GCIS seeks a Director: Financial Management (Level 13, R1 317 384) in Pretoria. Ref 3/1/5/1-26/33. Closes 23 November 2026.
| Job Title | Director: Financial Management |
|---|---|
| Company | Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) |
| Job Reference | 3/1/5/1-26/33 |
| Category | Government Jobs |
| Location | Pretoria, Gauteng, ZA |
| Employment Type | Full Time |
| Date Posted | 12 November 2026 |
| Closing Date | 23 November 2026, 23:59 |
| Status | Open for Applications |
| Salary | R 1 317 384 per year |
Job summary: Director Financial Management at GCIS in brief
The Government Communication and Information System needs a Director: Financial Management in the Office of the Chief Financial Officer at its Pretoria head office. It is post 40/25 in Public Service Vacancy Circular 40 of 2026, at Level 13, with an all-inclusive package of R1 317 384 a year, roughly R109 800 a month before tax. The circular says 70% is basic salary and 30% can be structured according to your needs. One unusual line sits in the duties: the director may be asked to act as Chief Financial Officer when the CFO is absent.
- Reference number: 3/1/5/1-26/33
- Closing date: Monday, 23 November 2026
- Apply: online at erecruitment.gcis.gov.za, or by hand at Tshedimosetso House, Hatfield, Pretoria
- Degree: NQF Level 7 in Financial Management, Accounting, Auditing, Economics or Financial Economics, or Statistics, majoring in one of them
- Experience: at least five years of extensive middle or senior management experience in financial management services
- Compulsory: Nyukela certificate before appointment, valid driver's licence, computer literacy
Jump to: Duties | Requirements | Pay | How to apply | FAQ
Director: Financial Management - Job Description
Introduction
A finance director in a national department carries a particular kind of pressure. Every rand has to be accounted for, deadlines come from National Treasury and the Auditor-General rather than from you and a mistake in a financial statement can follow a department for years. The GCIS Director: Financial Management vacancy, reference 3/1/5/1-26/33 and post 40/25 in Public Service Vacancy Circular 40 of 2026, sits in the middle of that pressure.
The post is in the Chief Directorate: Office of the Chief Financial Officer, based in Pretoria. It is a Level 13 Senior Management Service post paying an all-inclusive package of R1 317 384 per annum. The advert asks for someone who can run financial administration, accounting, budgeting, reporting and audit liaison for a whole department, and who is ready to step into the CFO's chair when needed.
Applications close on Monday, 23 November 2026, which leaves eleven days from the date of this page. As with all SMS posts, the Nyukela certificate is a pre-requisite for appointment. The department also expects you to detail courses passed in your CV as shown on your academic transcript, which for a finance candidate means listing your accounting, auditing and economics modules properly.
This page explains the advert in plain language, then fills in what it leaves out: what each duty means in practice, how to show the five years of management experience, how the package splits up and how to prepare for the technical exercise. We have also listed the mistakes that most often cost applicants their place.
About the Company
The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) is the national department that coordinates and guides communication across government. Its head office, Tshedimosetso House, is in Hatfield, Pretoria. The department produces public information products, supports provincial and local communication structures and manages government's media-related spending, so its budget is more varied than people sometimes expect.
The Office of the Chief Financial Officer is the unit that makes sure the department spends within its allocation, follows the PFMA and Treasury Regulations, produces clean financial statements and deals with National Treasury and the Auditor-General of South Africa. The duties also mention payments to public entities, which tells you the department transfers money to the entities that report to it, such as Brand South Africa and the Media Development and Diversity Agency.
The department says it is an equal opportunity employer. When filling posts it considers section 195(1)(i) of the Constitution, the Employment Equity Act and its Employment Equity Plan. People with disabilities will be accommodated within reasonable limits, and suitably qualified people with disabilities will be given preference regardless of race or gender. Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Responsibilities
The circular lists many duties, and several repeat. Sorted into themes, the job looks like this.
1. Financial administration and accounting
- Provide effective, efficient and compliant financial management services.
- Develop and monitor the implementation of financial administration and accounting policies, systems and processes.
- Provide management accounting services and monitor and report on expenditure trends.
- Oversee the monitoring, clearance and reconciliation of ledger accounts, and make sure financial reports reach the right forum.
- Oversee the functions of the BAS System Controller and review reports.
2. Budget cycle and reporting
- Oversee the annual budget cycle and make sure all deadlines are met.
- Oversee operational and personnel costing.
- Provide statistical reports on spending against the budget and report projected under- or overspending.
- Report proposed funding of ad-hoc activities and proposed virements to fund projected overspending.
