Career Opportunities at University of Pretoria/Universiteit van Pretoria

RESPONSIBILITIES:

This role will provide professional utilization advice and control management of approved capital and operational funds. This will include control over external funds (grants, donations, sponsorships, contracts etc.) received from external institutions in accordance with the UP and entities policy guidelines.

The role is also responsible for accurate and timely management and accounting statements and reports and the identification and management of relevant financial risks.

The incumbent will be required to:

• To provide professional utilization advice, control and management of approved capital and operational funds.
• To control funds received from external institutions (grants, donations, sponsorships, contracts, etc.) in accordance with the relevant policy guidelines and contracts.
• To process and verify financial transactions in the faculty.
• To identify and manage risk areas in the faculty

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Relevant Bachelor or B Tech degree with accounting on a third-year level.
• Five years’ senior financial accounting experience. (Second and third years of SAICA articles will be seen as senior financial accounting experience).

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES (SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND BEHAVIOURAL ATTRIBUTES):

Knowledge of the following:

• Application of IFRS standards;
• Relevant South African tax legislation;
• Management reporting;
• Accounting business cycles; 
• Budgeting;
• Proficient in the use of MS Office;
• Advanced competency in MS Excel;
• Appropriate business writing and communication skills;
• Accountability for own performance;
• Commitment to delivering value to clients;
• Ability to plan and prioritise tasks.

ADDED ADVANTAGES AND PREFERENCES:

• Honours degree in Financial Management or Accounting;
• Three years’ working experience in a higher education environment;
• Three years’ working experience in the use of PeopleSoft or equivalent ERP system;

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The University seeks to appoint a dynamic Professor and Dean who will demonstrate visionary leadership, strategic thinking, and the ability to manage the faculty and execute plans successfully. In addition, the Dean must have an exemplary academic record, including a doctoral degree. Applicants should have experience in working with national and international law schools, faculties, various legal organisations, institutions, and donors, nationally and internationally. The Dean is supported by a Deputy Dean: Teaching and Learning, Heads of Academic Departments, and a professional services staff cohort.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The successful candidate will be responsible for, but not limited to, the following:

• Ensuring that there is alignment of the ethos, vision and mission of the faculty with those of the University.
• Providing strong academic leadership and create an environment conducive to research activities in and increased research impact of, the faculty.
• Marketing the faculty, undertaking fundraising and promoting regional, national as well as international liaison with other academic institutions, research organisations, professional bodies, government and the community.
• Creating an environment that is conducive to teaching and learning and research excellence, and community engagement in the faculty.
• The Dean is part of the senior management team of the University and will provide oversight in respect of the management of the operational activities of the faculty.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• A doctorate in Law;
• The candidate must possess the requisite qualifications and experience to be eligible for appointment as full professor at the University of Pretoria, the assessment of which is based on a number of factors, including teaching, research and postgraduate supervision, community engagement, Academic administration and academic citizenship;
• The ability to provide academic leadership in the Faculty and to enhance and build the Faculty’s academic stature.
• Proven teaching and research ability, an established record of research achievements as well as the ability to create an environment in which teaching and learning, research, and community engagement activities are strongly supported and can flourish;
• Proven managerial expertise, skills and competencies in all areas required to manage the Faculty, including knowledge of and experience in finance, human resources and marketing;
• Proven ability to generate resources in support of the Faculty;
• A minimum of 8 - 10 years’ experience in the field, with an exceptional academic background and senior management experience in a comparable higher education institution: and
• Experience in generating external funding.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES (SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND BEHAVIOURAL ATTRIBUTES):

• Absolute integrity, accountability and commitment to ethical standards
• Recognised academic status in the broad field of Law at professorial level;
• A proven research, publication and teaching track record and the ability to create an environment in which research, teaching and learning activities are supported and can flourish;
• Ability to manage the faculty and provide sound academic leadership;
• Strong leadership skills and the capacity to engender good interpersonal relations in academic and professional services staff teams;
• Ability to provide strong leadership and the capacity to lead the faculty on the journey that it has already embarked upon with regard to curriculum transformation;
• Excellent communication and appropriate language skills; and
• Proven ability to develop international and national collaborations.

