Job Vacancy at Silverleaf Academy Ltd: Finance Manager – Arusha, October 2026

About Silverleaf Academy Ltd

Silverleaf Academy is a growing education platform building a network of high-quality, affordable private schools across Tanzania, serving lower-middle-income families. The organisation focuses on strong learning outcomes, inclusive education, foundational literacy and numeracy, life skills, technology-enabled learning, and whole-child development.

Silverleaf Academy is entering an ambitious expansion phase, targeting growth from five to 30 schools over five years beginning in 2026. Its plans include expansion into multiple regions, the introduction of secondary education and a Teacher Training College, and an increase in enrolment from approximately 1,200 to more than 10,000 learners.

To support this growth, the organisation is seeking an experienced finance leader to oversee financial strategy, capital planning, fundraising, governance, and long-term financial sustainability.

Job Details

Position: Finance Manager
Organisation: Silverleaf Academy Ltd
Location: Silverleaf Academy Network, Arusha, Tanzania
Job Type: Full-Time
Role Level: Executive Leadership
Contract Duration: Two years, renewable
Reports To: Managing Director (MD)
Direct Reports: Finance Associates
Date Posted: October 2026

Job Purpose

The Finance Manager will be a core member of Silverleaf Academy’s Executive Leadership Team, responsible for developing and executing the organisation’s financial strategy and supporting its long-term growth.

The role goes beyond traditional accounting and compliance. It requires a strategic finance professional who can develop financial models, structure funding arrangements, manage investor relationships, guide expansion decisions, and translate financial data into actionable business recommendations.

The successful candidate will help the organisation balance financial sustainability, investor interests, operational efficiency, and its educational mission.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

1. Enterprise Financial Strategy and Expansion Planning

• Lead the refinement of the organisation’s 10-year financial forecast and expansion model in line with the Board-approved growth plan.
• Develop and maintain organisation-wide financial models covering base, upside, downside, and stress scenarios.
• Translate the expansion strategy into a multi-year capital funding plan.
• Determine appropriate financing structures for individual schools and the organisation as a whole.
• Advise the Managing Director and Board on the appropriate pace of growth, considering macroeconomic, operational, regulatory, and other risks.
• Lead risk-adjusted scenario planning to support strategic decisions.
• Manage the financial aspects of mergers, acquisitions, and related expansion activities.
• Work with the leadership team to develop pricing strategies for tuition, transport, food services, boarding, and other offerings to ensure financial viability and target profitability.

2. Capital Strategy, Fundraising and Shareholding Management

• Design and manage the organisation’s capital structure across philanthropic grants, debt, equity, and other financing instruments.
• Assess the impact of fundraising activities on shareholder ownership, equity dilution, governance rights, and Board composition.
• Maintain an up-to-date capitalisation table (cap table) showing current ownership and projected dilution under future financing scenarios.
• Recommend the appropriate mix and sequencing of grant, debt, and equity financing.
• Advise on financing arrangements that support the organisation’s mission while balancing shareholder returns and rights.
• Partner with the Managing Director to manage investor and lender relationships.
• Support negotiations, term sheets, due diligence, and financing closure processes.
• Monitor the deployment of capital into acquired assets and expansion projects to ensure performance aligns with approved expectations.

3. Budgeting and Cash Flow Management

• Develop and manage consolidated annual budgets and coordinate the preparation of budgets for individual schools and other assets.
• Manage monthly, quarterly, and annual cash flow requirements across the organisation.
• Establish and monitor financial key performance indicators (KPIs), including revenue, profitability, liquidity, unit economics, and return on invested capital.
• Improve financial reporting to provide forward-looking insights that support management decisions.
• Strengthen financial planning and cost management throughout the organisation.

