Head: Finance & Operations Management

Purpose of Role

With this vision and our talent value proposition in mind, Funda Wande is looking for the Head: Finance & Operations Management who’ll be enthusiastic to make a transformative impact through strategic leadership of the financial and operations functions by developing, maintaining and overseeing the implementation of financial and budget management strategic objectives, policies, fiscal, legal and regulatory procedures and systems, and ensuring efficient operations, IT and information management policies, frameworks and standards to ensure operational efficiency while working in close collaboration with the CEO, the Board and the leadership teams in setting and driving our organizational goals.

Objectives of Role

Strategic Leadership & Planning

• Form part of the Exco team and actively contribute to and influence the strategic direction of Funda Wande, while ensuring a healthy, financially and operationally thriving organization.
• Drive organizational excellence and efficiency through translating strategy into actionable steps for growth, implementing organization-wide goal setting, team performance management, and annual financial and operations planning and reporting.
• Use the leadership platforms in place to ensure all areas across Funda Wande understand the mandate of the Finance and Operations team and to be the voice in leadership meetings.

Financial & Budget Management and Reporting

• Develop, align and implement effective financial management policies, procedures and systems for the Funda Wande in collaboration with the Finance Functional Forum.
• Ensure compliance with fiscal, legal and regulatory requirements, including any external financial reporting requirements.
• Ensure effective budget and forecast planning aligned to strategy, in collaboration with teams, and timeously approvals by the Board.
• Initiate and lead cost saving initiatives to achieve favourable financial stability for the organization.
• Ensure payments are appropriately approved in line with approval matrix and payments are settled timeously.
• Ensure that Teams are supported as users and approvers on BPM.
• Review and approve Payroll timeously in collaboration with HR and payroll teams
• Ensure income and expenditure are accounted for in accordance with accounting policy and allocations to programmes in line with donor requirements
• Ensure the Asset register is maintained, and controls are in place for asset movements in line with policies and procedures.
• Effective expenditure reporting against budget monthly, quarterly and/or yearly to EXCO/MANCO, Board and Funders, as necessary.

Governance & Compliance

• Lead and drive the risk management, compliance and governance functions of the organisation to ensure that strategic, operational and functional risks are identified and effectively managed and monitored.
• Ensure that Funda Wande complies with all internal and external statues and regulations in collaboration with AGGP Legal, Risk & Compliance, Exco and the Board.
• Compile relevant reports to present at Exco and Board meetings, as well as action decisions.
• Review, update and ensure Board approval of various Finance and Operational policies and procedures
• Prioritise safety measures in all Funda Wande offices/facilities.
• Ensure Tax compliance requirements and timely submission of returns to regulatory bodies.
• Coordinate and oversee internal and external audit processes, addressing audit findings with relevant Departmental leadership.

Operations Management

• Create standard operating procedures, process maps and other related operations frameworks to drive optimization (e.g. Office, Travel, Logistics, Event, Asset and IT& Information systems, managementand support).
• Lead definition, monitoring and analysis of operational effectiveness metrics.
• Drive automation, information and document management to ensure information, content and document management requirements are effectively supported in the organisation for operational sustainability and effective collaboration.
• Ensure Funda Wande’s IT systems and hardware are secure, cost effective and fit for purpose and that all talent are effectively supported with their IT needs.
• Lead the implementation of facilities management strategies and monitor contractual obligations for all Funda Wande offices.

People Management

• Lead, guide, support and provide structure to the Finance & Operations team timeously.
• Be an exemplary leader that engages and inspires the team’s confidence in living our values; treats talent with care and fairness and foster a warm and inclusive culture.
• Manage and develop the team through all HR related processes (i.e. Recruitment, On-Boarding,

Performance Management, Career Development, Wellness, etc.)

• Ensure that independent contractors (where applicable), adhere to set contractual and SLA requirements.
• Act as point of escalation with regards to third parties managed by Exco and Manco.

Experience and Qualifications

• Postgraduate degree in Accounting/Finance
• CA(SA) qualification will be an added advantage
• Minimum 8 - 10 years’ experience in Financial & Operational Management
• Minimum 1 – 2 years’ experience operating and leading at Exco level
• Strong interest in field of basic education with an understanding and deep interest in the South African educational landscape
• Strong Financial analysis on funding requirements for the Funda Wande programmes
• Advanced specialised computer literacy and knowledge of Financial Management systems

Competencies

• Commercial thinking
• Strategic Thinking
• Critical Thinking
• Planning and Organising
• Influence
• Adaptability
• Collaboration
• Leadership