SARO Finance and Accounting Lead

With 75 years of experience, our focus is on helping the most vulnerable children overcome poverty and experience fullness of life. We help children of all backgrounds, even in the most dangerous places, inspired by our Christian faith.

Come join our 33,000+ staff working in nearly 100 countries and share the joy of transforming vulnerable children’s life stories!

Key Responsibilities :

Reporting to the Regional Finance and Support Services Director, the SARO Finance and Accounting Lead is responsible for the end-to-end management of finance and accounting operations at the Southern Africa Regional Office (SARO). This includes oversight of journal processing, accounts receivable and payable, and select administrative functions through financial technology platforms. The role provides strategic leadership in budget development working closely with People and Culture as well as regional leadership, financial management, reporting, and compliance - ensuring timely, accurate, and value-adding financial data for decision-making aligned with SARO and Global Centre (GC) objectives. It works closely with Shared Services, GC Corporate Accounting, and host entities to ensure the integrity of the SARO General Ledger (GL), accurate reconciliations, and adherence to WV and international accounting standards.

The position also coordinates with Global Treasury on cash flow forecasting, funding, and hedging; ensures compliance with South African financial and tax regulations through professional engagement; and leads audit readiness to achieve clean internal and external outcomes. Guided by SARO’s values of trust, service, and transformation, the role fosters ethical stewardship, inclusive collaboration, and principled financial leadership across teams.

Shared Services (SS) Coordination and Management

Shared Services (SS) is an accounting services provider, responsible for day-to-day accounting processes, while SARO Finance and Accounting Lead (FAL) is accountable for the process.

The SARO Finance and Accounting Lead will :

• Foster respectful, responsive, and trust-based work relationships with SS, and ensure correct and accurate data is being captured by staff, Supply Chain, department leads, field offices hosting SARO staff, Global Centre (GC) Corporate Accounting, and processed by SS.
• Ensure all necessary balance sheet account allocations and reconciliations are completed accurately and uploaded to the FFR database by SS.
• Ensure any new regional or global centre financial / accounting policy has been shared and socialized to the entire regional team, with awareness or training provided to staff, and its implementation properly coordinated with Shared Services.
• Ensure any concerns, challenges, or complaints from regional staff, department leads, field offices hosting SARO staff, and GC, in relation to data or processes captured by SS, are addressed and resolved in a timely and adequate manner.
• Manage and coordinate local banking processes in relation to SS staff responsible for bank payment releases on the banking platform (Kariba).

Financial Planning, Management, and Reporting

Balance Sheet Review

SARO Strategy alignment

Risk Management and Internal Controls

Manage SARO Cash Forecast and Liquidity

Ethics Point

SARO Administration and Coordination

Required Professional Experience

Required Education, training, license, registration, and certification

Preferred Knowledge and Qualifications

Travel and / or Work Environment Requirement

Physical Requirements

Extended computer work : Ability to remain seated for long periods while working on financial systems, spreadsheets, and administrative tasks

Language Requirements

Applicant Types Accepted :

Local Applicants Only #J-18808-Ljbffr