DEPUTY DIRECTOR: FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING

This vacancy is for a Deputy Director: Financial Accounting within The Presidency, based in Pretoria. The role is a senior managerial position, graded at Level 11, and sits within the financial accounting unit of the department. The successful candidate will take charge of a sub-directorate that encompasses Subsistence and Travel, Tax Administration, and Debtors Management. In this capacity, the incumbent will be responsible for steering these functions in line with government financial prescripts, while also providing leadership to a team of financial staff. The position requires a blend of technical accounting expertise, strategic oversight, and people management, all aimed at ensuring that the department maintains sound financial governance and meets its reporting obligations.

Candidates wishing to apply must hold a Senior Certificate complemented by an appropriate Bachelor’s degree, a National Diploma, or an equivalent qualification at NQF level 6. A minimum of three years of relevant experience in financial accounting at a supervisory or managerial level is required. A solid understanding of tax administration and debtors management is essential, as is practical knowledge of Microsoft Office, particularly Advanced Excel, and familiarity with the BAS and PERSAL systems. Beyond these technical requirements, the ideal candidate should demonstrate a wide range of competencies, including strong oral and written communication, client orientation, honesty and integrity, service delivery innovation, knowledge management, financial management, and problem-solving and analysis. Strategic capability, programme and project management, people management and empowerment, change management, and an understanding of the Public Service Regulatory Framework are also critical. Additional desirable competencies include knowledge of policy formulation processes within government, business and management principles related to strategic planning, resource allocation, human resource modelling, leadership techniques, analytical thinking, report writing, and presentation skills. An understanding of financial statements will serve as a distinct advantage.

The duties attached to this post are broad and demanding. The Deputy Director will manage the entire sub-directorate, developing and maintaining policies and processes while monitoring the policy and legislative framework to keep abreast of new developments. The role involves monitoring revenue collected and expenditure incurred, submitting reports and plans, and ensuring compliance with financial prescripts. The incumbent will also provide advice and guidance to role players on revenue and expenditure procedures. In terms of expenditure management, the post holder must ensure that payments for compensation of employees, subsistence and travel claims and advances, goods and services, transfers, and subsidies all comply with applicable regulations. Accounting responsibilities include providing financial administration and accounting services, as well as contributing to the compilation of interim and annual financial statements. On tax matters, the Deputy Director will advise stakeholders and ensure the department complies with all tax prescripts and reporting requirements. For debtors management, the role entails performing secretarial duties for the Loss Control Committee and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and reporting requirements. Additionally, the position carries significant managerial responsibilities, including maintaining discipline, managing performance and development, undertaking human resource and administrative functions, establishing effective communication arrangements, developing and managing the operational plan, implementing workflow controls, compiling administrative reports, serving on transverse task teams, and overseeing procurement and asset management for the sub-directorate. The post also requires planning and allocating work, along with quality control of employees’ outputs. This is a demanding leadership role for a finance professional seeking to contribute to the effective financial administration of a national government department.