Finance and Governance Officer

The Finance and Governance Officer will provide operational support to the Finance and Governance Manager and the broader finance team in financial management, reporting, and compliance. This role assists in maintaining the financial integrity of the organization by assisting with day-to-day financial processes, ensuring accuracy in financial transactions, supporting governance practices, and maintaining compliance with statutory regulations, while supporting administrative duties related to office and facility management. QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's Degree or Diploma in Finance, Accounting, or a related field (required).
• 1-3 years of experience in a finance or accounting role.
• Knowledge of financial reporting standards and compliance regulations.
• Experience in processing transactions and supporting financial reporting.
• Familiarity with financial software and systems.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workspace.
• Familiarity with AI and automation tools for office productivity.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Financial Management Support

• Assist in the preparation and analysis of budgets and financial forecasts
• Support the Finance and Governance Manager in managing client-related funds, including processing stipends, refunds, and other financial transactions.
• Maintain accurate financial records, including balance sheet schedules and reconciliations and detailed asset registers
• Monitor and maintain financial controls, ensuring adherence to company policies
• Track and report on capital expenditure relating to campuses and head office (HDO).
• Contribute to the review and updating of financial policies and procedures to ensure alignment with company objectives
• Maintain accurate financial records, including reconciliations and asset registers.

Accounting Process & Reporting

• Review and process accounting transactions, ensuring accuracy and timeliness; ensuring transactions are correctly allocated.
• Manage invoice collection and support schedules for approval workflow; and process invoices for approval, including those from independent contractors, suppliers, and catering services.
• Prepare and review payment batches for senior finance staff authorization, and process invoices for approval, ensuring accuracy and timely submission
• Handle independent contractors' invoices and transactions ethically ensuring payments have been authorized/signed off compliantly.
• Verify catering invoices for campuses, company events, and meetings.
• Manage ad-hoc supplier invoices efficiently.
• Perform credit card and petty cash reconciliations ensuring that all records are accurate and compliant with company policies.
• Ensure correct allocation of transactions to support accurate reporting.
• Demonstrate understanding of financial processes up to trial balance level.
• Perform balance sheet reconciliations and assist in preparing monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports.

Bank Payments & Cash Flow Management

• Identify and flag potential cash flow issues and provide timely updates to the Finance and Governance Manager.
• Support effective budgetary control by tracking and reporting on capital expenditure relating to the campuses and HDO and maintain a detailed record of payments and transactions, ensuring compliance with financial policies and company record management procedures and frameworks.
• Identify and flag potential cash flow issues to the Finance and Governance Manager.
• Monitor outstanding debtor accounts and follow up on overdue payments.

Commercial Finance & Pricing

• Develop and maintain pricing models and costing schedules for proposals, tenders, and grants.
• Prepare commercial pricing and financial analyses in support of the Business Development team.

Compliance & Governance Support

• Assist in reviewing and updating financial policies and procedures.
• Manage and update the detailed asset register for campuses and HDO.
• Ensure financial records and supporting documentation are maintained in accordance with accounting policies and regulatory requirements.
• Prepare financial information and schedules required for internal and external audits.
• Maintain finance-related statutory records, including VAT, tax, asset, and financial documentation.
• Monitor compliance with financial controls, approval frameworks, and delegated authority limits.
• Support the timely submission of finance-related regulatory and statutory requirements.
• Office & Facility Support

COMPETENCIES & SKILLS

• Solid understanding of financial principles and accounting processes.
• High attention to detail and accuracy in financial transactions.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to prioritise and handle multiple tasks.
• Effective communication skills for interacting with internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Excel and financial systems (experience with XERO is an advantage).
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Proactive approach to learning and professional development. For more information please contact: Vutomi Mukhari