Finance Associate

Organization: Silverleaf Academy Ltd, Tanzania
Location: Silverleaf Academy Usa River Campus, Tanzania
Position: Finance Associate
Contract Type: Full Time
Contract Duration: 2 years
Line Manager: Head of Finance and Administration
Direct Reports: None

Organization

Silverleaf Academy is Tanzania’s first chain of affordable private pre-primary and primary schools,
educating children aged 3-14. Our mission is to provide lower-middle income urban families with
highest quality learning at the most affordable levels. Using the national Tanzanian curriculum,
Silverleaf schools deploy an inclusive, tech-supported curriculum inside every classroom, and adopt
an innovative team-teaching approach and in-service training program. Our schools are specifically
designed to build both student academic competencies and wider life, leadership and learning skills.
It is our promise to our students and their parents that Silverleaf students will not leave school
without full mastery of the basic skills of writing, reading and math, while also being prepared for a
world where critical thinking, team collaboration, and entrepreneurship are paramount. Silverleaf
Academy believes that quality education should be accessible to every child.
Silverleaf currently has one fully operational campus in Usa River serving approximately 260
pre-primary to standard 7 students. By the end of 2024, the target is to grow the Usa River campus
to 900 daycare up to standard 7 students. In addition, the organisation will set the foundation for
acquisition of two new campuses serving a further 500 students by 2025. For this rapid growth and
scaling phase, the organisation requires a team of senior managers and experts to develop and codify
“The Silverleaf Standard” – a framework for delivery of exceptional teaching and learning across the
Silverleaf Academy network in lower-middle income urban and peri-urban contexts in Tanzania. This
will initially use the Usa River campus as a flagship school and testing ground from which to launch.

Role

The main purpose of the Finance Associate is to support the Head of Finance and Administration in
their duties to achieve full financial control and sustainable growth of Silverleaf Academy Ltd as a
company. It will be the role of the Finance Associate to help with financial, legal and human resource
functions of the company and school campuses to ensure performance. The ultimate aim is to
ajiraensure that the Head of Finance and Administration has time freed up to undertake strategic
decision making and risk management. The Finance Associate will sit within the Silverleaf company
structure and will provide support for all company level staff.

Deliverables

● Supporting financial planning, controls and management of the company and school(s)
● Assisting with timely and accurate administrative, legal and HR tasks where required
● Strengthening frameworks, processes and tools to help define “The Silverleaf Standard”

Responsibilities

1. Update financial spreadsheets with daily transactions
2. Prepare balance sheets
3. Track and reconcile bank statements
4. Create cost analysis reports (fixed and variable costs)
5. Process tax payments
6. Support monthly payroll and keep organized records
7. Record accounts payable and accounts receivable
8. Process invoices and follow up with clients, suppliers and partners as needed
9. Provide administrative support across legal, human resource and other areas
10. Participate in quarterly and annual audits

Skills and Attributes

● Minimum of Bachelor’s Degree in finance, administration or related field
● At least three (3) years’ experience in financial management in a Tanzanian context
● Practical experience with finance, ERP and other software platforms
● Fluency in written and spoken English and Kiswahili
● Computer literacy and adaptability, including financial and human resource systems
● Desire to learn, innovate and build robust and impactful systems and processes
● Comfortable with using initiative and meeting targets in a in a fast-paced environment
● Passion for generating exceptional outcomes for young people in Tanzania

Values

An essential part of the Silverleaf model is adherence to the core values of the organization. These
values are ingrained in our approach and extend to staff, students, parents and partners alike. They
are used throughout organizational processes and decision-making to guide what we do. For staff,
adherence to these values is mandatory and forms the cornerstone of performance reviews.
1. Lead the Way
2. Build for the Future
3. Ask Why and Why Not
4. Speak, Listen, and Learn
5. Unwavering Mission Focus