ADDED ADVANTAGES AND PREFERENCES:

• Admission as an Attorney or Advocate;
• NRF Rating

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The Pre-University Academy Senior Coordinator will undertake a variety of administrative and programme management tasks for the learner support programmes conducted at the Groenkloof Campus of the University of Pretoria. The incumbent will help in planning, organizing, and implementing activities in the Saturday, Easter, winter, and summer holidays programmes, as well as perform important operational duties related to the Pre-University Academy (PUA) and Teacher Professional Development offerings. The incumbent must be organized and detail-oriented, a critical thinker, and should be comfortable working with diverse teams over weekends and after hours. The incumbent must be skilled in programme development, people management and project management. The successful incumbent must be able to facilitate the effective implementation and management of the PUA programmes according to the University’s standards.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The successful candidate's responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Planning and coordination of the Saturday UP-PUA programme and its activities:

• Draft overall project plans and prioritise activities and tasks with the team;
• Initiate activities and involvement of stakeholders and service providers;
• Monitor target dates in the programme, initiatives and activities and remind role players of tasks, commitments and expected inputs and outputs;
• Conceptualise, formulate, organise, and prioritise ideas and tasks;
• Manage time and adhere to deadlines;
• Ensure the readiness of all the necessary resources- human, infrastructure and teaching and learning for classes; and
• Coordinate collaboration with external and internal stakeholders with respect to curriculum implementation.

Staff management:

• Liaise with the  UP-PUA Manager, Senior Programmes Coordinator- academic and the Research unit with respect to the UP-PUA learners support programme and related activities;
• Attend relevant campus committee meetings;
• Manage communications between external reviewers (Knowledge area experts), quality advisors, course coordinators, teachers, and tutors; and
• Plan and conduct meetings with knowledge area experts.

Reporting:

• Establish a strategy to monitor data to evaluate the effectiveness of the programme;
• Liaise with the Data Analytics administrator and monitor data in terms of attendance and performance in the various courses;
• Collate and organise data in specific reporting formats;
• Compile and submit quarterly progress and annual reports to the management; and
• Present progress reports to management and to other programme stakeholders.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Masters in a STEM field with a postgraduate certificate in Education OR;
• Masters in STEM Education;
• At least five years’ experience in an academic environment and programme coordination including knowledge of:
• Curriculum development and STEM pedagogies;
• Program management and development procedures; and
• Budgeting, bookkeeping, and reporting.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES (SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND BEHAVIOURAL ATTRIBUTES):

• Highly developed planning, organisation and coordination skills;
• Excellent technological skills and advanced proficiency in the use of MS Office suite;
• Excellent time management skills;
• Excellent programme development skills;
• Good project management skills;
• Excellent information management and infographic skills;
• Excellent general and technical report writing skills;
• Good financial administration skills;
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills;
• Ability to work with diverse and multi-disciplinary teams;
• Excellent time-management and organizational skills;
• Accuracy and attention to detail;
• Ability to constantly develop self and improve the support offered to the programme;
• Good relationship management and interpersonal skills;
• Ability to work independently with minimum supervision;
• Advanced problem-solving and critical thinking skills;
• Ability to work with diverse teams;
• Client focussed;
• Good leadership and human resource management skills; and
• Highly level of flexibility and responsiveness and ability to adapt to and work  effectively in a diverse set of situations with individuals and groups

ADDED ADVANTAGES AND PREFERENCES:

• M Ed in Science Education with a speciality in Physics or Physical Science;
• Skills in programme development and five years’ experience in human resources support;
• PhD in Science Education;
• Project management qualification;
• Proficient communication skills in a second language will be an added advantage;
• Willingness to work outside official office hours, as and when required; and
• Valid driver’s licence.

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RESPONSIBILITIES:

The incumbent will be responsible for:

• Routine specialized feed analysis as specified by the laboratory manager;
• Gas chromatography (VFA analysis of rumen fluid and CO2, CH4, N2O,SF6 analysis of gas samples as well as Instron are essential);
• Minerals and nitrogen analysis (Spectrophotometer);
• Managing reference standards for all feed analysis;
• Data management of research projects performed (recording and storage);
• Assisting with analysis and writing reports for external clients;
• Assisting with training of undergraduate students practical;
• Training of postgraduate students with required feed analysis.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• BSc Agric (Animal science) or BSc (Chemistry/Biochemistry);
• Three (3) years’ experience in an analytical laboratory;
• Experience mentioned above should include:
• The use of UV spectrophotometers;
• Fibre, ether extract analysis, minerals and nitrogen analysis.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES (SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND BEHAVIOURAL ATTRIBUTES):

• Computer literacy in MS Office and software programmes GC and spectrophotometer instruments;
• Communication and organisational skills.

ADDED ADVANTAGES AND PREFERENCES:

• MSc Agric (Animal Science) or MSc (Chemistry/Biochemistry);
• Experience in the use of Leco for nitrogen analysis;
• Experience in Starch, WSC, NDF, and ADF analyses;
• Vitamin analysis;
• In vitro digestibility analyses, and in vitro gas production techniques;
• Calibration and use of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) for feed analysis.

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The Executive Director: Finance and Business Initiatives is appointed by Council and is accountable to both Council and the Vice-Chancellor and Principal to carry out such duties as delegated to them by Council and by the Vice-Chancellor and Principal. The Executive Director: Finance and Business Initiatives will be a member of the University’s Executive team who reports directly to the Vice-Chancellor and Principal` to assist him in his role of leading and managing the University.

