Senior Finance Manager (CA(SA))
Johannesburg, South Africa
Our client is a fast-growing business operating across payroll services, compliance, workforce administration, project funding, and outsourced business support solutions. They are looking for an ambitious and commercially minded Senior Finance Manager (CA(SA)) to join their leadership team and work directly with the CEO and COO.
This is not a traditional corporate finance role. It is a highly operational and client-facing position focused on building, scaling, and optimising finance-related service offerings, strengthening controls, and supporting business growth in a complex operating environment.
If you enjoy solving complex problems, creating structure from ambiguity, and driving business performance, this could be the ideal next step in your career.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Leadership & Reporting
- Lead the finance function, including budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and management reporting.
- Partner with executive leadership to provide commercial insights and support strategic decision-making.
- Monitor financial performance, profitability, and key operational metrics.
- Support pricing, financial modelling, and business planning initiatives.
Operational Finance & Controls
- Drive financial controls, reconciliations, reporting accuracy, and operational efficiencies.
- Improve systems, processes, workflows, and governance frameworks.
- Identify financial risks and implement appropriate controls and mitigation measures.
- Support operational teams in achieving financial and commercial objectives.
Payroll & Compliance Oversight
- Oversee client payroll operations and ensure compliance with relevant South African employer legislation.
- Review reconciliations, statutory submissions, and payroll-related controls.
- Act as an escalation point for payroll risks, exceptions, and compliance matters.
Data & Reconciliation Management
- Lead the reconciliation and validation of large operational and financial datasets across multiple sources.
- Investigate discrepancies, data integrity issues, and reporting variances.
- Develop reliable reporting structures and improve data quality to support operational and financial decision-making.
Funding Solutions
- Oversee project finance and client funding activities, including financial due diligence, risk assessment, portfolio monitoring, and recoveries.
- Evaluate funding opportunities and support commercial decision-making.
- Manage financial exposure and ensure appropriate controls are maintained.
Working Capital & Cash Flow Management
- Manage client billing, collections, cash flow planning, accounts payable, and financial governance.
- Support working capital optimisation and improve cash conversion performance.
- Maintain financial discipline across projects and client-related activities.
Governance, Audit & Compliance
- Strengthen internal controls, audit readiness, and regulatory compliance.
- Manage relationships with auditors, banks, SARS, and other external stakeholders.
- Support annual financial statements, tax compliance, and statutory reporting requirements.
Leadership & Team Development
- Support, guide, and enable finance, payroll, and operational teams to perform at the highest level.
- Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
- Assist in building scalable finance processes and capabilities as the business grows.
RequirementsEssential
- CA(SA) qualification.
- 3–8 years post-articles experience.
- Strong knowledge of South African payroll and employer compliance legislation.
- Advanced Excel and financial modelling skills.
- Strong analytical, reconciliation, and problem-solving abilities.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Hands-on, detail-oriented, and highly organised.
Advantageous
- Experience within an SME, entrepreneurial, payroll, BPO, or compliance-driven environment.
- Exposure to project finance, credit assessment, or financial due diligence.
- Experience working with large, complex, or inconsistent datasets.
What's on Offer?
- Direct exposure to and partnership with executive leadership.
- Significant influence over systems, processes, and service offerings.
- Opportunity to build and scale key business functions.
- A dynamic, fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
- Long-term career growth within a rapidly expanding organisation.
If you are a driven CA(SA) looking for a role where you can make a meaningful impact and grow alongside a scaling business, we would love to hear from you.
Work Location: In person
