Director of Finance

Instill Education is on a mission to transform teaching, learning, and leadership in every classroom on the African continent. We believe that our teachers and school leaders are the greatest levers for change in the education system.  We recently became an accredited higher education institution in South Africa, and launched a game-changing mobile app that offers self-paced, bite-sized modules to help teachers in their professional development journey. More than 50,000 teachers in Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria have already enrolled in our professional development modules and joined a pan-African community of peers and experts who provide support and feedback along the way.

We are looking to hire a Director of Finance to oversee and manage the financial activities of Instill Education and ensure its financial sustainability and growth.

What makes you a great candidate?

You are ambitious, hungry to learn, and have a deep passion for education. You want to work in a fast-paced business environment and grow with a young organisation that seeks to change the face of education across the African continent. You want to get your hands dirty and get involved in every aspect of the startup. You are excited by the challenge of immersing yourself in new contexts and tackling complex and ambiguous problems. You are not afraid of failure and are driven to improve through robust, data-driven decision-making and feedback. When evaluating your candidacy, we will look for the following:

• Demonstrated commitment to anti-racism, equity, and inclusion
• Ambition to take ownership of challenges and  grow with the business
• Exceptional critical thinker with strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Demonstrated passion for educational development, and closing educational equity gaps, and are strongly aligned with our vision, mission, and values

What does the role entail?

As the Director of Finance, you will be responsible for leading and managing all aspects of the company’s financial function across South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and within our holding company in Mauritius.

More specifically you will build a small team to oversee the following functions:

• Financial Management: Lead and oversee financial operations, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis to support decision-making at all levels of the organisation
• Accounting and Reporting: Ensure accurate financial records, oversee audits, and drive compliance with relevant accounting standards and regulatory requirements.
• Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A): Develop and maintain financial models and projections to aid in strategic planning and resource allocation.
• Treasury and Tax Management: Manage cash flow, optimize financial resources, and ensure efficient tax planning and compliance.
• Internal Controls and Compliance: Establish and enforce internal controls to safeguard assets and maintain compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Investor Relations: Support the CEO in managing relationships with investors, providing transparent and timely reporting on financial performance and strategic initiatives.

Selection Criteria:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field, such as Finance, Accounting, or Business Management; a CFA or CPA designation is not necessary but would be a plus
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive financial leadership experience, ideally including prior experience in an accounting or audit form
• Strong financial modeling skills and a demonstrated ability to create and manage complex financial models.
• In-depth knowledge of accounting principles and financial reporting, leveraging market software
• Proven expertise in establishing and maintaining internal controls and compliance mechanisms.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Anticipated start: ASAP

Location:  Flexible in either Johannesburg, Accra, Lagos, Nairobi or Mauritius

Do our values resonate with yours?

We believe in owning our mission to transform education across Africa. We aim to dream big, work collaboratively, have the courage to learn from failure, and embrace ingenuity. practical, inclusive solutions for the communities we serve. If you share our commitment to this challenge, join us in making a profound impact on our education systems.