4. Finance Systems, Automation and Reporting

• Design and implement financial management systems and processes capable of supporting a growing multi-school network.
• Automate routine finance activities, including payroll processing, school fee collection reconciliation, procurement workflows, and statutory reporting.
• Standardise financial operations, charts of accounts, and reporting structures across all schools.
• Develop real-time dashboards that provide management and campus leaders with visibility into financial performance.
• Integrate financial data with enrolment, human resources, operations, and academic performance information.
• Evaluate and implement appropriate enterprise resource planning (ERP), school management, and accounting platforms.
• Prepare high-quality financial reports and presentations for the Board and executive leadership.
• Communicate complex financial information and future scenarios clearly to technical and non-financial stakeholders.

5. Governance, Risk Management and Financial Integrity

• Strengthen organisational governance, internal controls, and financial risk management as the school network expands.
• Ensure compliance with applicable statutory, tax, and regulatory requirements across all entities.
• Lead external audits and support Board Finance Committee engagements.
• Identify and mitigate financial risks, including foreign exchange, regulatory, and compliance risks.
• Develop and maintain a financial risk register and scenario-based contingency plans.
• Promote transparency, accountability, and sound financial management practices.

6. Leadership, Team Development and Financial Culture

• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing finance team capable of supporting a complex, growing organisation.
• Recruit, retain, and develop finance professionals with the necessary technical and strategic capabilities.
• Transform the finance function from transactional processing into a strategic business partner across departments.
• Improve financial literacy among non-finance managers to strengthen cost discipline and accountability.
• Provide decisive and disciplined leadership during periods of rapid growth and operational pressure.
• Promote a culture of accountability, transparency, collaboration, and cost-effectiveness.

Qualifications and Experience

Education and Professional Certification

• A minimum bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or a related field.
• A master’s degree is strongly preferred.
• A recognised professional qualification such as CPA, ACCA, CIMA, or an equivalent qualification is required.

Professional Experience

Applicants should demonstrate the following:

• At least eight years of progressive finance leadership experience, including senior-level Finance Manager responsibilities or equivalent strategic leadership.
• Demonstrated experience designing capital structures involving equity, impact debt, grants, and blended finance.
• Proven experience developing capitalisation table models, advising on equity dilution, and structuring investment rounds.
• Experience in multi-site, growth-stage, or mission-driven organisations is strongly preferred.
• In-depth knowledge of Tanzanian statutory, tax, and regulatory frameworks.
• A track record of implementing finance systems and automation at scale.
• Experience presenting financial information and engaging with Boards, investors, and lenders at executive level.

Technical Skills and Competencies

• Advanced financial modelling skills using Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets.
• Experience with scenario planning and sensitivity analysis.
• Familiarity with ERP and accounting systems, such as QuickBooks or equivalent platforms.
• Strong data visualisation and financial dashboard development skills.
• Ability to interpret complex financial data and convert it into strategic recommendations.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, particularly when explaining financial concepts to Boards and non-financial leaders.
• Strong strategic thinking, commercial judgement, analytical ability, and decision-making skills.

Core Values

The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate and promote Silverleaf Academy’s core values:

1. Lead the Way: Demonstrate integrity, accountability, and servant leadership.
2. Speak, Listen and Learn: Encourage open communication, collaboration, and continuous learning.
3. Ask Why and Why Not: Challenge assumptions and identify better ways of working.
4. Build for the Future: Make decisions that strengthen the organisation over the long term.
5. Mission Focus: Maintain financial discipline while remaining committed to student outcomes.

Why Join Silverleaf Academy?

This position offers an opportunity to shape the financial and strategic direction of a growing education organisation. The Finance Manager will directly influence capital allocation, financing structures, expansion decisions, financial governance, and long-term sustainability.

The successful candidate will contribute to Silverleaf Academy’s ambition to establish a nationally recognised network of affordable, high-quality schools across Tanzania while ensuring that growth supports educational quality and positive student outcomes.

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates should submit their applications through the application link provided below.

CLICK/TAP HERE TO APPLY:

Application Deadline: Not specified in the provided vacancy announcement.

Applicants are encouraged to review the application form and ensure that they meet the required qualifications and experience before submitting their applications.