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 SAICA’s 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 Head of SAICA Academy’s role combines strategic vision, entrepreneurial leadership, and operational excellence to establish the SAICA Academy as a leading and commercially viable platform for professional education, innovation, and sustainability. The Head of SAICA Academy positions the SAICA Academy as the “Go To” channel for member development across a number of competencies, leveraging SAICA’s trusted brand and reputation to evolve and extend the development offering. This portfolio supports pre-qualification and post-qualification training.

To lead the SAICA Academy by managing and advancing its strategic focus areas: Pre-Qualification (Pre-Qual), Post-Qualification (Post-Qual), Sustainability and Reporting, and Commercial Development. The role includes identifying and establishing new revenue streams to position the Academy as a commercially viable offering while delivering innovative programs that enhance professional competence, ethical standards, and future-readiness of SAICA members and trainees.

The role is designed to operate with a strong commercial mindset, balancing educational quality with revenue generation opportunities.

Key/main outputs

Output 1: Strategic Leadership and Planning

• Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for the SAICA Academy, ensuringalignment with SAICA’s mission and global trends
• Drive innovation across the Academy's focus areas to future-proof offerings and ensure relevance
• Identify growth opportunities, including partnerships and new market segments, to enhancethe Academy’s impact and value proposition
• Implement a customer-centric approach by creating learning pathways that are accessible andtailored to different segments, supporting SAICA’s goal of providing a seamless experience for members.

Output 2: Revenue Generation and Commercial Viability

• Establish partnerships with educational institutions, corporates, and digital learning platformsto broaden SAICA’s reach and generate new revenue streams, especially for underrepresented segments
• Identify and establish new revenue streams to ensure the Academy becomes a sustainable andcommercially viable entity
• Develop and manage fee-based programs, workshops, and certification offerings aligned withmarket demand
• Introduce Talent Exchange and Connection platforms and services that extend beyond trainingand development (e.g. talent sourcing, coaching)
• Collaborate with SAICA’s commercial and financial teams to structure competitive pricing models
• Leverage partnerships to co-create programs that generate additional revenue.

Output 3: Program Development and Management

• Oversee the design and delivery of leading-edge learning resources for pre-qualification andpost-qualification stages, ensuring they meet SAICA’s high standards for technical accuracyand relevance to current industry practices, while constantly adding emerging trends in the industry
• Apply learning theory to drive accessibility, applicability and learning recall on development programmes
• Develop AI-powered tools for mapping member competencies to emerging industryrequirements, offering personalised development pathways that ensure SAICA members remain competitive
• Lead the continuous improvement of the Academy’s eLearning platform, incorporating data-driven insights and digital innovations to create a seamless, engaging online learning experience
• Working with the Standards division, regularly review and align learning materials with emerging trends and standards in the accounting profession, ensuring SAICA’s offerings are future-focused and responsive to member needs
• Introduce talent development programs that embed sustainability principles, aligning SAICA’s talent solutions with the profession’s growing emphasis on responsible business practices

Output 4: Stakeholder Engagement and Representation

• Build strategic partnerships with academic institutions, industry leaders, and regulators toenhance the Academy’s offerings and revenue potential
• Represent the Academy in public forums, conferences, and professional networks to elevate its profile
• Engage with stakeholders to ensure program relevance and alignment with their needs
• Implement AI-driven tools to enhance communication with stakeholders. These tools can helpin drafting personalised messages, scheduling meetings, and even predicting stakeholder responses based on historical data
• Manages stakeholder relationships and prepares reports and responses provides in respect of support into the requirements of regulatory and standard setting bodies, including thenecessary development and research to ensure these standards are maintained. This includes the:
  • IRBA,
  • SAQA,
  • CHE, and the
  • QCTO

Output 5: Team Leadership and Development

• Recruit, mentor, and retain top talent
• Provide training and development opportunities across SAICA.
• Foster collaboration and a growth-oriented mindset within teams
• Cultivate a high-performing and motivated team
• Drive continuous skill development and capability building
• Foster a culture of innovation and excellence within the Capabilities and Endorsements function

Output 6: 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 SAICA’s transformation into an insights-driven organisation by leveraging data and analytics to enhance decision-making, improve processes, and drive continuous improvementin 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 toyour 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 SAICA’s management of risks related to sustainability, including environmental risks, regulatory changes and social risks and integrating them into business continuity and risk management plans