Chief Financial Officer

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) serves as the 2IC to the CEO and is responsible for providing strategic financial leadership, operational oversight, and commercial direction to Lyceum College. The role ensures long-term financial sustainability, strong governance, regulatory compliance, and effective operational execution aligned with institutional strategy.

Reporting directly to the CEO, the CFO leads the organisation’s financial strategy, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, risk governance, and operational efficiency initiatives. The CFO plays a critical role in enabling strategic growth, strengthening internal controls, supporting regulatory readiness, and ensuring that financial decision-making supports institutional performance and transformation objectives.

This is a senior executive leadership role combining strategic oversight with operational accountability, serving as a key advisor to the CEO and Exco.

Main Purpose of the Job:

To lead and direct the financial strategy, operational governance, and commercial sustainability of the organisation, ensuring sound financial management, risk mitigation, regulatory compliance, and alignment between financial performance and institutional objectives.

The CFO is accountable for driving financial discipline, operational efficiency, revenue optimisation, cost control, and long-term financial planning, while serving as the CEO’s primary financial and operational advisor.

 KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS (KPAs)

The following are the primary areas of responsibility and their estimated percentage of time:

1.     Financial Strategy & Executive Leadership (25%)

2.     Financial Planning, Budgeting & Forecasting (20%)

3.     Operational Oversight & Commercial Performance (20%)

4.     Governance, Risk & Compliance (15%)

5.     Cash Flow, Revenue & Cost Management (10%)

6.     Stakeholder, Audit & Regulatory Engagement (10%)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1.   Financial Strategy & Executive Leadership (25%)  

·         Act as 2IC to the CEO, contributing to strategic direction, institutional growth, and operational execution.

·         Develop and implement long-term financial strategies aligned to institutional goals.

·         Provide strategic financial insight to support business expansion, programme development, and operational scalability.

·         Translate strategic objectives into measurable financial targets and operational plans.

·         Participate actively in Exco, contributing to strategic, commercial, and governance discussions.

·         Advise the CEO on financial risk exposure, funding strategies, sustainability modelling, and capital allocation decisions.

 2.   Financial Planning, Budgeting & Forecasting (20%)

·         Lead the annual budgeting process across all departments.

·         Develop rolling forecasts and scenario planning models.

·         Monitor budget performance and implement corrective action where required.

·         Provide detailed financial analysis, variance reporting, and performance insights to Exco.

·         Ensure accurate financial modelling to support decision-making.

·         Establish financial performance dashboards and KPI tracking mechanisms.

 3.   Operational Oversight & Commercial Performance (20%)

·         Oversee financial operations including Debtors, Creditors, Billing, and Revenue functions.

·         Ensure strong internal financial controls and operational efficiency.

·         Drive revenue optimisation initiatives and improve collection strategies.

·         Strengthen cost control mechanisms and margin improvement strategies.

·         Support operational departments in achieving financial and performance targets.

·         Oversee financial systems integration and continuous improvement initiatives.

·         Ensure alignment between operational processes and financial governance standards.

 4.   Governance, Risk & Compliance (15%)

·         Ensure compliance with applicable legislation and regulatory requirements, including:

o Companies Act

o Tax legislation

o Higher Education regulatory requirements

o POPIA

·         Oversee financial risk management frameworks and internal control environments.

·         Implement and monitor fraud prevention and financial risk mitigation strategies.

·         Ensure segregation of duties and audit-ready financial processes.

·         Maintain financial governance frameworks and approval matrices.

 5.   Cash Flow, Revenue & Cost Management (10%)

·         Manage and monitor cash flow forecasts to ensure liquidity and operational stability.

·         Optimise working capital management and improve payment cycle efficiency.

·         Oversee revenue tracking and ensure alignment between enrolment, billing, and collections data.

·         Evaluate pricing strategies and fee structures to ensure competitiveness and sustainability.

·         Review cost structures regularly to identify efficiency opportunities and margin improvements.

·         Provide financial input into capital expenditure decisions and investment proposals.

 6.   Stakeholder, Audit & Regulatory Engagement (10%)

·         Lead engagement with external auditors and manage the full annual audit process.

·         Prepare and present financial reports to Exco and Board (where applicable), ensuring clarity and transparency.

·         Maintain relationships with banking institutions and financial service providers.

·         Ensure timely submission of statutory financial returns and tax obligations.

·         Act as authorized financial signatory were delegated by the CEO.

·         Represent the institution in financial or regulatory discussions where required.

Qualifications

·         Qualified Chartered Accountant (CA(SA)) or equivalent recognised professional qualification (required).

·         Postgraduate qualification in Finance, Accounting, or Business Administration (advantageous).

Experience

·         Minimum 8–12 years’ progressive experience in financial leadership roles, including executive-level exposure.

·         Proven experience in financial strategy development and operational financial oversight.

·         Strong background in budgeting, forecasting, financial modelling, and performance reporting.

·         Experience in regulated or higher education environments advantageous.

·         Demonstrated ability to lead financial governance, audits, and risk frameworks.

Skills and Competencies

·         Advanced financial modelling and analytical capability.

·         Strong commercial acumen and strategic thinking ability.

·         Deep understanding of governance, compliance, and internal controls.

·         Executive presence with strong stakeholder management skills.

·         Ability to translate financial data into strategic and operational insight.

·         High ethical standards and professional integrity.

Key Attributes

·         Strategic yet operationally grounded.

·         Decisive and solutions oriented.

·         Financially disciplined and detail focused.

·         Resilient under pressure.

·         Accountable and performance driven.