Finance Executive at Guardrisk

Role Purpose    

• To lead and manage the financial function of Zestlife, including strategic financial planning, regulatory reporting, budgeting, and financial control across both life and non-life portfolios. The Finance Executive will play a key strategic role in supporting executive management in decision-making through high-quality financial insights and oversight.

Requirements    
Qualifications

• Chartered Accountant (CA(SA)) or equivalent qualification.

Experience

• Minimum 7 years’ experience in financial leadership roles, preferably within insurance or financial services.
• Strong technical knowledge of IFRS, insurance accounting, and tax regulation.
• Proven track record in strategic financial planning and team leadership.

Duties & Responsibilities    
Responsibilities, work outputs and individual contribution:

Strategic Finance

• Develop and oversee the financial strategy in alignment with Zestlife and Guardrisk’s goals.
• Provide financial insights and support strategic planning, growth initiatives, and product development decisions.

Financial Management & Reporting

• Oversee all financial operations including budgeting, forecasting, financial modelling, and cash flow management.
• Ensure accurate and timely preparation of monthly and quarterly management reports, board packs, and statutory financial statements.

Regulatory and Compliance

• Oversee FSP representative register.
• Ensure full compliance with relevant regulatory bodies including FSCA, SARS, and IFRS standards.
• Liaise with auditors and regulatory authorities and ensure all tax and statutory obligations are met.

Operational Finance

• Maintain and enhance budget models and forecasting tools.
• Oversee rate table management and premium and claim bordereaux functions for life and non-life products and ensure accuracy for renewals and product updates. premium collection functions including group payroll collections, premium debtor reporting and bank account reconciliations and related premium bordereaux payments.
• Oversee claim payment submissions to bank, related bank account verifications, bank account reconciliation and claim recoveries.
• Manage policy cash back payments.
• Processing financial transactions including operating and production expenses and authorise payments and refunds. Manage intercompany loans.
• Oversee management of asset register.

Taxation

• Responsible for VAT and IT calculations and submission.

Governance and Risk

• Ensure compliance with internal controls and external regulations.

Technology and System Management

• Take ownership of the IT platforms – developments, maintenance, close monitoring of production environment,  upgrades and provide detailed IT business requirements for implementation of new processes, process changes and products,

Leadership

• Lead and mentor the finance team.
• Collaborate with Operations, Actuarial, and Distribution teams for effective business partnering.

Competencies    

• Developing strategies: Is focused on developing strategies; thinks in the longer term and anticipates trends; envisages the future and adopts a visionary approach.
• Directing people: Is comfortable leading people; coordinates and directs groups; seeks to control things.
• Making decisions: Is determined and decides on actions; willingly assumes responsibility; is definitive and stands by own decisions.
• Interpreting data: Interprets data rationally by quantifying issues; applies technology as a means to evaluating data; evaluates information objectively.
• Examining information: Analyses and processes information; asks probing questions; strives to find solutions to problems.