Hybrid Finance and Operations Assistant bei Ashesi University

About Ashesi University:

Our vision is a flourishing Africa whose leaders make ethical decisions in the best interests of their communities, and where innovation drives economic, cultural and social growth. We educate leaders who will make this vision a reality, and we collaborate with other institutions to multiply this work.

Joining Ashesi means becoming part of a vibrant community dedicated to excellence, innovation, and a transformed Africa. We provide opportunities for everyone to do their most meaningful work, through cross-functional collaboration in an environment that encourages intellectual and personal growth.

If you're seeking an environment that values diverse contributions, supports professional development, and enables you to work with purpose, come join our team.

About the Center:

Ashesi’s Center for Leadership is poised to provide high-quality executive education to senior leaders across sectors (private, public, civil society and academia) from Africa and beyond.  The Center’s programs will equip and inspire leaders to ask tough questions of themselves, have courageous and meaningful conversations, outline and commit to action that will shift mindsets, build systems, shape policy and fuel positive transformation that builds great nations.

The Center will collaborate with Ashesi’s upcoming MBA program, other Centers and Initiatives at Ashesi, such as the Education Collaborative and the Center for Entrepreneurship and external partners to deliver high-impact leadership development programs, convenings and publications that shape the outcomes of leadership. 

About the Role: 

The Finance and Operations Assistant is primarily responsible for providing finance, accounting and operations support to ensure the smooth running of the Center and all its programs. This role involves coordinating with team members to capture, track, reconcile and report on transactions of the Center. 

Reporting Lines: This position is seconded to the Center for Leadership by the Ashesi Finance Team, and will be directly supervised by the Projects Coordinator with oversight by the Executive Director (ED).  The role holder may have a direct reporting line to the Assistant Director of Finance or the assigned finance team member.

Key Functional Areas Of Responsibility

 Accounts Payable Processing (40%)

• Collate and track all incoming payment requests and invoices in the appropriate digital and physical spaces, ensuring that the requests are accompanied by the appropriate documentation (contracts, etc.).
• Initiate requests in the relevant software and follow through until approvals and payments are completed.
• Support the Senior Projects Coordinator to follow internal processes get proformas from vendors, providing at least three for comparison and further action.
• Track actual expenditure against the budget in the relevant software tools, sharing monthly finance and accounting briefs to the ED.

• Track petty cash and cash advances for specific projects/jobs including prepaid debit or credit card funds for travel and related expenses. 
• Conduct monthly review and reconciliation of credit/debit card transactions and ensure timely reporting of same to the designated Finance Supervisor. 

Accounts Receivable Processing (35%)

• Support the Senior Projects Coordinator to process outgoing invoices for the Center’s fee-based programs.
• Coordinate with Ashesi’s finance team to ensure payments for the Center’s programs are properly recorded and reconciled.
• Support the Senior Projects Coordinator to ensure the acknowledgement of receipt of payments to the various patrons of the Center’s services.
• Reconcile actual revenue against budgeted revenue in the relevant software tools, sharing monthly or project-based finance and accounting briefs to the ED.

 Operations (25%)

• Finance and accounting reporting – support the Senior Projects Coordinator to track and report on the financials for the Center.
• Support the Senior Projects Coordinator to coordinate the procurement, inventory management and replenishment of office supplies.

• Support the Programs team to coordinate logistics of program delivery, including venue arrangements, catering, and technology setup as needed.
• Provide data-based insights into trends gleaned from how the Center operates against its targets and goals.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Hold at least a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.

• Minimum of 2 years of experience in general administration, with emphasis on accounting and finance.
• Exposure to Ashesi university’s ethos and ways of working is an advantage.
• Demonstrated ability to manage diverse stakeholders especially in high-pressure situations.
• Experience working with little supervision is important

What We Offer:
Our success is driven by our people, which is why we offer a comprehensive compensation package. Compensation at Ashesi is regularly reviewed against industry benchmarks, and total compensation includes health insurance, retirement benefits, and paid leave, which are designed to support the holistic well-being of our staff. We also invest in continuous learning, development and research opportunities, allowing our teams to grow with the university and achieve meaningful impact.

Commitment to Diversity:
Ashesi is dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive staff and faculty. We encourage applications from candidates who will enrich and contribute to the cultural and academic diversity of our university.

Join us in shaping the future of Africa’s leadership.