Operational Bursar – Jewish International Schools
ABOUT THE ORGANISATION AND THE ROLE
Jewish International School of Cape Town encompasses Cape Town Torah High, Phyllis Jowell Primary and Pre-Primary, and Sinai Academy, providing a dual curriculum schooling in high-quality Jewish, educational environment across multiple campuses.
They are seeking an experienced and commercially astute Operational Bursar to take ownership of its financial operations and strengthen financial governance across the schools. This is a key role requiring both strategic oversight and hands-on execution, supporting the Dean and leadership team in ensuring financial sustainability, robust controls, and operational excellence.
The successful candidate will bring strong financial leadership, sound judgement, and the emotional intelligence required to engage constructively and sensitively with parents, donors, and internal stakeholders.
MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provide oversight of the full financial function, including supervision of the bookkeeper and integrity of financial records
- Produce and present monthly management accounts, including variance analysis and strategic insights
- Lead budgeting processes across the schools, consolidating inputs and aligning to strategic priorities
- Oversee cash flow management and financial planning to ensure sustainability
- Manage parent fee structures, collections, and complex engagements, including debt management and remission processes
- Engage with parents in a professional, empathetic, and appropriately boundaried manner
- Ensure effective revenue collection strategies and financial risk mitigation
- Oversee donor administration, including tracking, reporting, and issuing of Section 18A certificates
- Ensure compliance with SARS, legal, and governance requirements across the organisation
- Design, implement, and strengthen financial controls, systems, and processes
- Support and optimise the implementation of EdAdmin, ensuring appropriate controls and reporting functionality
- Maintain audit readiness and liaise with auditors as required
- Partner with the Dean and leadership team on operational and strategic financial decision-making.
REQUIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
The ideal applicant will have the following competencies:
1. Work experience and industry exposure
- Qualified or experienced accountant (CA not required) with strong operational finance experience
- Proven experience producing management accounts and overseeing a finance function
- Strong experience in budgeting, cash flow management, and financial oversight
- Experience within an educational or non-profit environment is advantageous but not essential
- Exposure to donor-funded environments and Section 18A processes is advantageous.
2. Strong Communication and Interpersonal skills
- Exceptional communication skills, particularly in managing sensitive financial discussions
- High levels of emotional intelligence, empathy, and professionalism
- Ability to engage confidently with parents, leadership, and external stakeholders
- Balanced, fair, and boundaried approach to conflict and financial discussions.
3. Excellent Administration and Organisational Skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving ability
- High attention to detail with a strategic mindset
- Ability to implement systems, controls, and process improvements
- Highly self-managed, reliable, and outcomes-driven.
4. General
- Experience with financial systems (EdAdmin or similar strongly advantageous)
- Strong understanding of financial governance, compliance, and SARS requirements
- Ability to operate both strategically and operationally in a lean environment
- Alignment with the values of the organisation; community connection is advantageous but not essential.
Interested?
Click on the APPLY NOW / DOWNLOAD APPLICATION button below
Closing date for applications: 13 April 2026
If you have not been contacted within 2 weeks of submitting your application, kindly consider your application to have been unsuccessful
Job Features
| Job Category | Business & Management, Finance |
| Location: | Hybrid |
| Reporting to: | Treasurer |
| Nature of contract: | Part-time (permanent) |
| Hours of work: | 16 hours a week (flexible) |
| Salary range: | To be discussed - commensurate with skill & experience |
| Closing date for applications: | 13 April 2026 |
| Interested? | Click on the APPLY NOW / DOWNLOAD APPLICATION button above |