Zubeida Bagus

Senior Finance Manager with 25+ years of financial management experience spanning strategic financial leadership, budgeting and forecasting, management accounting, financial reporting, grant-funded programmes, donor reporting, audit coordination, financial governance and team leadership. Extensive experience in complex university and research environments, providing strategic and hands-on financial leadership across large organisational budgets, academic programmes, executive education and grant-funded projects. Accountable for financial oversight of a R1.3 billion Faculty budget, approximately R700 million in executive education and project activity, and multi-year projects of approximately R250 million.

Strong international donor and research-finance experience, including financial management of international research collaborations exceeding R60 million and work within a donor-funded environment involving the Wellcome Trust, NIH/National Institute on Aging, Andrew W.

Mellon

Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and South African Medical Research Council, among others. Experienced in preparing and reviewing management accounts, budgets, forecasts, budget-versus-actual analysis, year-end financial information, reconciliations and audit documentation. Provides senior management with financial analysis and recommendations to support resource allocation, expenditure management, financial sustainability and strategic decision-making.

FACULTY FINANCE BUSINESS MANAGER - WITS UNIVERSITY - Johannesburg

(2019-04 - 2025-07)

Provided strategic financial leadership and oversight to a large Faculty comprising six Schools, supporting the Dean, Heads of Schools, academic leadership and the University's senior finance structures. Accountable for financial planning, budgeting, management reporting, financial analysis, expenditure control and financial governance across Faculty operations, academic programmes, executive education and grant-funded projects.

• Provided strategic financial advice to the Dean, Heads of Schools, academic executives and CFO's team, supporting financial and operational decision-making.
• Accountable for the planning, execution and monitoring of a faculty budget of approximately R1.3 billion, together with approximately R700 million in executive education and project activity.
• Coordinated annual revenue and expenditure budgeting across six Schools, aligning financial plans with student intake, executive programme activity and strategic objectives.
• Prepared and reviewed monthly management accounts, financial reports and budget reports, ensuring accurate accounting-period allocations and providing analysis and recommendations to senior management.
• Conducted detailed budget-versus-actual and variance analysis, identifying financial trends, risks and opportunities for corrective action and cost management.
• Supported strategic decisions relating to undergraduate and postgraduate student intake, programme planning, resource allocation and financial sustainability.
• Monitored revenue and expenditure performance and translated financial information into practical recommendations for senior management.
• Provided financial oversight of grant-funded projects, including review and analysis of project budgets, expenditure, funding arrangements and financial performance.
• Reviewed grant budgets for cost efficiency, indirect-cost recovery and alignment with project requirements and funding arrangements.
• Monitored grant expenditure and budget performance and identified variances requiring management attention.
• Considered cashflow and grant-payment arrangements when reviewing project financial plans.
• Ensured grant-funded expenditure and procurement requirements were aligned with funding agreements and University procurement policies.
• Worked closely with academic and research teams to provide financial guidance and support donor/grant compliance and effective utilisation of project resources.
• Provided financial reports and supporting information to funders, auditors and senior University management.
• Held accountability for Faculty year-end financial reporting and audit preparation.
• Served as a key contact for internal and external auditors, coordinating supporting documentation and ensuring adherence to audit timelines.
• Reviewed financial transactions and supporting documentation for compliance with policies, delegated authorities and internal controls.
• Approved transactions above delegated thresholds, including procurement transactions, journals, petty cash, advances, staff claims and reimbursements.
• Supported corrective action arising from audit findings and strengthened financial controls across the faculty.
• Oversaw day-to-day finance operations, ensuring timely review, approval and processing of financial transactions.
• Streamlined finance processes to improve operational efficiency, responsiveness, financial control and management support.
• Improved communication, accountability and query-resolution processes between Finance and academic and operational teams.
• Directly managed a faculty finance team of 10 staff, while coordinating and providing financial leadership to finance teams across six Schools.
• Participated in recruitment, including job-description development, shortlisting and interviewing of finance staff.
• Represented Finance on University and Faculty committees and contributed to cross-functional decision-making.

FINANCE MANAGER - WITS UNIVERSITY - Johannesburg

(2009-01 - 2019-03)

Provided financial management and strategic financial support to the school, covering postgraduate programmes, executive education and grant-funded projects.

• Managed and coordinated the annual budgeting and financial planning process across postgraduate programmes, executive education and grant-funded projects.
• Managed and monitored multi-year project budgets of approximately R250 million, from budget development and financial monitoring through to project close-out reporting.
• Prepared and reviewed monthly management accounts, financial reports, budget-versus-actual analysis and financial recommendations for School management.
• Maintained financial control over School operations and ensured expenditure was aligned with approved budgets and University policies.
• Worked closely with academic leadership, research teams, programme teams and operational departments to support financial targets, planning and compliance.
• Provided financial advice on programme and project performance and supported management in identifying and addressing financial variances.
• Participated in School and Faculty management committees, integrating financial management with academic and operational objectives.
• Supported financial reporting and accountability for grant-funded activities and projects.

FINANCE MANAGER - WITS UNIVERSITY - Johannesburg

(2002-09 - 2008-12)

Senior finance role within an internationally funded health, population and research environment, providing financial management, grant administration and operational oversight.

• Managed financial planning, budgeting, expenditure monitoring and reporting for internationally funded health, population and research programmes.
• Prepared and monitored grant budgets, management accounts, cash-flow information and budget-versus-actual expenditure reports.
• Provided financial accountability and reporting to international donors, funders, auditors and senior management.
• Managed funding awards and scholarships involving universities and researchers across Sub-Saharan Africa, ensuring appropriate allocation and financial control of funded resources.
• Administered PhD awards and monitored both financial and narrative progress, reporting financial and programme information to stakeholders.
• Provided financial management support to international research collaborations exceeding R60 million, involving institutions including Princeton University, Brown University, University of Colorado, University of Warwick, University of Oxford, Umeå University, Makerere University and Egerton University.
• Worked within a complex donor-funded environment involving major international funders including the Wellcome Trust, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, National Institute on Aging/NIH and South African Medical Research Council, among others.
• Ensured grant expenditure and financial reporting were aligned with funding requirements, institutional policies and approved project budgets.
• Supported senior researchers and programme leadership with financial analysis, resource allocation, expenditure management and project financial decision-making.