PA to the CFO Job Johannesburg

If you have experience supporting senior managers, preparing meeting documents and handling confidential business information, a Personal Assistant to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) role may suit your background. This position is based at the Commission for Gender Equality’s head office in Johannesburg and falls within the Finance unit. It offers an advertised annual salary package of R413,000.01 and requires a relevant diploma or degree, at least three years of Personal Assistant experience and computer literacy certification.

The position is particularly relevant to administrative professionals who understand that supporting a senior executive involves more than managing a diary. Financial administration, accurate record-keeping, meeting coordination and professional communication are important parts of the work. Applicants should also be comfortable working with sensitive documents and communicating with different people on behalf of a senior office.

The closing date is 9 November 2026. Before applying, candidates should check that they meet the minimum requirements and prepare all the supporting documents requested in the advertisement.

Job Overview

About the Employer

The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) is a South African constitutional institution concerned with promoting gender equality and protecting the principles of equality in the country. Its work relates to addressing gender discrimination and advancing equal rights.

The advertised position is located at the organisation’s head office in Johannesburg and supports the Chief Financial Officer within the Finance unit. The advertisement also identifies several committees and administrative functions that the successful candidate may support.

The recruitment notice states that the CGE is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer committed to fair representation across race, gender and disability. It encourages applications from people with disabilities and specified historically underrepresented groups. Shortlisted applicants will undergo background checks and psychometric assessment.

Candidates should consult the employer’s official communication channels if they need further information about the organisation or the recruitment process.

What Does a Personal Assistant to the CFO Do?

A Personal Assistant to a Chief Financial Officer helps the executive manage administrative responsibilities, appointments, communication and documentation. Because the position is attached to the Finance unit, accuracy and an understanding of financial terminology are especially useful.

The successful candidate will provide secretarial support, screen telephone calls, coordinate appointments and arrange travel or other reservations. They will also prepare reports and correspondence when requested by the CFO or Finance Manager.

Meeting coordination is another important responsibility. The role includes arranging venues, preparing agendas and recording minutes for finance and administrative meetings, as well as meetings involving committees such as ICT, Loss Control and Assets Disposal.

The assistant will also maintain departmental filing systems and archived records. Financial documents associated with the CFO’s office must be checked for accuracy, making attention to detail an essential skill.

What might a typical working day look like?

The exact daily schedule is not specified in the advertisement. However, in a role of this type, a working day could involve checking the executive’s calendar, confirming appointments, responding to routine enquiries and preparing documents for scheduled meetings.

Before a meeting, the assistant may need to distribute the agenda, confirm the venue and ensure that relevant paperwork is available. After the meeting, accurate minutes and organised records help participants track decisions and outstanding actions.

Other tasks may arise unexpectedly, requiring the assistant to rearrange appointments or prepare correspondence at short notice. This is why prioritisation, clear communication and reliable record-keeping matter.

Minimum Requirements and Skills

Applicants should review the requirements carefully before submitting their documents.

1. Diploma or degree in administration

Candidates must have a diploma or degree in administration or an equivalent qualification. The purpose of this requirement is to demonstrate a relevant educational foundation in administrative work, office procedures and professional communication.

If your qualification has a different title, do not automatically assume that it will be accepted as equivalent. Explain its relevance where appropriate and seek clarification from the employer if necessary.

2. At least three years of Personal Assistant experience

The advertisement requires a minimum of three years of relevant experience as a Personal Assistant. Candidates should be ready to demonstrate the type of executive support they have provided, including diary management, meeting coordination, document preparation and professional correspondence.

Applicants with general office administration experience but less than three years specifically as a Personal Assistant should not assume they meet this requirement. The advertisement does not confirm whether exceptions will be considered.

3. Intermediate or advanced computer literacy certificate

Applicants must have an intermediate or advanced computer literacy certificate. Computer literacy is important when preparing reports, maintaining electronic records, managing calendars and producing meeting documentation.

Candidates should ensure that the certificate is clearly listed on their CV and include a copy among their supporting documents if available.

4. South African citizenship

The advertisement states that applicants must be South African citizens. Preference for South African citizens is also mentioned in the recruitment notice.

5. Essential competencies

The employer identifies several important personal and professional skills:

• Organisation: Keeping calendars, meetings and documents properly arranged.
• Communication: Writing professional correspondence and communicating clearly by telephone and email.
• Typing speed: Meeting the stated typing requirement of 35 words per minute.
• Confidentiality: Protecting sensitive information and limiting access to authorised people.
• Financial terminology: Understanding common financial terms used in reports and administrative documents.
• Problem-solving: Addressing scheduling conflicts and identifying errors before documents are submitted.
• Multitasking: Managing several responsibilities without overlooking deadlines.
• Integrity: Handling information honestly and responsibly.

