Vice Principal: Finance and Unisa Business Enterprise; CFO P2

Vice Principal:
Finance and Unisa Business Enterprise (CFO) is a pivotal executive role at the University of South Africa (Unisa), Africa's largest comprehensive open distance e-learning institution.

This five-year fixed-term position offers a strategic leadership opportunity to shape financial systems, governance frameworks, and third-stream income generation at an institution managing budgets exceeding R1 billion. The successful candidate will drive financial sustainability and innovation while reporting directly to senior institutional leadership.

• Provide strategic input into the University's overall direction aligned to the CODeL 2030 strategy, overseeing development and implementation of Portfolio strategy, policies, procedures, and systems
• Lead Financial Management, Supply Chain Management, and third-stream income generation through Unisa Enterprise, developing strategies to optimise revenue opportunities
• Develop and evaluate short, medium, and long-term strategic financial objectives and provide regular analysis of budgets, financial trends, and forecasts
• Direct the Institution's financial risk-management programme and ensure compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and relevant accounting standards
• Lead the budgeting process and budget implementation, ensuring accurate financial analyses are available for institutional decision-making
• Lead contract negotiations from a financial impact perspective and oversee the running of all accounts, ledgers, supply chain management, and procurement systems
• Present financial information to Unisa governance structures and engage Council Finance, Investment and Estates Committee and Audit and Enterprise Risk Management Committee on financial matters
• Lead, mentor, and empower employees; drive change to promote performance and cost-effective operations while embedding desired culture aligned to the Transformation Charter and CODeL 2030 Strategy
• Manage strategic relationships with internal and external stakeholders, oversee operations, and report on legislative and statutory compliance
• Promote environmental, social and governance sustainability awareness and embed financial sustainability through institutional culture

• Chartered Accountant of South Africa (CA(SA)) designation (compulsory)
• Masters degree (NQF...)