Chief Finance and Enablement Officer

Purpose

To provide strategic financial leadership and
organisational stewardship that enables SmartStart to deliver its strategy,
strengthen its sustainability and increase its impact.

Working closely with the CEO, Board and executive leadership team, the Chief
Finance and Enablement Officer will shape and execute SmartStart’s financial
strategy; provide trusted insight to inform strategic choices; safeguard the
organisation through strong governance, risk management and controls; and
ensure that resources are directed towards the areas of greatest strategic
value and impact.

Beyond safeguarding financial health, the role will help build the systems,
disciplines and enabling infrastructure required for SmartStart’s next phase;
strengthening organisational effectiveness, supporting innovation and growth,
and ensuring that SmartStart remains financially resilient and equipped to play
its evolving role as an ecosystem enabler.

Ultimately, the Chief Finance and Enablement Officer will help ensure that SmartStart’s
ambition is matched by the financial strength, organisational capability and
disciplined stewardship required to achieve it.

What You Will Help Us
Achieve

As part of SmartStart’s executive leadership team, you will:

• Shape financial strategy for impact and sustainability - ensuring that
  SmartStart’s resources, investments and financial model support both
  organisational resilience and our long-term strategic ambition.
  
• Enable better strategic decisions - translating financial information,
  evidence and organisational performance into insight that helps the CEO, Board
  and executive leadership make bold, informed choices.
  
• Strengthen organisational stewardship - ensuring strong governance, risk
  management, controls and accountability while protecting the organisation’s
  assets, reputation and long-term sustainability.
  
• Build the infrastructure for our next phase - strengthening
  and modernising financial systems, processes and digital tools so that they
  enable agility, efficiency, transparency and real-time decision-making.
  
• Partner across the organisation - helping leaders understand the
  financial implications of their choices and creating greater shared
  accountability for organisational resources and performance.
  
• Strengthen confidence among funders and partners - building
  trusted relationships and ensuring SmartStart demonstrates the financial
  stewardship, transparency and institutional strength required to sustain and
  grow its impact.
  
• Lead and develop high-performing teams - creating an environment of
  accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement and strong leadership
  across the functions within the portfolio.
  

The Leader We Are Looking
For

• We are looking for more than an exceptional technical finance
  professional.
  
• We are looking for a strategic leader and organisational partner
  who understands that strong financial stewardship is not only about protecting
  an organisation - it is about enabling it to make better decisions, pursue
  opportunity responsibly and achieve greater impact.
  
• You will bring the judgement and discipline expected of an
  experienced finance executive, alongside the curiosity, adaptability and
  collaborative leadership required in an organisation navigating significant
  growth and transformation.
  
• You will be comfortable operating at the intersection of strategy,
  finance, governance, people and impact: equally able to engage a Board or
  funder on long-term sustainability, challenge an executive decision through
  rigorous financial insight, strengthen organisational systems and controls, and
  lead teams through change.
  
• Most importantly, you will be motivated by the opportunity to use
  your expertise in service of something bigger - helping build an organisation
  and an early learning ecosystem capable of giving every child the power to
  succeed.
  

Requirements

Qualifications
& Experience

• Senior
  certificate (NQF4) or equivalent, and a BCom in Accounting, Finance or a
  related field
  
• Admission
  to the board as a Chartered Accountant [CA(SA), CIMA, SAICA, or equivalent]
  
• An
  MBA will be advantageous
  
• Minimum
  of 15 years' experience in Accounting, including at least 5 years in senior management
  
• Demonstrated
  experience partnering with an executive team
  
• South
  African citizen, or valid work permit for South Africa
  

Specific
Knowledge 

• In-depth knowledge of relevant
  financial legislation, governance and risk management practices
  
• Strong understanding of financial
  planning, budgeting, forecasting and reporting
  
• Strong understanding of financial
  controls, cash-flow and liquidity management
  
• Excellent knowledge of data analysis
  and financial management systems
  
• Proficiency in MS Office and financial
  management software
  
• Understanding of organisational
  governance, policy conceptualisation, analysis and implementation
  
• Knowledge of strategic planning and
  organisational performance management
  
• Knowledge of transformation and change
  management principles
  
• Strong understanding of financial
  risk, compliance and internal control environments
  
  

Skills and
Competencies

• Strong strategic financial leadership
  and business acumen
  
• Strong analytical and problem-solving
  skills, with an ability to translate financial information into actionable
  insight
  
• Strong decision-making and judgement
  
• Excellent communication and
  interpersonal skills
  
• Strong leadership, organisational and
  planning skills
  
• Ability to build collaborative
  relationships and effectively partner with executive leadership and
  stakeholders
  
• Ability to lead and develop
  high-performing teams
  
• Ability to identify opportunities for
  innovation, process improvement and cost-effective solutions
  
• High level of integrity, dependability
  and accountability
  
• Strong sense of urgency and results
  orientation
  
• Ability to work effectively in a
  diverse, agile and collaborative environment under significant time pressure
  
• Strong attention to detail and ability
  to manage competing priorities