Treasury Lead

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.

We are dedicated to fostering an open yet secure environment, balancing the safety of students, staff, and visitors with respect for individual rights, and safeguarding responsibilities.

HOW WE WORK

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 TEAM

Our finance team plays a pivotal role in the success and growth of our organisation. We drive the financial health of the company, from budgeting and forecasting to cash flows and ensuring regulatory compliance. Our team is committed to making sound financial decisions that support our business objectives. We work collaboratively to provide timely and accurate financial information, enabling data-driven decision-making and contributing to the achievement of our company's goals.

You will collaborate with different teams across the organisation, at different levels of seniority. You will be working in a mission-driven environment, with passionate and interesting people. You will have opportunities for both personal and professional growth - ALU team members work hard but have a lot of flexibility and a great working environment.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Treasury Senior Associate will play a critical role in managing ALU’s treasury operations across all entities. This includes daily cash positioning, executing banking transactions, and ensuring timely and accurate cash flow reporting. The role also involves preparing monthly cash flow reports for each ALU entity and consolidated reporting for ALU Foundation. The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented, proactive, and comfortable operating in a dynamic, mission-driven environment.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

Cash & Liquidity Management

• Monitor and manage daily cash balances across all ALU entities and bank accounts.
• Ensure sufficient liquidity to meet operational needs while optimizing use of funds.
• Highlight funding requirements or surpluses, and proactively escalate any risks.
• Support Group Finance in developing and updating short- and medium-term cash flow forecasts.

Cash Flow Forecasting & Reporting

• Prepare and maintain monthly cash flow reports for each ALU entity 
• Consolidate and report actual vs forecast cash flows at the group level, including variance analysis.
• Generate cash burn analysis and dashboards to support financial planning and decision-making.

Banking Operations & Payment Processing

• Initiate and manage domestic and international payments, including vendor payments, payroll disbursement, intercompany transfers, and statutory remittances.
• Reconcile all bank accounts on a regular basis and resolve variances promptly.
• Support bank account setup, maintenance, and mandate updates.
• Maintain secure and compliant use of online banking platforms.

Intercompany & Treasury Accounting

• Track and reconcile intercompany transactions across ALU entities.
• Ensure accurate posting of treasury-related transactions and month-end entries in the general ledger.
• Maintain schedules and supporting documents for treasury-related balance sheet accounts.

Debt and Cash investment management

• Monitor and manage the organization’s short-term and long-term debt obligations, ensuring timely interest and principal payments.
• Track compliance with loan covenants and maintain accurate debt schedules.
• Support evaluation of new debt facilities or restructuring opportunities as ALU grows.
• Proactively manage idle cash by identifying low-risk investment opportunities in line with ALU’s investment policy.

Internal Controls & Process Management

• Enforce strong internal controls over cash management, payment approvals, and banking access.
• Regularly review and improve treasury-related SOPs and workflows to increase efficiency and reduce risk.
• Assist in building treasury processes that scale with ALU’s growth and maintain audit readiness

Donations Recording & Reconciliation

• Record all incoming donations (grants, gifts, restricted and unrestricted funds) in accordance with donor agreements and accounting standards.
• Ensure accurate classification of donations by source, restriction type, and purpose.
• Reconcile donation receipts with bank statements and maintain comprehensive audit trails.
• Collaborate with the Development, Partnerships, and Programs teams to ensure proper documentation and reporting of funds received

External Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the key point of contact for ALU’s banking partners.
• Coordinate with tax authorities, auditors, and other financial service providers.
• Support external and internal audits by preparing documentation and responding to queries.

Cross-Functional Support

• Collaborate with HR, Operations, and other departments on treasury impacts (e.g., payroll, grants, program funding).
• Assist the Finance team with treasury-related analysis and special projects.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• CPA, ACCA, or other relevant professional certification is an added advantage.
• 4+ years of experience in Treasury, cash management and finance.
• Strong knowledge of accounting principles and financial regulations.
• Proficiency in accounting software (e.g., QuickBooks, SAP,, NetSuite or similar ERP systems).
• High level of accuracy, attention to detail, and strong analytical skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

• Autonomous and proactive: Ability to take initiative and run daily operations independently.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented: Able to manage multiple bank accounts, transactions, and schedules without errors.
• Process-oriented with a mindset for continuous improvement: Able to document, automate, and optimize treasury processes.
• Adaptable and agile: Thrives in fast-paced, high-change environments and can shift gears as priorities evolve.
• Strong subject matter expertise.
• Advanced excel, ERP systems 
• Stakeholder Management & Communication
• Cultural Sensitivity and ability to work in a diverse environment.
• Strong analytical skills