Director of the School of Accountancy (Contract appointment 5 years, with the possibility of serving a second term) (Job ID 6351)

PLEASE NOTE THAT ONLY PERMANENT ACADEMIC STAFF WITHIN THE SCHOOL OF ACCOUNTANCY WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POST.

KINDLY TAKE NOTE: Applications may only be submitted online through the official UFS vacancy website: - Applications submitted through any other platform will not be considered. The system allows a maximum of eight attachments. To avoid upload issues we recommend merging some or all documents into fewer files before submitting.

INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED!
To ensure your application is complete you must submit ALL documents listed under the inherent requirements as well as the following standard documentation:
A detailed Curriculum Vitae.
Copies of your qualifications or official proof of qualifications obtained (If you hold foreign qualifications please include SAQA accreditation).
A copy of your identity document (South African ID or passport for foreign nationals).

Duties and responsibilities:
Provide academic leadership by creating and executing strategies to establish the School of Accountancy as a leader in the discipline vis-à-vis competing national and international entities.
Responsible for directing the academic debate in the school.
Responsible for influencing the schools overall climate and culture.
Responsible for energising everybody in the school and beyond.
Responsible for shaping the future of the school.
Maintain accreditation status and good relations with professional bodies including SAICA ACCA SAIPA CIMA and SAIT.
Contribute to the overall leadership in the faculty.
Responsible for frequent and continuous planning and execution of plans general organising and coordinating of staff students and activities mentoring and motivating staff structing and exercising overall control.
Create an atmosphere of collaboration among staff.
Responsible for effective internal and external communication.
The Director of School is pivotal in linking the schools staff and students with the Universitys management and administration through communication negotiation and consultation.
Active participation and involvement in faculty management structures attending meetings leading project teams representing the department and faculty and fulfilling the roles of liaison officer and marketer when necessary.
Active participation and involvement in applicable UFS management structures e.g. Senate.
Initiate formulate and implement a visionary academic strategy for the school that is aligned with and supportive of the guiding strategic documents of the UFS and faculty.
Ensure the provision of top-quality research-informed facilitation of learning at all levels of teaching in the school.
Ensure relevance of content material and presentation in all modules.
Ensure the enhancement of student experiences and their continuous engagement in academic debates.
Ensure that adequate rules and regulations are in place to optimally deliver high-quality teaching and learning programmes on both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Adhere to all the rules and regulations of the UFS faculty and school.
Ensure quality and timely feedback on student work.
Ensure proper and quality-driven academic advice and support to all under- and postgraduate students in the school.
Ensure the revisiting and development of fresh learning programmes that will help to position the school as a leader in the fraternity.
Create and maintain a visionary research strategy for the school.
Create and maintain an environment that encourages research leading to strong and active research habits and a culture of inquiry.
Ensure that every academic staff member is engaged in quality-driven and discipline-specific research.
Ensure that postgraduate students are recruited to broaden the research base of the department and ethical requirements are met.
Guide and support senior academics towards acquiring NRF ratings.
Ensure active engagement with the faculty research committee and the UFS Directorate of Research Development in order to ensure sustainable financial support for research initiatives.
Plan and implement a fair and reasonable dispensation regarding the workload of staff members in the school.
Plan and implement a clear and reasonable career path for every staff member in the school taking account of the strategic plans of the University faculty and school.
Implement appropriate mentoring interventions where and whenever it is needed.
Manage staff performance in accordance with existing university policies and procedures.
Responsible for recruitment and selection of scholars in the case of vacancies and/or specific strategic needs whenever strategic repositioning requires expansion of academic endeavours.
Create and maintain a scholarship-friendly environment in the school.
Plan and oversee effective and relevant staff development.
Responsible for financial management culminating annual budgeting financial planning allocation of funds and financial control.
Adhere to the UFSs financial policies and procedures.
Encourage and actively support academic staff members to apply for external research and other grants.

Inherent requirements:
A Doctoral degree on NQF Level 10 in an Accountancy discipline (e.g. Financial Accounting Management Accounting Taxation auditing Ethics).
CA(SA)
Appointed as a Senior Lecturer or higher.
Minimum of five (5) years experience as an academic in the Higher Education environment.
Full-time permanent member of the academic staff of the School of Accountancy at the University of the Free State.

Recommendations:
Proven experience in a leadership role within a department research centre and/or institute.
Proven skills in data analysis using IBM SPSS AMOS PLS

Required competencies:
Results oriented.
- The ability to be reliable responsible dependable and to fulfil obligations.
- The ability to deal calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Strategic thinking.
- The ability to plan work and to follow plans.
- The ability to be creative and open-minded when addressing work issues.
Business Acumen:
- The ability to adhere to rules and strictly follow work regulations.
- Proficient in using MS Office.
Leading.
- The ability to lead take charge of situations and offer opinions and directions to others.
- The ability to be cooperative with others display a good-natured attitude and encourage people to work together.
Building coalitions
- The ability to negotiate sell influence and persuade others.
- The ability to interact with others and establish personal connections with people.

Assumption of duties:
1 March 2026

Closing date:
1 February 2026

Allowance:
An allowance is payable which is calculated according to a transparent formula approved by the relevant decision-making structures of the UFS. The value of the allowance is available on request.

Enquiries:
For enquiries please feel free to contact me at or email at or . Additionally kindly contact / 9813 for assistance.

General:
The UFS is a designated employer and is committed to the pursuit of excellence diversity and redress in achieving its equity targets in accordance with the Employment Equity Plan of the University and its Employment Equity goals and targets. Preference will be given to candidates from the under-represented designated groups including candidates with disabilities. Our Employment Equity Plan is available at:EEA13ReportUNIVERSITY OF THE FREE STATE FINAL SEP

The University processes personal information in line with its obligations under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and any personal information provided to the University will be treated as confidential and processed in accordance with the rights provided to data subjects under POPIA.

The University reserves the right not to fill the post. The UFS will only consider applications of candidates who meet all the inherent requirements of the position. Applications that are incomplete will not be considered. Communication will be limited to shortlisted candidates only. Should you not be contacted within six weeks of the closing date for applications you may assume that your application was unsuccessful.