Spartan Background
Explore Spartan’s culture and the impact you’d make in funding SMEs to grow - view our Careers page.
Spartan SME Finance focuses exclusively on established SMEs - we are changing the world one SME at a time and need people who believe that inclusive growth can happen through helping SMEs grow. If you are looking to help us grow SMEs - then you are the right person.
Spartan opened in 1981, and our mission is focused exclusively to help SMEs grow. Spartan does this by providing finance that backs entrepreneurs.
We value people with truthful candid talk, creativity, curiosity, conscientiousness, and an obsession to helping SMEs reach their potential.
Spartan is seeking a dynamic and motivated Senior Financial manager with the right credentials and experience to join and lead our Finance department.
As the Senior Financial Manager, you will work closely with the executive team, gain broad exposure to the business and be accountable for the accounting function for the Spartan Group including some key financial processes in servicing customers. The individual will report directly to the Commercial Director and will work closely with other members of the senior leadership team.
Job Description
The candidate will be expected to, but not limited to:
- Manage the accounting function
o Direct and lead the Finance Department team
o Ensure IFRS compliance
o Responsible for monthly reporting, Annual Financial Statements of several companies and the audit engagement
o Experience with, or possess a sound conceptual understanding of, the principles inherent in a financing business E.g. Expected Credit Loss modelling, impairment, classification
o VAT & income tax returns & SARS queries
o Auditor engagements
o Insurance matters
o Budgets
- Manage the finance operations of the loan book
o Disbursements
o Collections
o Reconciliations
o Stakeholder reporting
- Support ongoing projects:
o Asset & liability management
o Forecasting
o Other projects that interface with finance
o Timeous & accurate delivery
o Alert management to exceptions
o Cash flow management & forecasts
o Compile reports and present to Exco and Board
o Ad hoc projects and tasks
Desired Skills & Experience
- Minimum of 15 years’ experience - for a non-CA(SA) (preferably with exposure to mid-sized companies including reporting to external stakeholders)
- Minimum of 10 years’ experience - for a CA(SA) (preferably with exposure to mid-sized companies including reporting to external stakeholders)
- Leadership experience in a financial role
- Working knowledge of IFRS
- General Microsoft office tools
o Excel - at an advanced level
- Exposure to ERP systems & Xero/Sage/QuickBooks
Disqualifiers
- Not having Core Maths or Higher-Grade Maths in Matric
- Audit only experience - if you are at management level in audit and are looking to move into commerce - we’re not an appropriate first step for you.
- BTech and diploma qualifications - yes, we know that these may be NQF level 7 qualifications, but we’re looking for BCom graduates from recognised universities who have majored in accounting and have studied Taxation.
- Only large corporate / multinational experience - we’re a mid-sized company with an entrepreneurial culture and we realise that it’s not easy to adapt from a large corporate culture.
- Only public sector, SOC or NGO sector experience - we respect contributions made by working in these sectors, but they are far removed from the commercial coalface where Spartan operates.
Required Disposition
- Insatiable curiosity and never satisfied with the status quo
- Flexibility to adapt with business changes
- Analytical mind, organized, precise and meticulous
- Proactive - ability to take initiative, learn quickly and strive for results
- Excellent communication skills (verbal and written)
- Strong team player and motivator
- Analytical Thinking - ability to break down complex problems and propose practical solutions.
Remuneration
- Market-related salary based on experience, with company benefits [medical aid, provident fund, etc]
Application Requirements
Industry
Employment Type
- Full-time, Onsite (No Remote)
