Executive: Strategic Affairs - 5 year contract

SAICA has embarked on an exciting transformation to become an insights-driven, technology-enabled, and AI-powered organisation. As part of our journey, we are streamlining processes, enhancing our digital capabilities, and strengthening our focus on sustainability in the accounting profession. This transformation presents an opportunity for you to grow and contribute to SAICAs vision in a redefined, future-fit role. We are looking for passionate, skilled professionals who are eager to innovate, embrace data-driven decision-making, and help shape the future of the profession. If you are ready to be part of this next chapter, make a meaningful impact, and you are a suitably qualified and experienced Difference Maker wanting to go further on this exciting journey, you are encouraged to apply. Purpose of the job The role of the Executive: Strategic Affairs is to lead and oversee the Strategic Affairs function at SAICA, ensuring alignment with the organisations vision and mission. The role is pivotal in driving strategy, sustainability, stakeholder engagement, regional management, sector growth, internal audit and assurance, and commercial partnerships. This position will contribute to developing SAICA as an insight-driven organisation by providing strategic guidance and fostering innovation.The Executive Strategic Affairs plays a pivotal role in driving the identification and expansion of opportunities within underrepresented and emerging sectors, such as SMMEs and corporate sectors and provides a direct pathway for the development of new, relevant solutions and services that enhance SAICAs value proposition to a broader member base. Key/main outputs Output 1: Strategy, Sustainability, Governance and Legal Compliance Develop and implement SAICAs long-term strategy and sustainability framework Conduct regular environmental scans to identify trends and opportunities Integrate sustainability principles into SAICAs operational and strategic goals and leadsustainability initiatives and position the organisation as an ESG leader Drive end-to-end strategic projects, from ideation to execution, ensuring value realisation and alignment with SAICAs goals and sustainability initiatives Establish a formal incubation hub within Strategic Affairs to prioritise and execute strategic innovation, leveraging insights and partnerships to support SAICAs mission and drive member value Oversee value and performance reporting to ensure that SAICAs strategic initiatives are aligned with governance best practices and contribute to the organisations long-term sustainability Drive alignment of the organisations strategy with AI-driven opportunities and Use data-driven forecasting to drive long-term strategy Advance the use of AI and data analytics for strategic insights, stakeholder engagement, and regional optimisation, positioning SAICA as a digitally progressive organisation Provide legal advice to CEO for strategic initiatives and key stakeholders matters Provide expert legal advice to the CEO on corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and risk management. Assess legal implications of strategic initiatives, partnerships, and organizational policies. Ensure alignment with national and international legal frameworks affecting the organization. Oversee the review, drafting, and negotiation of key contracts and agreements. Identify and mitigate legal risks that could impact the organizations operations and reputation. Advise on legal matters relating to Board governance, policies, and decision-making. Track changes in laws and regulations and advise on necessary strategic adaptations. Support the creation and implementation of internal policies and procedures to enhance legal compliance in line with the strategy. Promote ethical business practices and compliance with internal and external regulatory standards. Output 2: Stakeholder Engagement and Government Relations Lead the development and management of an integrated stakeholder engagement framework that consolidates messaging and initiatives across various internal and external stakeholders Ensure that stakeholder engagement aligns with SAICAs Customer Value Propositions and promotes a seamless member experience. Build and maintain strategic relationships and partnerships with key stakeholders, including government, regulators, and industry leaders Represent SAICA in forums to influence policy and professional standards Design and execute stakeholder engagement plans to advance SAICAs objectives Directly and indirectly contribute to the effectiveness of the SAICA governance structures Represent SAICA in other local and/or international structures as and when required Strengthen SAICAs influence in policy formulation and advocacy Utilise AI-driven stakeholder insights to personalise engagements Implement AI-driven tools to enhance communication with stakeholders. These tools can help in drafting personalised messages, scheduling meetings, and even predicting stakeholder responses based on historical data Active participation and provide technical Advisory support to the CEO on participation on various SAICA affiliates committees and Boards as approved by the CEO and/or Board Output 3: Regional Management and Sector Growth Oversee regional offices and ensure alignment with national and global priorities Lead sector growth initiatives to expand SAICAs presence within the emerging and underrepresented business sectors and foster growth in key areas, such as SMME/SMP and Corporate sectors. Enhance the alignment of regional decisions with SAICAs core strategic priorities, optimising resource allocation to effectively serve member needs in various regions Monitor performance and ensure resource optimisation across regions Align regional and global expansion initiatives with SAICAs digital goals Output 4: Internal Audit and Assurance Provide strategic oversight of the internal audit and assurance functions Maintain independence and objectivity in internal audit and assurance functions Ensure adherence to governance, risk, and compliance standards Deliver actionable insights to improve organisational efficiency and effectiveness Output 5: Commercial, Partnerships, and Joint Ventures Identify and develop commercial opportunities that align with SAICAs mission Forge and manage strategic partnerships and joint ventures to enhance value delivery Oversee financial and non-financial performance metrics of partnerships Output 6: Lead and Develop High-performing teams and financial discipline Recruit, mentor, and retain top talent Provide training and development opportunities Foster collaboration and a growth-oriented mindset within teams Lead a high-performing and motivated team Drive continuous skill development and capability building Create a culture of innovation and excellence within the Strategic Affairs function Ensure effective and efficient financial management of the functions allocated budget Output 7: Embrace and drive organisational transformation Actively contribute to cost containment efforts by identifying opportunities for operational efficiencies, optimising resources, and ensuring value-driven decision-making in daily activities. Support SAICAs transformation into an insights-driven organisation by leveraging data and analytics to enhance decision-making, improve processes, and drive continuous improvement in your area of work Effectively utilise digital tools and technology to enhance productivity, streamline workflows, and improve service delivery. Stay informed about new and emerging technologies relevant to your role Adopt and embrace AI-driven tools and automation to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and effectiveness in job-related tasks, while continuously seeking opportunities to improve processes through innovative technology solutions Identify and support SAICAs management of risks related to sustainability, including environmental risks, regulatory changes and social risks and integrating them into business continuity and risk management plans Formal Education Masters degree in Business Administration, Strategy, Sustainability, Law or a related field. Technical/Legal Certification Chartered Accountant (CA(SA)) qualification preferred. Certification in Sustainability, Governance, or Strategy an advantage. Experience Minimum of 10 years in a senior leadership role with a focus on strategy, stakeholder engagement, and sustainability. Proven track record in managing multidisciplinary teams and complex projects. Experience in the accounting or professional services sector and organisational technological and artificial intelligence transformation is advantageous

Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng, ZA

Posted Date: 10/9/2025