Candidates should support these skills with examples from their employment history rather than simply listing them.

Is This Job Right for You?

This position may suit an experienced Personal Assistant who enjoys supporting senior leadership and working in a structured administrative environment. It is particularly relevant to someone who has worked with executive diaries, committee meetings, confidential correspondence and formal reporting.

Applicants who have previously supported finance managers, directors or other senior executives may find it easier to explain how their experience relates to the advertised responsibilities.

However, candidates should consider the practical demands of the role. Supporting a CFO may involve last-minute diary changes, multiple competing deadlines and documents that require careful checking. Mistakes in meeting records or financial paperwork can create unnecessary delays, so the position requires consistent attention to detail.

The role may be less suitable for someone seeking a purely general receptionist position or a job with little responsibility for documentation and confidential information. It is also important to recognise that the employer requires three years of relevant Personal Assistant experience and a specific level of computer literacy certification.

Location is another consideration. The successful candidate would be based at the head office in Johannesburg. Applicants living elsewhere should assess transport, relocation and accommodation costs before accepting an offer.

Finally, candidates should understand that submitting an application does not guarantee an interview. The CGE states that correspondence will be limited to shortlisted candidates and reserves the right not to fill the position.

Salary and Career Growth

The advertised salary package is R413,000.01 per annum, at salary level 8.

Dividing the stated annual amount by 12 gives an indicative monthly equivalent of approximately R34,416.67 before deductions, assuming the package is distributed evenly over 12 months. This is a calculation, not confirmation of the monthly payroll arrangement.

The advertisement does not explain whether the package includes particular benefits or how much an employee would receive after tax, pension contributions or other deductions. Applicants should request clarification about the remuneration structure before making financial decisions.

General salary guidance

In South Africa, remuneration for Personal Assistants can vary according to the employer, the seniority of the executive supported, the complexity of the work, the applicant’s experience and the benefits offered. Public-sector and constitutional-institution remuneration structures may also differ from private-sector packages.

These are general observations, not a guarantee about this specific position.

Career progression may include moving into senior executive assistance, office management, executive coordination or administration management. With additional relevant training and experience, some professionals may pursue broader operational or management responsibilities.

Candidates should assess the position based on the stated remuneration, location, responsibilities and potential professional development rather than assuming that future salary increases or promotions are guaranteed.

How to Tailor Your CV and Cover Letter

A CV for this position should demonstrate that you can support a senior executive reliably. A long list of general duties is less useful than clear examples showing what you handled and how you organised your work.

Use the following tips when preparing your application.

1. Make your relevant experience easy to identify

Place your Personal Assistant experience prominently in your employment history. Include job titles, employer names, employment dates and responsibilities that relate directly to executive support.

2. Highlight executive diary management

If you have managed appointments, coordinated travel or handled scheduling conflicts, explain these responsibilities clearly. Mention the type of calendar or booking systems you used if relevant.

3. Demonstrate meeting administration skills

Describe your experience preparing agendas, arranging venues, recording minutes and maintaining action lists. Only claim experience with committee meetings if you have actually performed that work.

4. Show your document-management ability

Explain how you prepare reports, organise correspondence, maintain filing systems or check documents for accuracy. If you have handled financial records, describe your responsibilities honestly without claiming financial approval authority you did not have.

5. List qualifications and computer certificates

Include your administration qualification and intermediate or advanced computer literacy certificate. State the qualification name and institution accurately, and attach the requested certified copies.

6. Demonstrate confidentiality and professionalism

Give an appropriate example of how you handled sensitive information, protected records or communicated professionally with senior staff. Do not disclose confidential information from a previous employer in your application.

7. Use a focused CV summary

You could adapt the following example if it accurately reflects your background:

Example CV summary:
“Experienced Personal Assistant with a background in executive administration, diary management, meeting coordination and professional correspondence. Skilled in organising documentation, prioritising competing tasks and handling confidential information with discretion.”

Do not use this wording unchanged if it exaggerates your experience. Adjust it to reflect your actual skills and employment history.

Example cover letter opening:

“Dear Recruitment Team,

I am applying for the Personal Assistant to the Chief Financial Officer position, reference PA CFO/H/Q09/2026, based at the CGE head office in Johannesburg. My background in administrative support and my experience in [relevant responsibilities] have prepared me to contribute to executive scheduling, meeting coordination and accurate document management.”

Complete the bracketed section with truthful details from your experience and use the correct recipient information if it is available.

Interview Preparation: Five Questions to Practise

Shortlisted applicants should prepare examples that demonstrate their organisation, judgement and ability to support a senior executive. The following are possible practice questions, not confirmed questions from the employer.

