Senior Financial Officer (P002675) at North West University

Job description

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION 

• Supportive role to Senior Accountant/Accountant/Assistant Accountant on the OU levels of the organization. To fulfil the Fiscal Officer role – provide fiscal, policy, and internal control management of accounts in the faculty/support department.
• Responsible for ensuring that processes and related controls have been established to achieve the mission and objectives of the NWU Financial Administration of the financial fragment in People and Culture related documentation and procedures.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Financial Planning, Budgeting and Reporting

• Take responsibility for the preparation and input of the faculty/support department annual budget on OU level.
• Preparation of project proposals and budgets, including the adherence to the NWU financial policy and guidelines.
• Compile and prepare reports where applicable.
• Do the monthly variance reporting on the IDU system.
• Assist the Accountant with the follow-up of financial/audit queries.

Monitoring and control

• Keep abreast of changes in NWU financial policies and guidelines and advice, where applicable, management and staff on the NWU financial policies, guidelines and procedures.
• Oversee/fulfil the KFS Fiscal Officer role.
• Assist Senior Accountant/Accountant/Assistant Accountant in the budget control process – coordinate feedback from various entities.
• Discuss OU financial results with OU managers.
• Assist with the sundry debtor’s follow-up.
• Assist in the monitoring of physical assets of OU.

Financial administration and support

• Purchasing, transfers, initiating journals, invoicing of sundry debtors – on OU level (KFS and IDU functions).

Ad hoc assignments

• Office administration (including compile and update databases and record management).
• Personal development.
• Preparing training material and assist with training workshops.
• Delivering of other financial management task from time to time in coordination with director of Financial Planning.

Minimum requirements

• A Bachelor of Commerce degree in Accounting 3 and/or Management Accounting 3 (NQF level 7).
• A minimum of three (3) years’ financial/management accounting experience in a financial environment – exposure to various aspects of finance and management accounting.
• A minimum of three (3) years’ experience in external funding applications and reporting (e.g. TIA, NRF).
• A minimum of three (3) years’ experience working on an ERP system (e.g. Oracle, KFS).

ADDED ADVANTAGE & PREFERENCE:

• Exposure to budgeting, reporting and analytical reviewing.

KEY FUNCTIONAL/ TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES:

• Intermediate to advance proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Proven knowledge of general financial principles.
• Computer literacy in MS Office (Word, Excel and PowerPoint).
• Demonstration of language proficiency to function optimally in the various functionally multilingual environments of the NWU.
• Ability to multi-task and still function effectively and accurately under pressure.
• Basic legal knowledge for contracts, SLA’s, NDA’s etc. review.
• Proven knowledge of importation of goods and custom clearance.
• Attention to detail.
• Basic knowledge of the Engineering environment.
• Ability to provide daily oversight on how the funds are spent.
• Good communication, written and numeracy skills.

KEY BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES:

• A commitment to the provision of excellent client service in a cross-cultural environment.
• Ability to work accurately and to deadline with minimal supervision.
• Ability to work effectively in a team.
• Ability to strictly enforce policy and procedures.

 

Apply by: 31 October 2025