Chief Financial Officer

The\nChief Financial Officer (CFO) serves as the 2IC to the CEO and is responsible\nfor providing strategic financial leadership, operational oversight, and\ncommercial direction to Lyceum College. The role ensures long\-term financial\nsustainability, strong governance, regulatory compliance, and effective\noperational execution aligned with institutional strategy.<\/span>
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Reporting\ndirectly to the CEO, the CFO leads the organisation\u2019s financial strategy,\nbudgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, risk governance, and operational\nefficiency initiatives. The CFO plays a critical role in enabling strategic\ngrowth, strengthening internal controls, supporting regulatory readiness, and\nensuring that financial decision\-making supports institutional performance and\ntransformation objectives.<\/span>
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This\nis a senior executive leadership role combining strategic oversight with\noperational accountability, serving as a key advisor to the CEO and Exco.<\/span>
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Main Purpose of the Job:<\/span><\/b>
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To\nlead and direct the financial strategy, operational governance, and commercial\nsustainability of the organisation, ensuring sound financial management, risk\nmitigation, regulatory compliance, and alignment between financial performance\nand institutional objectives.<\/span>
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The\nCFO is accountable for driving financial discipline, operational efficiency,\nrevenue optimisation, cost control, and long\-term financial planning, while\nserving as the CEO\u2019s primary financial and operational advisor.<\/span>
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KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS (KPAs)<\/span><\/b>
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The\nfollowing are the primary areas of responsibility and their estimated\npercentage of time:<\/span>
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1. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Financial Strategy & Executive Leadership (25%)<\/span>
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2. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Financial Planning, Budgeting & Forecasting (20%)<\/span>
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3. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Operational Oversight & Commercial Performance\n(20%)<\/span>
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4. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Governance, Risk & Compliance (15%)<\/span>
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5. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Cash Flow, Revenue & Cost Management (10%)<\/span>
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6. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Stakeholder, Audit & Regulatory Engagement (10%)<\/span>
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KEY RESPONSIBILITIES<\/span><\/b>
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1. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b>Financial Strategy & Executive Leadership (25%) <\/span><\/span><\/b>
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· <\/span><\/span><\/span>Act as\n2IC to the CEO, contributing to strategic direction, institutional growth, and\noperational execution.<\/span>
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· <\/span><\/span><\/span>Develop\nand implement long\-term financial strategies aligned to institutional goals.<\/span>
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· <\/span><\/span><\/span>Provide\nstrategic financial insight to support business expansion, programme\ndevelopment, and operational scalability.<\/span>
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· <\/span><\/span><\/span>Translate\nstrategic objectives into measurable financial targets and operational plans.<\/span>
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· <\/span><\/span><\/span>Participate\nactively in Exco, contributing to strategic, commercial, and governance\ndiscussions.<\/span>
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· <\/span><\/span><\/span>Advise\nthe CEO on financial risk exposure, funding strategies, sustainability\nmodelling, and capital allocation decisions.<\/span>
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<\/span>2. <\/span><\/span>Financial Planning, Budgeting & Forecasting (20%)<\/span><\/b>
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· <\/span><\/span><\/span>Lead\nthe annual budgeting process across all departments.<\/span>
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· <\/span><\/span><\/span>Develop\nrolling forecasts and scenario planning models.<\/span>
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· <\/span><\/span><\/span>Monitor\nbudget performance and implement corrective action where required.<\/span>
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· <\/span><\/span><\/span>Provide\ndetailed financial analysis, variance reporting, and performance insights to\nExco.<\/span>
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· <\/span><\/span><\/span>Ensure\naccurate financial modelling to support decision\-making.<\/span>
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· <\/span><\/span><\/span>Establish\nfinancial performance dashboards and KPI tracking mechanisms.<\/span>
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<\/span>3. <\/span><\/span>Operational Oversight & Commercial Performance\n(20%)<\/span><\/b>
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· <\/span><\/span><\/span>Oversee\nfinancial operations including Debtors, Creditors, Billing, and Revenue\nfunctions.<\/span>
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· <\/span><\/span><\/span>Ensure\nstrong internal financial controls and operational efficiency.<\/span>
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· <\/span><\/span><\/span>Drive\nrevenue optimisation initiatives and improve collection strategies.<\/span>
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· <\/span><\/span><\/span>Strengthen\ncost control mechanisms and margin improvement strategies.<\/span>
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· <\/span><\/span><\/span>Support\noperational departments in achieving financial and performance targets.<\/span>
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· <\/span><\/span><\/span>Oversee\nfinancial systems integration and continuous improvement initiatives.<\/span>
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· <\/span><\/span><\/span>Ensure\nalignment between operational processes and financial governance standards.<\/span>
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<\/span>4. <\/span><\/span>Governance, Risk & Compliance (15%)<\/span><\/b>
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· <\/span><\/span><\/span>Ensure\ncompliance with applicable legislation and regulatory requirements, including:<\/span>
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o Companies Act<\/span>
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o Tax legislation<\/span>
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o Higher Education regulatory requirements<\/span>
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o POPIA<\/span>
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· <\/span><\/span><\/span>Oversee\nfinancial risk management frameworks and internal control environments.<\/span>
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· <\/span><\/span><\/span>Implement\nand monitor fraud prevention and financial risk mitigation strategies.<\/span>
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· <\/span><\/span><\/span>Ensure\nsegregation of duties and audit\-ready financial processes.<\/span>
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· <\/span><\/span><\/span>Maintain\nfinancial governance frameworks and approval matrices.<\/span>
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<\/span>5. <\/span><\/span>Cash Flow, Revenue & Cost Management (10%)<\/span><\/b>
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· <\/span><\/span><\/span>Manage\nand monitor cash flow forecasts to ensure liquidity and operational stability.<\/span>
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· <\/span><\/span><\/span>Optimise\nworking capital management and improve payment cycle efficiency.<\/span>
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· <\/span><\/span><\/span>Oversee\nrevenue tracking and ensure alignment between enrolment, billing, and\ncollections data.<\/span>
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· <\/span><\/span><\/span>Evaluate\npricing strategies and fee structures to ensure competitiveness and\nsustainability.<\/span>
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· <\/span><\/span><\/span>Review\ncost structures regularly to identify efficiency opportunities and margin\nimprovements.<\/span>
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· <\/span><\/span><\/span>Provide\nfinancial input into capital expenditure decisions and investment proposals.<\/span>
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<\/span>6. <\/span><\/span>Stakeholder, Audit & Regulatory Engagement (10%)<\/span><\/b>
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· <\/span><\/span><\/span>Lead\nengagement with external auditors and manage the full annual audit process.<\/span>
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· <\/span><\/span><\/span>Prepare\nand present financial reports to Exco and Board (where applicable), ensuring\nclarity and transparency.<\/span>
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· <\/span><\/span><\/span>Maintain\nrelationships with banking institutions and financial service providers.<\/span>
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· <\/span><\/span><\/span>Ensure\ntimely submission of statutory financial returns and tax obligations.<\/span>
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· <\/span><\/span><\/span>Act as\nauthorized financial signatory were delegated by the CEO.<\/span>
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· <\/span><\/span><\/span>Represent\nthe institution in financial or regulatory discussions where required.<\/span>
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