As a member of the Executive team, the incumbent must provide leadership for - and support the implementation of the University’s vision, mission and strategic plan, and reflect and enhance the University’s commitment to excellence, relevance, diversity, transformation and sustainability.

The Executive Director: Finance and Business Initiatives also provides leadership and support to ensure that the University realises its vision, mission and strategic objectives through prudent and strategic financial management of the University’s resources. The successful incumbent is also responsible to provide leadership in the strategic planning, decision-making and management of the business initiatives.

It is the prerogative of the Vice-Chancellor and Principal to determine the portfolios of the members of the Executive, and the University reserves the right to change the portfolio responsibilities of Executive Directors from time to time, in line with new strategic priorities and operational requirements.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Executive Director-Finance and Business Initiatives main responsibilities will be to:

Strategic Management

• Formulate the University’s financial goals and strategies for approval by the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, as well as for the successful execution and implementation of the strategic initiatives to achieve the University goals and objectives.
• Provide leadership in strategic planning, policy development, forecasting, analysis of resources, budgeting and cash flow management.
• Provide strategic and operational financial direction and guidance to the Vice-Chancellor, Executive Management and Senior Management.
• Provide strategic leadership and advice in the planning, policy development, forecasting, resources analysis, budgeting, cash flow management and financial sustainability of the University.
• Provide strategic leadership in business initiatives in line with the University’s objectives.
• Provide leadership in strategic and operational financial decisions of the business units through which the University executes its business initiatives, and ensure that risk exposure is minimised and mitigated.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, as well as to Executive Management and Senior Management.

Financial and Operational Management

• Provide strategic and operational financial direction and guidance to the Vice-Chancellor and Principal and Executive Management.
• Provide direction and leadership in the preparation of annual budgets, in line with the University’s objectives.
• Provide advice on managing the University’s financial sustainability
• Oversee and report on the budget implementation throughout the year, to achieve business objectives.
• Manage the University’s financial controls and fiduciary stewardship, and ensure that plans are in place to strengthen vulnerable areas.
• Provide leadership in the implementation of policies and procedures to govern financial decision-making, including budgets, expense management, capital spending to ensure the achievement of financial sustainability, and revenue objectives.
• Oversee the management reporting of the University and ensure that the Vice-Chancellor and Principal and Management have access to necessary financial information to make appropriate strategic decisions.
• Oversee the management of the Retirement Funds and the Investment Portfolio of the University.

Managing the University’s business strategies and initiatives

• Direct the analysis and interpretation of financial information and assist in the development of the University’s business operational plans.
• Balance the University’s short term, medium term and long term strategic objectives to maximise the financial performance of the University.
• Direct the forecasting of critical business initiatives milestones and potential obstacles, and evaluate alternate courses of action.
• Provide financial planning strategies for business initiatives and assist in assessing sustainability.

Management of the University’s business units

• Manage and provide strategic financial leadership of the University’s business units through which the University currently executes most of its business activities with national and international private and public sectors, and ensure that the University’s financial risk exposure is minimised and mitigated.

Human Resources Management

• Provide leadership to direct reports and ensure that their teams are capable of executing the University’s goals and objectives.
• Provide mentorship and nurture professional growth and autonomy for direct reports.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR APPOINTMENT

• Registration as a Chartered Accountant (South Africa);
• A Masters’ degree in Finance or Accounting;
• Ten(10) years' proven broad managerial experince in Finance, of which at least (5) years should be in a senior or Executive role or at least 5 years in a senior role in the higher education environment
• A minimum of five (5) years of an exceptional track record in financial management and administration;
• A minimum of five (5) years’ experience in fund accounting;
• At least five (5) years’ proven experience in implementing financial systems and processes;
• Strong leadership skills, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, as well computer and information literacy skills;
• Proven ability and skills in liaising and managing internal and external stakeholders;
• Proven experience in managing retirement and investment funds;

ADDED ADVANTAGES

• Doctorate in Accounting or Finance;
• Proven innovative entrepreneurship experience;
• Experience in the management of financial records in main IT systems.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES (SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND BEHAVIOURAL ATTRIBUTES)

• Advanced extensive knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS);
• Expert knowledge in developing and interpreting Financial Statements;
• Excellent knowledge of Tertiary Financial Systems;
• Advanced knowledge of the Provisions of the Credit Act;
• Advanced knowledge of the Provisions of the Pension Fund Act;
• Expert knowledge of financial reporting to the Government (Department of Higher Education and Training) and general reporting standards;
• Expert knowledge of investment portfolios and short-term insurance;
• Advanced knowledge of tax laws (income and VAT);
• Advanced knowledge of the Higher Education Act, landscape, policy and regulatory aspects;
• Advanced knowledge of contracts management and expert knowledge in assessing viability of contracts;