Chief Financial Officer (Designate) at Sanlam Group

Overview

• Finance function is a control and reporting function that is responsible for managing all the company’s financial processes and its resources including financial control and reporting, management accounting and financial performance, financial planning (budget and projections) and product control and performance. It is a key enabler as it is responsible for generating financial information to support decision making and translating business strategy into financial plans and budgets. It is basically responsible for the overall financial welfare and affairs of the company.
• We are therefore looking for a CFO Designate who will understudy and eventually take over from the current CFO that is retiring soon. The incumbent will lead and have the full oversight of overall finance activities aligned to the strategic agenda of the broader SFM business including SPM and SSS businesses.
• The incumbent will report to the SFM CEO and work closely with internal and external stakeholders in ensuring delivery of quality and reliable financial and management information.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Strategy

• Partake on development and execution of the business strategy and thereafter develop financial strategic initiatives in support of such business strategy and plans
• Drive operational efficiencies across the business through the enhancement of the control environment
• Oversee effective execution of an annual and 4-year forward-looking strategic budget.

Oversight of financial control and reporting

• Ensure appropriate financial reporting systems, accounting systems and internal control mechanisms are in place to enable effective financial management of the business in line with statutory, regulatory, IFRS and internal stakeholders’ requirements
• Oversee the valuation of assets (covered and non-covered businesses) and accounting treatment thereof
• Manage annual financial statements approval, audit process and tax administration

Financial Planning and Analysis

• Oversee analysis and monitoring of business plans against budget with focus to revenue, operating costs, capex, regulatory capital and economic capital
• Ensure effective financial planning including monthly variance analysis with insights for the outlook

Key Responsibilities Continues

Financial Performance and Reporting

• Responsible for the measurements and reporting on the business financial performance or KPIs against set targets to respective governance forums and executives.
• Oversee product control (middle office) process ensuring effective delivery of complete and accurate regular Profit and Loss (PnL) results.

Other key responsibilities

• People management and development
• Drive desired culture within Finance and in the business
• Develop and maintain effective control and management information framework in line with Group policies and guidelines

Academic Qualifications and Experience

• CA(SA) or equivalent with good knowledge of IFRS and financial instruments.
• Good working knowledge of the valuation and measurement techniques of financial instruments
• Working exposure to product control (middle office), business and financial performance reporting, financial planning and capital reporting
• A minimum of 8 years finance experience (in investment banking finance will be an advantage)
• Ability to manage stakeholders’ expectation and requirements at all levels
• Life assurance and asset management experience would be beneficial

Key Competencies

• Strategic thinker, excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail
• Effective interpersonal, presentation and communication skills with excellent storytelling and influencer or persuasive
• Ability to build relationships across multiple teams and stakeholders
• Ability to manage deadlines in a high-pressure environment with changing priorities
• Ability to work in a team environment and to foster knowledge-sharing
• Proactive, self-motivated and goal oriented
• Ability to identify, optimise and nurture talent

Personal Attributes

• Interpersonal Savvy - Contributing through others 
• Decision Quality - Contributing through others 
• Plans and Aligns - Contributing through others 
• Optimising Work Processes - Contributing through others 
• Communicates effectively - Contributing through others