulations, in cooperation with the Project Manager and the Finance and Administration Officer.
• Represent the PYEI SFF project in targeted platforms, meetings and events nationally and internationally, as required.

Project Management and Coordination

• Lead and coordinate the preparation and implementation of project activities, including procurement and other activities required for the relevant output areas.
• Take the lead role in managing organisational and relevant project management matters.
• Consult regularly with the Component Manager and the officer responsible for contract management.
• Engage with PYEI counterparts on planning against budget and implementation objectives.
• Participate in formulating project action plans and help synchronise planning and budgeting across the lever implementation areas.
• Oversee the identification of needs of government institutions and other relevant stakeholders in relation to the key levers for support.
• Steer and manage the performance of contractors, external consultants, consulting firms and initiatives receiving finance or grant agreements.
• Lead site visits and delegation visits to priority implementation projects and partners, as required.
• Cooperate with other projects within GIZ and beyond to support sustainable and impact-oriented cooperation.
• Implement daily operational aspects related to the project.
• Perform other duties and tasks at the request of management.

PYEI SFF Project Activities

You will also support key activities under the PYEI SFF project, including:

• Developing and overseeing the implementation of innovative support projects to promote youth employability across the PYEI focus areas.
• Promoting multi-stakeholder networks for employment-oriented change projects within the public and private sector.
• Supporting work in growth focus areas, demand-led skilling, outcomes-based funding and SMME initiatives.
• Leading networking and cooperation activities between the post-school education and training sector and relevant employer organisations.
• Advising on the scaling up of existing transition-to-work approaches and related youth employment interventions.
• Providing advice to private-sector partners, including companies, chambers and associations in the green economy.
• Supporting capacity development to integrate the PYEI strategy for marginalised groups into the wider youth employment agenda.
• Developing the monitoring, evaluation, research and learning concept for the project.
• Leading GIZ support to develop a range of outcomes-based financing activities, in collaboration with the relevant PYEI lever lead.
• Leading the design and implementation of a cross-cutting PYEI learning series to disseminate employment-oriented results and experiences.
• Providing lead GIZ technical support on the skills sector reform agenda, including TVET and SETA reforms, as well as a review of funding mechanisms for the post-school education and training sector.