Head of Finance / Financial Director (CT)

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

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Oversee accounts payable processes.
• Review supplier reconciliations.
• Monitor supplier ageing.
• Ensure appropriate payment controls and approvals.
• Ensure suppliers are paid within agreed payment terms.

• Oversee employee payroll and independent contractor payroll.
• Ensure payroll compliance and accuracy.
• Manage payroll-related reconciliations and provisions.

• Manage VAT, PAYE, and Income Tax compliance.
• Oversee SARS engagements and audits.
• Ensure timely submission of all statutory returns.

• 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.

• Lead annual budgeting processes.
• Monitor budget performance and variances.
• Support strategic planning and forecasting activities.

• Lead and develop the finance team.
• Drive performance management and succession planning.
• Mentor and coach finance staff.

Minimum Qualifications

• Chartered Accountant CA(SA)

• Additional commercial or management qualifications
• Tax, treasury payroll exposure

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Experience

• 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

• 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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• 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