Position Summary
The Client is seeking an experienced, commercially minded and hands-on Head of Finance / Financial Director to lead the entire finance function.
This is a broad senior finance leadership role that combines the responsibilities of a Financial Controller and Financial Director. The successful candidate will be responsible for both operational finance and financial accounting functions across the group.
The role requires a strong technical finance professional who is equally comfortable managing month-end and year-end reporting, budgets, audits, debtors, creditors, treasury, payroll, taxation, operating profit and cash flow forecasting, internal controls, and finance team leadership.
This position is ideally suited to a candidate who enjoys being involved in both strategic and operational finance activities, and who will play a close role in supporting the Managing Director with strategic financial analysis and advice.
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Key Responsibilities
Financial Reporting Control
- Lead month-end and year-end close processes.
- Prepare and review monthly management accounts, including providing accompanying analysis of financial results.
- Maintain integrity of the general ledger.
- Oversee balance sheet reconciliations.
- Manage fixed asset accounting and finance lease accounting.
- Manage intercompany accounting across group entities.
- Present financial information to management and the Board.
Debtors Revenue Management
- Oversee the complete revenue cycle.
- Ensure accurate and timely invoicing.
- Manage debtor ageing and collections.
- Manage credit risk.
- Monitor revenue completeness and revenue leakage risks.
- Ensure strong relationships with key customers including hotels and destination management companies.
Treasury Cash Flow Management
- Manage group cash flow and liquidity.
- Prepare rolling cash flow forecasts.
- Manage banking relationships and facilities.
- Authorise payments and treasury transactions.
- Manage surplus cash and investment accounts to maximise interest earned.
Creditors Management
- Oversee accounts payable processes.
- Review supplier reconciliations.
- Monitor supplier ageing.
- Ensure appropriate payment controls and approvals.
- Ensure suppliers are paid within agreed payment terms.
Payroll Human Capital Finance
- Oversee employee payroll and independent contractor payroll.
- Ensure payroll compliance and accuracy.
- Manage payroll-related reconciliations and provisions.
Tax Compliance
- Manage VAT, PAYE, and Income Tax compliance.
- Oversee SARS engagements and audits.
- Ensure timely submission of all statutory returns.
Audit Governance
- Lead annual external audits prepare audit files for external auditors.
- Maintain strong internal controls.
- Implement governance and risk management frameworks.
- Ensure audit readiness throughout the year.
Budgeting Planning
- Lead annual budgeting processes.
- Monitor budget performance and variances.
- Support strategic planning and forecasting activities.
Team Leadership
- Lead and develop the finance team.
- Drive performance management and succession planning.
- Mentor and coach finance staff.
Minimum Qualifications
Essential
- Chartered Accountant CA(SA)
Advantageous
- Additional commercial or management qualifications
- Tax, treasury payroll exposure
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Experience
Essential
- Minimum 8–10 years of post-articles finance experience
- Experience leading a finance team as a finance director / head of finance
- Strong month-end and year-end reporting experience
- Treasury and cash flow management experience
- Experience managing audits
- Experience managing debtors and collections functions
- Payroll oversight experience
- Tax compliance experience
Highly Desirable
- Multi-company or group structure experience
- Tourism, travel, hospitality, destination management, transport, or services industry experience
- Experience reporting to boards or executive management teams
- Experience in owner-managed businesses
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Technical Skills
- Advanced Sage Evolution experience
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills
- Strong financial modelling and analytical capability
- Financial reporting and management accounting
- Treasury management
- Payroll oversight
- VAT, PAYE and Income Tax compliance
- Intercompany accounting
- Audit management
- Internal controls and governance
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Personal Attributes
The successful candidate should demonstrate:
- Strong leadership capability
- Commercial acumen
- High integrity and professionalism
- Excellent communication skills
- Strong attention to detail
- Ability to operate strategically and operationally
- Strong problem-solving ability
- Hands-on management style
- Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
- Strong stakeholder management skills
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Key Success Measures
Success in the role will be measured by:
- Timely and accurate monthly reporting
- Strong cash flow management
- Effective debtor collections
- Clean audit outcomes
- Strong internal control environment
- Timely tax compliance
- Accurate payroll administration
- High-performing finance team
- Delivery of budgeting and forecasting objectives
