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 role of the Executive: Strategic Affairs is to lead and oversee the Strategic Affairs function at SAICA, ensuring alignment with the organisation’s 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.

Executive Strategic Affairs plays a pivotal role in driving the identification and expansion of opportunities within underrepresented and emerging sectors, such as MSMEs and corporate sectors and provides a direct pathway for the development of new, relevant solutions and services that enhance SAICA’s value proposition to a broader member base.

Key/main outputs

Output 1: Strategy, Sustainability, Governance and Legal Compliance

• Develop and implement SAICA’s long-term strategy and sustainability framework
• Conduct regular environmental scans to identify trends and opportunities
• Integrate sustainability principles into SAICA’s operational and strategic goals and lead sustainability initiatives and position the organisation as an ESG leader
• Establish a formal incubation hub within Strategic Affairs to prioritise and execute strategic innovation, leveraging insights and partnerships to support SAICA’s mission and drive member value.
• Oversee value and performance reporting to ensure that SAICA’s strategic initiatives are aligned with the best governance practices and contribute to the organisation’s long-term 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
• Obtain expert legal advice to advise the CEO on corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and risk management as it relates to strategic initiatives and key stakeholders within the portfolio
• Assess legal implications of strategic initiatives, partnerships, and organisational policies
• Ensure alignment with national and international legal standards and frameworks affecting the organisation.
• Oversee the review, drafting, and negotiation of key contracts and agreements
• Identify and mitigate legal risks that could impact the organisation’s operations and reputation
• Advice on legal matters relating to Board governance, policies, and decision-making
• Track changes in laws and regulations and advice 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
• Ensure the embedding of data analytics, AI, and predictive insights into the strategy and sustainability framework.

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 SAICA’s Customer Value Propositions and promotes seamless member experience.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships and partnerships with key stakeholders, including government, regulators, and industry leaders
• Representing SAICA in forums to influence policy and professional standards as and when required
• Design and execute stakeholder engagement plans to advance SAICA’s 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
• Strengthening SAICA’s influence in policy formulation and advocacy
• Utilise AI and data driven stakeholder insights to personalise engagements
• Implement AI and data 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
• Ensure Insights Driven Data analytics, AI, and predictive insights in stakeholder management

Output 3: Regional Management and Sector Growth

• Provide strategic direction and oversee regional offices and ensure alignment with national and global priorities
• Lead sector growth initiatives to expand SAICA’s 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 SAICA’s 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 SAICA’s digital goals
• Lead the embedding of data analytics, AI, and predictive insights into decision-making for Sector Growth and member engagement

Output 4: Assurance, Monitoring and evaluation (AME)

• Provide strategic oversight of the internal audit and assurance functions – (with functional reporting of the AME falling under Audit and risk committee)
• Maintain independence and objectivity in AME functions
• Ensure adherence to governance, risk, compliance and internal audit standards
• Deliver reports and actionable insights to improve organisational efficiency and effectiveness

Output 5: Commercial, Partnerships, and Joint Ventures

• Identify and develop commercial opportunities that align with SAICA’s mission
• Forge and manage strategic partnerships and joint ventures to enhance value delivery
• Oversee financial and non-financial performance metrics of partnerships
• Lead the embedding of data analytics, AI, and predictive insights into decision-making on Partnerships and Joint ventures.

Output 6: Lead and Develop High-performing teams and financial discipline

• Establish a structured PMO to govern all strategic, business, and IT projects.
• Drive end-to-end strategic projects, from ideation to execution, ensuring value realisation and alignment with SAICA’s goals and sustainability initiatives
• Oversee project execution, ensuring alignment with SAICA’s strategic goals.
• Implement project governance, risk management, and performance tracking
• Implement a framework on data analytics, AI, and predictive insights in strategy execution.