Assistant Director: Financial Management and Reporting – Cape Town needed at South African National Biodiversity Institute

Fixed-term contract ending 31 March 2025

• The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) is looking for a self-motivated individual to ensure compliance with all mandatory finance and donor funded financial management and reporting procedures; including the preparation of budgets, forecasting and monitoring of expenditure and contracts, preparation of financial reports, the submission of financial management reports and deal with audit requests.
• This position requires a degree in Financial Management or equivalent qualification with NQF 7. A postgraduate qualification in Financial Management or equivalent qualification with NQF 8 will be an added advantage.  6 years’ experience in project administration and/or management are required, 3 years of which should be in supervisory level.
• The following competencies are required for the candidate to be successful in this position:
• extensive knowledge and understanding of Financial Management, Public Finance Management Act, Treasury Regulations, and Generally Recognised Accounting Practice is essential; extensive knowledge and understanding of project management techniques, tools, methodologies; and frameworks; proven ability and experience in managing finances, budget and funding for multiple projects from multiple funders; advance knowledge of financial management external to SANBI, that is, budgeting for proposals, report to donors, budgeting and reporting, etc; comprehensive knowledge about government Human Resources Management, Supply Chain Management, Information Technology Management including Corporate Governance policies, procedures, and processes is essential; being highly organised and efficient; a clear-thinker able to solve problems and see all sides of a situation; ability to manage high pressure and be able to juggle with multiple stakeholders each with their own challenges whilst multi skilling across multi projects simultaneously; demonstrate outstanding stakeholder engagement and relationships management; attention to detail in dealing with budgeting, financial management, and reporting; systemic visualisation of various projects entailing a programme, advanced planning, organizing, problem solving skills; proven ability to perform monitoring & evaluation of multi projects; proven ability to work under pressure with diverse team while being quality and safety conscious; extensive knowledge and experience in working with legislation, policies, procedures, processes, practices, systems, and frameworks related to project, management, donor funding, and stakeholder management; excellent financial report writing, and communication at all levels (both verbal and written); excellent computer literacy and experience in the application of software tools including (Ms Word, MS Project, PowerPoint, Excel, Internet and Outlook). The possession of a valid driver’s licence with at least one-year practical driving experience and a willingness to travel is essential.    

 Key Performance Responsibilities include:

• Identify and manage risks and provide financial management support to the Project Manager: Groen Sebenza;
• Interpret policies and procedures and advise project leaders;
• Undertake financial reporting for the project, liaison between partners and coordinate project audit;
• Ensure effective financial administration of projects;
• Maintain project systems, donor and PFMA compliance and ensure accurate financial reporting; and
• Advise project leaders and enforce project compliance and Human capital development and transformation and implement and drive change and transformation.