Treasury & Compliance Coordinator

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 This role sits within the Finance team. Our finance team plays a pivotal role in the success and growth of our organisation. We drive the financial health of the institution, from budgeting and forecasting to cash flow management and regulatory compliance. Within Finance, the Treasury function ensures that ALU maintains strong cash control, executes payments reliably, and operates within a disciplined compliance framework across multiple entities and jurisdictions. The team works closely with Accounts Payable, FP&A, and operational teams to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and control. 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 & Compliance Coordinator supports the day-to-day execution of ALU’s treasury operations and statutory compliance activities across all ALU jurisdictions. 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. This role is responsible for ensuring timely and accurate payment processing, maintaining visibility over cash positions, supporting bank operations, and coordinating compliance activities (WHT, VAT, and other statutory obligations). The role reports directly to the Accountant and ultimately to the Finance Operations Director, ensuring strong alignment between accounting records, cash movements, and compliance obligations. The ideal candidate is highly detail-oriented, disciplined, and comfortable operating in a structured, control-driven environment RESPONSIBILITIES Treasury Operations & Payment Processing - Initiate and execute domestic and international payments, including vendor payments and payroll disbursements based on approved instructions from Accounts Payable and Payroll team. - Monitor and manage daily cash balances across all ALU entities and bank accounts. - Support preparation and execution of bi-monthly payment runs (15th and month-end). - Review payment documentation to ensure completeness, accuracy, and proper approvals. - Assist in initiating payments across multiple banking platforms (local and international). - Track payment status from initiation through to bank release and confirmation. - Maintain an up-to-date payment tracker with full visibility of all transactions. - Intercompany transfers/funding between ALU entities. Cash Positioning & Monitoring - Maintain daily visibility of cash balances across all bank accounts and entities. - Track inflows and outflows, including student receipts, donor funds, and operational payments. - Support preparation and updating of short & medium-term cash flow forecasts. - Consolidate and report actual vs forecast cash flows at the group level, including variance analysis. - Flag any liquidity risks, delays, or anomalies to the Accountant. - Highlight funding gaps and proactively escalate any risks. - Monitoring bank charges, transaction fees and other banking costs, and flagging any unusual items. Banking Operations - Support management of bank accounts, including: - Account setup and maintenance - Signatory updates - Online banking access controls - Liaise with banking partners to resolve payment issues and operational queries. - Support execution of urgent or off-cycle payments where required. Compliance & Tax Coordination - Support preparation and tracking of statutory obligations, including but not limited to: - Withholding Tax (WHT) - VAT filings - Other regulatory submissions - Maintain a compliance calendar to ensure deadlines are met. - Coordinate with Accounts Payable and Finance teams to ensure completeness of compliance data. - Support engagement with tax authorities and external advisors. - Primary point of contact for coordinating tax regulators. 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. Reconciliations & Controls - Perform weekly bank reconciliations and resolving discrepancies. - Ensure all payments align with approved payment runs and supporting documentation. - Maintain proper documentation and audit trails for all treasury transactions. - Support internal and external audits by preparing required schedules and audit-ready documentation. - Support to the Accountant with treasury-related month-end and audit duties. Internal Controls & Process Management - Assist in building treasury processes that scale with ALU’s growth and maintain audit readiness - Enforce adherence to treasury processes, approval matrices, timelines and internal controls over cash management, payment approvals, and banking access. - Identify inefficiencies in payment workflows and banking processes. - Support implementation of improved controls, systems, and treasury procedures. - Contribute to building scalable and standardized treasury operations. - Regularly review and improve treasury-related SOPs and workflows to increase efficiency and reduce risk. Cross-Functional Support - Work closely with Accounts Payable, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), People & Culture(P&C), and Operations on treasury-related matters. - Support payroll disbursements, vendor payments, and statutory payments. - Assist with treasury-related analysis and ad hoc finance projects. Ensure the safety and well-being of all young persons and vulnerable adults with whom we deal, by adhering to ALU’s comprehensive safeguarding policy, maintaining a zero-tolerance approach to any violations of safeguarding standards. REQUIRED EXPERIENCE - Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field. - 2–4 years of experience in treasury, accounting, fund accounting or finance operations. - Exposure to payment processing, bank reconciliations, or cash management. - Working knowledge of tax compliance (WHT, VAT) is an advantage. - Strong knowledge of accounting principles and financial regulations. - Proficiency in accounting software (e.g., 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 - High attention to detail: Ability to process transactions with accuracy and consistency. - Integrity and accountability: Trusted to operate in a cash-sensitive environment. - Process discipline: Ability to follow and enforce structured workflows. - Strong organizational skills: Able to manage multiple transactions and deadlines. - Responsiveness: Operates effectively in time-sensitive treasury processes. - Analytical thinking: Able to identify discrepancies and flag risks early. - Stakeholder collaboration: Works effectively across teams and functions. - Adaptability: Comfortable in a fast-paced, evolving environment.