1. How do you manage competing appointments and deadlines?

Explain how you identify urgent tasks, check the executive’s priorities and communicate scheduling conflicts. Give a real example of how you reorganised a diary or managed overlapping deadlines without losing track of important commitments.

2. How would you handle confidential financial information?

Describe the steps you take to protect sensitive documents, use authorised communication channels and avoid sharing information with people who do not need access. Explain why discretion and integrity are particularly important when supporting a CFO.

3. What is your experience preparing meeting agendas and minutes?

Discuss the process you follow before, during and after a meeting. Mention how you confirm the agenda, record decisions accurately, organise supporting documents and track action items where required.

4. How do you ensure that documents are accurate before submitting them?

Explain how you check names, dates, figures, formatting and supporting information. If you identify a discrepancy, describe how you verify it with the appropriate person instead of making unsupported assumptions.

5. Why are you suitable for this Personal Assistant position?

Connect your qualifications, three or more years of relevant experience and computer literacy to the advertised responsibilities. Use two or three specific examples from your work history to show how you communicate professionally, organise executive activities and manage confidential records.

Practise your answers aloud and keep them focused. Where possible, use real examples that explain the situation, your actions and the outcome. Avoid claiming experience you cannot substantiate.

How to Apply for the CGE Personal Assistant Job

Applications must be submitted by email using the address provided in the advertisement.

Follow these steps to prepare your application.

1. Check the requirements. Confirm that you hold a diploma or degree in administration or an equivalent qualification, have at least three years of relevant Personal Assistant experience, possess the required computer literacy certificate and meet the citizenship requirement.
2. Prepare a comprehensive CV. Include your contact details, qualifications, employment history, relevant skills and the telephone numbers and email addresses of three contactable referees.
3. Write a motivational letter. Explain why you are applying and how your experience relates to executive administration, meeting coordination and document management.
4. Prepare certified supporting documents. The advertisement requests certified copies of your South African ID, driver’s licence and qualifications. Ensure the copies are legible and meet any applicable certification requirements.
5. Check foreign qualifications, if applicable. Applicants with foreign qualifications must submit a SAQA evaluation report.
6. Email the complete application. Send the documents to recruitment@cge.org.za. Use a clear subject line, such as “Application: PA to CFO – PA CFO/H/Q09/2026”.
7. Review everything before sending. Check that all attachments open correctly, your contact information is accurate and your referees have been informed that they may be contacted.

Closing date: 9 November 2026.

The advertisement does not specify a required email subject format or attachment size. If you need clarification, contact the designated HR representative using the enquiry number below. The listed telephone number is for enquiries, not application submission.

Enquiries only: Ndivhudzannyi Masidwali, HR Generalist, on 069 007 0955.

Scam and Application Safety Warning

Job seekers should be cautious of messages that request payment for application processing, shortlisting, interviews or guaranteed employment. Do not pay anyone to apply for this position. The supplied advertisement directs applicants to submit documents by email and identifies a separate telephone number for enquiries.

Before sending identity documents or qualifications, verify that the recruitment notice and email address are associated with the employer’s official recruitment process. Be cautious of unofficial email addresses, pressure to pay fees and requests for banking passwords, PINs or one-time passwords.

Keep copies of the documents you submit and avoid sending sensitive information to unverified individuals. If a message claiming to represent the CGE appears suspicious, verify it through an independently confirmed official channel.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the salary for the PA to the CFO position?

The advertisement lists a salary package of R413,000.01 per annum at salary level 8. This works out to approximately R34,416.67 per month when divided by 12, before any deductions. The advert does not provide a confirmed take-home amount or a breakdown of benefits.

2. Do I need previous Personal Assistant experience?

Yes. The minimum requirement is three years of relevant work experience as a Personal Assistant. Your CV should clearly show your employment dates and responsibilities so that the recruitment team can assess your experience. The advertisement does not state that general administrative experience can replace this requirement.

3. How do I submit my application?

Email your comprehensive CV, motivational letter, certified ID, driver’s licence and qualification copies, together with the contact details of three referees, to recruitment@cge.org.za. Applicants with foreign qualifications must also provide a SAQA evaluation report. Ensure that your application is complete before sending it.

4. Is the position permanent or a contract?

The advertisement does not specify whether the appointment is permanent, fixed-term or another employment arrangement. Candidates should not assume the position is permanent based on the advertised salary or salary level. If the employment type is important to your decision, request clarification from the employer before accepting an offer.

5. When is the closing date, and will every applicant receive feedback?

The closing date is 9 November 2026. The advertisement states that correspondence will be limited to shortlisted candidates, meaning applicants who are not shortlisted may not receive individual feedback. It also states that the CGE reserves the right not to fill the position. Submit your application before the deadline and retain a copy for your records.

Disclaimer

Mojamzansi is not the employer or a recruitment agency. Always verify details with the employer on their official channel.