Manager: Central Bursary Office (N003034)
Position summary
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Introduction
Job description
JOB DESCRIPTION
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Management of NWU Bursaries
- Effective management and administration of NWU undergraduate- and postgraduate bursaries, ensuring accurate evaluation, approval, and timely disbursement in line with the funding criteria.
- Administration of faculty bursaries in accordance with approved beneficiary lists from faculties and departments, ensuring financial control and compliance.
- Monitor and report on the continued implementation of Special Bursaries for Honours students (as per 2024/2025 Task Team outcomes)
- Implement and monitor the Full Cost Bursary strategy for postgraduate students.
2. Managing of private bursaries
- Effective management of invoice processing, including timely submission, tracking, and consistent follow-up with responsible departments to ensure payments are made. All follow-up actions are properly documented for audit and control purposes.
- Accurate and timely reconciliation of accounts for external bursars and sponsors, with all reconciliations completed, reviewed, and securely stored on the appropriate systems for audit and reporting purposes.
- Establishment and maintenance of strong, collaborative relationships with internal stakeholders, including NWU departments and faculties, ensuring effective communication, service delivery, and support in bursary administration processes.
3. Management of NSFAS Bursaries
- Coordinate and communicate NSFAS application timelines in collaboration with the Marketing Department, ensuring effective follow-up and alignment to maximise student application uptake.
- Compilation, maintenance, and distribution of the comprehensive NSFAS student data set (“ALL Data List”) to campuses, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and accessibility for operational use.
- Accurate preparation and submission of NSFAS registration templates, including allocation per approved student, in compliance with NSFAS requirements and within prescribed deadlines (by end of March 2026).
- Administration of student allowances in accordance with NSFAS Guidelines (2026), including timely disbursement and monthly reporting on the financial status of NSFAS funds received and related matters.
- Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with the NSFAS Service Agent and other relevant stakeholders to ensure smooth operational processes and issue resolution.
- Management and processing of NSFAS-related credit balances, ensuring accurate and timely refunds to NSFAS in accordance with policies and audit requirements.
- Active participation in NSFAS stakeholder consultations, contributing to discussions, feedback processes, and institutional alignment with NSFAS requirements.
- Development of scenario planning and strategic input regarding potential changes in the NSFAS funding model, including considerations for top-up funding for students.
- Oversight and management of the NSFAS close-out process for the 2017–2025 funding cycles, ensuring reconciliation, compliance, and finalisation of all outstanding matters.
4. Management of other government funded bursaries (FUNZA LUSHAKA, SETA etc)
- Ensure that bursary allocations per student are accurately processed in strict accordance with applicable rules, funding agreements, and prescribed guidelines, with full compliance to institutional and funder requirements.
- Provide accurate and timely monthly reporting on the financial status of government-funded bursaries, including monitoring of payments, reconciliations, and verification of payout accuracy.
- Establish, maintain, and strengthen effective working relationships with relevant government departments and funding bodies to support efficient bursary administration, compliance, and communication.
5. Financial Planning and Risk Management
- Preparation and consolidation of the annual operational budget and NWU Bursary Budget in accordance with guidelines and prescribed timelines. Ensure expenditure is managed within approved budgets, with all variances appropriately justified and reported.
- Accurate recording, tracking, and management of office equipment and assets, including adherence to approved replacement planning to ensure operational continuity and cost-effective asset utilisation.
- Review and updating of bursary rules, policies, and guidelines for the 2027 academic cycle, ensuring alignment with NWU’s strategy, funding requirements, and regulatory compliance.
- Provision of effective back-up support for NSFAS-related processes to ensure continuity of service delivery and accurate administration of NSFAS-funded bursary activities.
- Accurate allocation of payments to student accounts and/or accounts receivable (AR) invoices, ensuring correctness, traceability, and compliance with financial control procedures.
- Planning and facilitation of structured knowledge transfer within the Bursary Office to ensure operational continuity, capacity building, and mitigation of operational risk.
6. Ad Hoc
- Ad Hoc tasks that may arise within the line of duty are completed as per instruction given.
7. OHS (Occupational Health and Safety)
- Number and scope of potential and real OHS risks identified and reported immediately to the line manager.
- Other efforts to mitigate these risks without endangering oneself and/or any others.
- OHS training received.
- Compliance with OHS audits, schedules, evacuation drills etc.
- Number of reprimands, non-compliance and near-misses.
8. People Management
- Create an enabling leadership culture by developing a shared direction, shared values and alignment and commitment to transform the organisational culture; Foster a participative and developmental leadership style; improve team cohesion, synergy and effectiveness.
- Develop a Strategic Workforce Plan that builds proportions of African and People with disabilities and implement the Plan Arrange and implement culture improvement interventions, establish a baseline, receive a report and feedback and implement; actively remove engagement barriers.
Minimum requirements
- A Bachelor Honours Degree/Postgraduate Diploma/ 4 year’s Bachelor’s Degree in Finance (NQF Level 8).
- A minimum of one (1) year management experience.
- A minimum of five (5) years’ experience in bursary administration.
KEY FUNCTIONAL/ TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES:
- Financial Management & Budget Control.
- Bursary Administration & Fund Management.
- Compliance & Regulatory Knowledge.
- Data Management & Reporting.
- Process & Systems Management.
BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES
- Attention to Detail.
- Integrity & Ethical Judgement.
- Relationship Management.
- Problem-Solving & Decision-Making.
- Planning & Organising.
REMUNERATION:
The annual total remuneration package will be commensurate with the level of appointment as advertised and in line with the NWU policy guidelines.
ENQUIRIES REGARDING JOB CONTENT MAY BE DIRECTED TO: Marelize de Lange on 018 285 2275
ENQUIRIES REGARDING RECRUITMENT PROCESS MAY BE DIRECTED TO: Melissa Freeman on 018 299 4811
CLOSING DATE: 25 June 2026
PLANNED COMMENCEMENT OF DUTIES: As soon as possible
Kindly take note: applications must be submitted online through the official NWU vacancy website. Incomplete applications and those submitted through any other platform will not be considered.
The University subscribes to and applies the principles of Employment Equity (EE) Act and is committed to transformation. Preference will be given to candidates from the designated groups, in accordance with the principles of the EE Act and NWU Employment Equity Plan.
The University reserves the right not to make an appointment. Communication will be limited to shortlisted candidates only.
If you are not contacted within two months from the closing date of this advertisement, please accept that your application was unsuccessful.
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