Bursar / School Accountant

SUMMARY:
A well-established organisation in the private education sector is seeking to appoint an experienced and commercially astute Campus Bursar to take full ownership of the campus finance function.
The Campus Bursar will be responsible for end-to-end financial management at campus level, including budgeting, forecasting, reporting, procurement, and compliance.

This role forms part of the campus leadership team and will act as a strategic partner to the Principal, ensuring sound financial management, operational efficiency and long-term sustainability.

POSITION INFO:

Qualifications, Skills and Experience Required

• Matric (Grade 12) essential; a Diploma or qualification in Finance/Bookkeeping advantageous
• 3–5 years’ experience in a finance-focused role, preferably within the education sector
• Strong bookkeeping and accounting knowledge
• Proven experience in:
  
  • Budget management and financial forecasting
  • Expense control and cost optimisation
  • Financial reporting and reconciliations
• Experience with CAPEX budgeting and project-related finance advantageous
• Strong proficiency in Excel and financial systems
• High attention to detail and strong analytical ability
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work under pressure
• Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive, solution-driven mindset
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage non-financial stakeholders

Key Responsibilities

Financial Management & Reporting

• Take full ownership of the campus finance function, acting as a business partner to campus leadership
• Lead the preparation and management of annual operating and capital budgets
• Monitor expenditure against budgets and provide meaningful variance analysis and insights
• Deliver accurate and timely financial reporting, reconciliations, and month-end processes
• Ensure accurate billing to customers and third parties

Strategic & Commercial Support

• Support the Principal and leadership team with financial planning and decision-making
• Develop and maintain financial forecasts, taking into account factors such as enrolment fluctuations
• Identify opportunities for cost optimisation and efficiency improvements
• Contribute to the long-term financial sustainability of the campus

Operations, Compliance & Controls

• Oversee procurement and accounts payable processes in line with internal policies
• Manage debtors, collections, and bursary/discount processes
• Prepare and submit CAPEX applications, ensuring accuracy and compliance
• Monitor and manage budgets for campus events, camps and tours
• Ensure compliance with financial policies, procedures, and internal controls

Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as the key financial liaison between campus operations and central finance teams
• Communicate financial information clearly to non-financial stakeholders, including educators and campus leadership
• Support staff and customers with finance-related queries and guidance

• Commercially minded, with the ability to link financial data to operational decisions
• A strong problem solver, able to navigate complex and ambiguous situations
• Confident in managing competing priorities and tight deadlines
• Able to influence and build relationships across different stakeholder groups
• A proactive, hands-on team player with strong ownership and accountability