Background

The African Christian University (ACU) is established under the auspices of the Reformed Baptist Churches of Zambia to provide tertiary education to glorify God in the African context. ACU is committed to a holistic, life-transforming Christian higher education. This vision is pursued through excellence in scholarship, mentoring, and training for servant-leadership through the student labour program, all rooted in a biblical worldview. ACU aims to produce graduates who are able to bring biblical discernment to all disciplines, as well as excellence and a stewardship mindset to all areas of professional practice.

Our Core Values

In carrying out its vision, ACU is committed to the following core values:

• Biblical worldview (living the Word)
• Lordship of Jesus Christ
• Authority of Scripture
• Reformed in theology
• Excellence in scholarship
• Commitment to mentorship
• Whole-life transformation
• Christ-like servant leadership
• Relevance to African context

Scope of the Role

Responsible for overseeing and managing the financial actions of the university. Their role is both strategic and operational, including planning, risk management, and decision-making. The role supports the financial stewardship of the university, aligning financial practices regulations and ethical standards. The position not only demands financial and strategic expertise but also a strong alignment with the institution's mission, values, and commitment to stewardship

Responsibilities

1. Financial Reporting and Transparency
   • Preparation of monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements for all ACU operations including ACU investments
   • Ensure accurate and timely reporting of financial results to internal and external stakeholders.
   • Overseeing the preparation of income statements, balance sheets, and financial reports.
2. Budget Planning and Resource Allocation.
   • Manage cashflow and ensure the institution has adequate funding to meet its obligations
   • Timely preparation of annual budgets and implementation of the budgetary review process
3. Strategic Planning and Institutional Growth
   • Provide financial analysis to support key internal stakeholders
   • Develop long-term financial strategies, forecasts, and budgets.
4. Tuition Aid and Donor Stewardship
   • Oversee tuition pricing, financial aid strategy, and donor fund management.
   • Preparing fund utilization reports for accountability
5. Risk Management and Compliancy
   • Risk management including developing and maintaining financial policies and procedures
   • Ensure legal and regulatory compliance (ZRA, NAPSA, NHIMA, HEA), including federal financial aid, accreditation requirements, and faith-based exemptions.
   • Identify and manage financial risks
   • Oversee systems to prevent fraud, ensure accuracy, and promote operational efficiency
   • Overseeing the audit process, ensuring all requirements are provided.
6. Collaboration With Missions Aligned Stakeholders
   • Manage relationships with external stakeholders including auditors, banks, regulators and others
   • Providing financial information for decision making and reporting.
   • Presenting audited financial statements to a church-affiliated board or parent denomination.
   • Work closely with advancement, admissions, and student life departments to integrate finances with ministry and academic goals.
7. Team Leadership and Ethical Culture.
   • Supervision of subordinate staff and setting up KPIs
   • Overseeing all finance department operations
   • Implementing a company-wide expense policy and audit protocols
8. Mission Driven Financial Stewardship
   • Monitoring and tracking of all funds from donations to ensure that the related expenses are accounted for accurately.
   • Ensure that all financial decisions reflect the university’s Christian mission and values.
   • Communicate financial performance and strategy this includes quarterly presentations to the abord and other stakeholders when needed.

Qualifications

The applicant should have the following qualifications:

• - Full grade 12 certificates
• - A bachelor’s in accounting with full professional qualifications such as CIMA/ACCA/CPA
• - Paid up member of Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZICA)
• - Minimum 3 (three) years post qualifying work experience

Competencies and Attributes

• - Strong knowledge of accounting principles and financial reporting standards
• - Experience in fund accounting and financial reporting tools
• - Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• - Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• - Excellent computer skills and experience in using accounting packages
• - Honest, reliable, and able to work under pressure

NOTE: Only successful candidates will be contacted.

• Preparation of monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements for all ACU operations including ACU investments
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting of financial results to internal and external stakeholders.
• Overseeing the preparation of income statements, balance sheets, and financial reports.
• Manage cashflow and ensure the institution has adequate funding to meet its obligations
• Timely preparation of annual budgets and implementation of the budgetary review process
• Provide financial analysis to support key internal stakeholders
• Develop long-term financial strategies, forecasts, and budgets.
• Oversee tuition pricing, financial aid strategy, and donor fund management.
• Preparing fund utilization reports for accountability
• Risk management including developing and maintaining financial policies and procedures
• Ensure legal and regulatory compliance (ZRA, NAPSA, NHIMA, HEA), including federal financial aid, accreditation requirements, and faith-based exemptions.
• Identify and manage financial risks
• Oversee systems to prevent fraud, ensure accuracy, and promote operational efficiency
• Overseeing the audit process, ensuring all requirements are provided.
• Manage relationships with external stakeholders including auditors, banks, regulators and others
• Providing financial information for decision making and reporting.
• Presenting audited financial statements to a church-affiliated board or parent denomination.
• Work closely with advancement, admissions, and student life departments to integrate finances with ministry and academic goals.
• Supervision of subordinate staff and setting up KPIs
• Overseeing all finance department operations
• Implementing a company-wide expense policy and audit protocols
• Monitoring and tracking of all funds from donations to ensure that the related expenses are accounted for accurately.
• Ensure that all financial decisions reflect the university’s Christian mission and values.
• Communicate financial performance and strategy this includes quarterly presentations to the abord and other stakeholders when needed.

• Strong knowledge of accounting principles and financial reporting standards
• Experience in fund accounting and financial reporting tools
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Excellent computer skills and experience in using accounting packages
• Honest, reliable, and able to work under pressure

• Full grade 12 certificates
• A bachelor’s in accounting with full professional qualifications such as CIMA/ACCA/CPA
• Paid up member of Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZICA)
• Minimum 3 (three) years post qualifying work experience