- Oversee and review the In-Year Monitoring (IYM) report and submit it in line with the PFMA.
3. Compliance, policy and payments
- Oversee the review of departmental financial policies and make sure they comply with the PFMA, Treasury Regulations and related prescripts.
- Monitor guidelines issued by National Treasury.
- Ensure timely settlement of contractual obligations, payment of invoices and quarterly tranches to public entities within the prescribed period.
4. Audit and risk
- Oversee the drafting and submission of accurate interim and annual financial statements.
- Be the link between the department and the Auditor-General during audits, and arrange Audit Steering Committee meetings.
- Make sure amendments to the Modified Cash Standard and the Accounting Manual for Departments are applied to GCIS statements and processes.
- Identify and review strategic risks and oversee mitigation plans.
5. People, relationships and acting as CFO
- Manage National Treasury and Auditor-General relations.
- Manage staff, expose them to development opportunities and make sure performance agreements and assessments are submitted on time.
- Facilitate monthly Financial Control Forum meetings with finance staff.
- Act as Chief Financial Officer in the CFO's absence when asked.
The calendar drives this job. March and April mean year-end and the first draft of annual financial statements, mid-year means audit cycles and the adjustment budget, and every month brings IYM reports and payment runs. The acting-CFO line deserves thought: it means you may sign off on submissions, appear before oversight structures and handle the Auditor-General's questions with little notice. Candidates who have stood in for a CFO, or who have worked closely with one, will have a story to tell.
Required Qualifications
Education
- An appropriate Bachelor's degree (NQF Level 7, recognised by SAQA) in Financial Management, Accounting, Auditing, Economics or Financial Economics, Statistics or an equivalent qualification, majoring in Financial Management, Accounting, Auditing, Economics, Financial Economics or Statistics.
- A foreign qualification must be accompanied by a SAQA evaluation certificate.
Compulsory items
- The Public Service Senior Management Leadership Programme (Nyukela certificate), endorsed by the National School of Government, is a pre-requisite for appointment.
- A valid driver's licence.
- Computer literacy.
Experience
At least five years of extensive middle or senior management experience managing and facilitating financial management services in a department. The advert expects a thorough understanding of public sector financial statements, budget and project cycles and public finance support services. You should be able to guide the formulation and implementation of budget policy for the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) process, monitor and analyse spending against the approved budget, ensure value for money in strategic resourcing and guide the adjustment budget.
Competencies
- Strategic capacity and leadership.
- People management and empowerment.
- Financial management.
- Change management.
- Programme and project management.
- Proven leadership capabilities and sound interpersonal and project management skills.
Showing you qualify
- List accounting, auditing and economics courses as shown on your transcript, because the circular specifically asks for this.
- Give budget figures: the size of the budget you managed, the number of staff and the audit outcome during your tenure.
- Name the systems you know, such as BAS, and the standards you have applied, such as the Modified Cash Standard.
- Describe at least one budget process you led from MTEF submission to adjustment.
Job Benefits and Perks
The package is R1 317 384 per annum, all-inclusive, at Level 13. The circular states that 70% will be basic salary and 30% can be structured to the individual's needs. In round numbers:
- Per month: about R109 780 before tax.
- Basic salary (70%): about R922 170 a year, or R76 850 a month.
- Flexible portion (30%): about R395 215 a year, or R32 935 a month.
The flexible portion can be arranged within the rules to suit you, so ask HR how it works before you accept an offer. Remember that the employer's pension contribution is normally counted within an SMS package, so ask how it is handled. The advert does not list medical aid, housing or other allowances separately.
The conditions attached to the post are as important as the salary. The successful candidate must disclose all registrable financial interests to the Minister, sign the employment contract within one month of assuming duty and sign a performance agreement with the relevant Chief Director within three months. A top-secret security clearance is required. For a finance director, who handles sensitive information every day, disclosure and vetting are central, so be ready for honest questions about your own finances.
All appointments are subject to verification of qualifications, previous experience, citizenship and references, and to security vetting. The department may fill or not fill the post, and the contract will be reviewed based on performance.
How to Apply
You can apply online at http://erecruitment.gcis.gov.za or hand-deliver to Tshedimosetso House, 1035 corner Francis Baard and Festival streets, Hatfield, Pretoria, for the attention of Ms P Kgopyane.
- Obtain the new Z83 from any Public Service department or from www.gov.za/documents. The old form was withdrawn on 31 December 2020 and using it leads to disqualification.
- Complete the Z83 in full and sign it.
- Prepare a detailed CV that lists courses passed as per your academic transcript.
