With over 6 000 working days at Stellenbosch University (SU) under his belt, a day in the life of Japie Kotze still starts pretty much the same: by having a cup of espresso and attending to urgent emails. But don't be fooled by the simplicity. As director of Remuneration and Benefits in the Human Resources (HR) Division, Japie's job managing staff's financial affairs is everything but straightforward.

As we kicked off May commemorating Workers' Day, we dedicate this series of articles to our staff and their important contribution to the University. Read on for more about Japie's work.

What does your role at SU entail?

I am responsible for the Remuneration, Benefits and Administration portfolio in HR. A large part of my work and responsibility is to manage the University's retirement fund (SURF), for which I am the principal officer. The fund's value currently stands at more than R5 billion. For most SU employees, SURF is their only source of income in retirement. Over the past few years, the legislative requirements have grown exponentially. Where I grew up, I saw so many people who could not retire with dignity and were dependent on government grants or financial support from family members. I do not want that for any SU employee.

What does a typical day at work look like?

I always start the day with an espresso or two, and then handle emails that require immediate attention. I try to block out portions of my day to attend to requests and meet project deadlines. A lot of time is also spent on planning and quite a number of meetings. I believe communication is crucial, and so is a good, well-structured work schedule. The work is cyclical, so it normally picks up towards the end of each year with the rebooking of benefits, SURF board meetings and staff retirements, most of which usually happen in December.

How did your education or past experience prepare you for this job?

I studied BComHons at SU, and then worked in the private sector for a few years. I later accepted a job offer at SU, initially in Finance, after which I moved to HR. Much of the work is finance-related, such as remuneration benchmarking as well as benefits and administration. Even my training in investment management, which was part of my honours studies, is very useful in my role as SURF principal officer.

What do you enjoy most about your role and working at SU?

The fact that I can assist employees and their dependants with life-changing benefits, and the gratification of presenting post-retirement benefits to a retiring employee. In the past two years of the Covid-19 pandemic, the team remained standing as we struggled to respond to the dramatic increase in death claims. It was a tough time with a lot of pressure. I can only say thanks to my colleagues, who really tried their best, and to management for their support when we simply could not meet deadlines. I am working with a great HR team I can really count on.

Tell us something interesting about yourself that few people would expect?

I studied at the best university in South Africa. I'm a proud Matie and stayed in Helshoogte residence. I also like to travel, especially in Europe, and I was very fortunate to do a lot of travelling before the birth of my child. And I was a keen long-distance athlete, and still, believe in regular exercise. I now like to cycle, especially mountain biking, as we are fortunate to have great cycle routes in the Western Cape.

Photographer: Stefan Els