Enterprise Systems Specialist (Finance & HR)

ABOUT ALU

At the African Leadership University (ALU), we're more than just an institution—we're a catalyst for transformation. Our mission is to develop a new generation of ethical and entrepreneurial leaders who will shape Africa's future. Through our innovative curriculum, focus on experiential learning, and vibrant pan-African community, we empower students to become changemakers, problem-solvers, and innovators. At ALU, we're not just teaching; we're nurturing the leaders who will drive Africa's progress and prosperity in the 21st century.

HOW WE WORK

As a high-growth start-up, the ALU Team works in starkly different ways to traditional academic bureaucracies. We approach education from first principles, empower individuals to design, test, and implement creative new ideas, and work closely together to craft transformative learning experiences. We are deeply passionate about our students and excited by the challenge of building something entirely new.

The African Leadership University is committed to ensuring the safety and Well-being of all students under our care. As part of this commitment , we have a comprehensive safeguarding policy in place , which outlines our Zero-tolerance approach to any violation of safeguarding.

ABOUT THE ROLE 

The African Leadership University is seeking a systems specialist to support our rapid scale and needs for organized, relevant data and systems to support the finance and HR teams.

As the Enterprise Systems Specialist, you will work within the Chief Business Officer’s  office (CBO) and specifically under the VP Finance office to provide critical support to Finance Operations and controls, Financial Planning & Analysis and People Operations. Your primary responsibility will be to leverage data analytics and systems expertise to optimize processes, streamline operations, and facilitate informed decision-making within these departments. You will succeed in your role by having a highly collaborative and service oriented mindset, as you will be required to collaborate with team members within the CBO’s Office and in other departments as well (mostly Tech and Data).

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Systems Management and Optimization

• Administer and enhance existing systems, including HRIS, Talent Management, TM&E, Employee Engagement, Finance ERP, CRM, and payroll tools, ensuring seamless integration and efficiency.
• Collaborate with the Tech department to evaluate and implement new technologies or system upgrades.
• Lead system setup reviews, ensuring alignment with organizational requirements and goals.
• Design and manage workflows to improve automation and data flow between Finance and HR systems.

2. Vendor Management 

• Manage vendor relationships for key systems and tools across Finance and People teams.
• Lead contract reviews, renewals, and negotiations with vendors to ensure terms align with organizational needs and budgets.
• Assess vendor performance against service level agreements (SLAs) and the evolving requirements of People and Finance teams.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to recommend changes to vendor relationships or systems as needed to support organizational goals.
• Ensure vendors comply with data protection regulations and maintain high standards of support and service delivery.

3. Process Improvement

• Partner with department heads to streamline operations, automate repetitive tasks, and enhance reporting capabilities.
• Identify opportunities for process optimization within recruitment, payroll, financial planning, and employee engagement.
• Drive projects to modernize workflows and eliminate inefficiencies.

4. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with the Finance, People Operations, and Tech teams to align system capabilities with organizational needs.
• Provide technical support and training to staff on systems and dashboards.
• Act as a liaison between vendors, internal teams, and external partners to ensure seamless system performance.

5. Data 

• Ensure interactive dashboards for People and Finance metrics, through accurate records, timely reports and integrated systems and tools. .
• Ensure data accuracy, integrity, and security across all systems, implementing robust quality control measures.
• Identify areas of improvement in our data sources, inputs and processes to enable quality data analysis, insights and reporting across both teams. 

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems, Data Analytics, Business Administration, or a related field.
• The ideal candidate should possess relevant certifications demonstrating expertise in IT systems implementation and management, and/or expert knowledge of HR & Finance systems, such as NetSuite ERP Consultant Certification, CPP, ITIL, PMI, CISA
• 4+ years of experience in systems implementation, integration, management or a related role within HR or Finance.
• Proficiency in ERP systems, HRIS platforms, and data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with experience managing complex data sets.
• Knowledge of data security standards, privacy regulations, and compliance frameworks.
• Excellent project management skills and ability to balance multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with a collaborative and service-oriented mindset.