- Quote the post title and the reference number 3/1/5/1-26/33.
- Submit online or by hand before the closing date of 23 November 2026.
- Keep proof of submission or receipt.
You do not need to attach certified copies when you apply. Only shortlisted candidates will be asked to submit certified documents, on or before the interview day. A foreign qualification needs a SAQA evaluation certificate. The department will not consider late applications or applications that do not comply with these requirements.
Shortlisted candidates complete two pre-entry assessments, a practical exercise and an integrity assessment, and the panel scores both. SMS candidates also face a technical exercise and interview, and a maximum of three then undergo psychometric assessments of cognitive capabilities, behavioural preferences, emotional intelligence and integrity.
Correspondence goes to shortlisted candidates only. If you are not contacted within three months after the closing date, assume you were unsuccessful. By applying, you consent under section 11(1) of POPIA to GCIS and its employees, agents, cabinet committees and sub-contractors processing your personal information for recruitment.
Enquiries: Mr Paul Kwerane on (012) 473 0407. Details of the Nyukela course are at https://www.thensg.gov.za/trainingcourse/sms-pre-entry-programme/.
Is this the right next step for you?
You are probably ready if you:
- have managed a finance unit at Deputy Director level or above in the public sector
- have led or taken part in annual financial statements and Auditor-General audits
- know the PFMA, Treasury Regulations and the Modified Cash Standard well
- hold the Nyukela certificate, or will before appointment
You may want to wait if you:
- have mainly worked in private sector finance without public sector reporting
- do not have a finance-related degree with a relevant major
- have not yet supervised a team
What the technical exercise could test
For a finance post, the technical exercise is likely to put real documents in front of you: a budget allocation to analyse, an expenditure report with a variance to explain or an audit finding to answer. Practise reading an IYM report and explaining under- or overspending in plain terms. Be ready to propose a virement and justify it within the PFMA. If you are given a scenario about late payments to suppliers or to a public entity, show that you understand the prescribed payment period and the cashflow impact.
- Structure answers as the issue, the rule, the options, your recommendation and the risk.
- Quote the PFMA, Treasury Regulations or the Modified Cash Standard by name where it applies.
- Keep numbers tidy and double-check your arithmetic.
- Prepare a 90-day plan for the directorate.
Eight tips to strengthen your application
- Put your degree majors and Nyukela status on page one of the CV.
- Give the size of the budgets and the number of staff you managed.
- Highlight audit outcomes during your tenure, and what you did to improve them.
- Describe your role in the annual financial statements process.
- Show relationships with National Treasury or the Auditor-General.
- List your courses as the circular asks.
- Make sure the Z83 is the new version, fully completed and signed.
- Apply two days early.
Where this post can lead
A Director: Financial Management who has stepped in as acting CFO is a natural candidate for Chief Financial Officer posts at departments and public entities. The experience with National Treasury and the Auditor-General is also valued in provincial treasuries and state-owned companies.
Mistakes that cost applicants
- Using the withdrawn Z83 or leaving the new one unsigned.
- Skipping the reference number 3/1/5/1-26/33.
- Describing duties without figures.
- Leaving out the courses list the circular requests.
- Not mentioning the Nyukela certificate.
Frequently asked questions
Do I attach certified copies now?
No. Only the completed, signed Z83 and a detailed CV.
Is the Nyukela certificate compulsory?
Yes, it is a pre-requisite for appointment.
Can I hand-deliver the application?
Yes, to Tshedimosetso House in Hatfield for the attention of Ms P Kgopyane.
Could I really be asked to act as CFO?
The advert says that when the need arises the incumbent may be requested to act as Chief Financial Officer.
Is there a security clearance?
Yes. The successful candidate must obtain a top-secret clearance.
What if my degree is not an exact match?
The advert allows an equivalent qualification majoring in one of the listed fields. Make the connection obvious on your CV.
When will I hear back?
Only shortlisted candidates are contacted. After three months from the closing date, assume you were unsuccessful.
Does it cost anything to apply?
No.
Who do I phone?
Mr Paul Kwerane on (012) 473 0407.
Check your degree majors, confirm your Nyukela status, gather evidence of budgets and audits and submit early. Keep a copy of everything you send and watch your inbox after closing. Good luck.
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This vacancy is also open to applicants from: Johannesburg, Sandton, Soweto, Centurion, Midrand, Randburg, Roodepoort, Boksburg, Benoni, Germiston, Kempton Park, Vereeniging, Vanderbijlpark, Krugersdorp, Springs, Alberton, Randfontein, Brakpan, Tembisa and surrounding areas in Gauteng.