Assistant Manager: Research Finance 5 year contract

Finance, Eastern Cape Grahamstown

R 362 288

Recognising that diversity is important in achieving excellence, Rhodes University especially encourages South African members of designated groups to apply.

Purpose: 

The purpose of this job is support the Manager: Research Finance by coordinating the activities and supervising the staff in the section, in delivering a quality service to Rhodes researchers, Institute directors and staff, students and postdoctoral fellows, in the financial management of the various sources of research and project funding. Areas of responsibility include: -

• Ensuring staff provide an acceptable level of service in providing financial administration support to the Rhodes community who have been awarded research grants and project funding.

• Monitoring performance of the staff in following the standard operating procedures and/or unique processes deemed necessary to ensure careful governance of grant and contract funding.

• Facilitating, managing and coordinating the various financial training programmes offered by Research Finance as a service offered to administrators in academic departments and at Institutes.

• Overseeing the staff in their financial reporting duties, so that they produce accurate financial reports in accordance with funders’ specified financial reporting formats, timeframes and auditors requirements.

• Where applicable, timeous production and or authorisation of accurate financial reports, prepared on the basis of Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (GAAP) and International Accounting Standards (IAS), in accordance with funders’ specified requirements.

The Research Finance section share responsibility for financially administering various sources of contract and grant funding received by the university. In addition, responsible for financial administration of all sources of funding received by Institutes and self-funding units, income from short courses, conferences and workshops, consulting income, sundry external income and reserves. These funds represent approximately 25% of the annual income received by the university.

In this document, the (senior) financial administrators  report into the assistant managers, who in turn report into  the managers of the offices in the section, either: -

The Institutes and Projects office OR the NRF and SARChI Chair support office.   These two offices are currently the focus areas of the “Research Finance” section of the Finance Division.

Requirements:

An appropriate B degree / diploma in accounting / auditing  PLUS approximately 3 years relevant experience

• Previous experience in a pressurised computerised accounting administrative environment where there were multiple demands and tight deadlines.
• Previous experience in the preparation and checking of financial statements for audit, prior to their submission to external funders.
• Previous experience working with VAT and applying the principles of the Income Tax Act.
• At least 1 year’s supervision experience which includes the motivation of staff and the ability to deal with conflict OR be in possession of the RU Supervision Certificate. 
• Previous experience in research grant financial administration would be an advantage.

For additional information on the requirements, please refer to the Job Profile.

It is essential that prospective candidates read the job profile relating to this post and ensure that all relevant documentation is submitted. 

Closing Date: 5pm on 4th June 2018

Ref: RU000156/SU

Vacancy Type: Temporary