Financial Manager (Woodstock – Hybrid) at Datafin Recruitment

ENVIRONMENT:

• A dynamic EdTech company is seeking a Financial Manager to join its Finance and Operations team, reporting directly to the Finance and Operations Director based at the Woodstock office.
• The Financial Manager will be responsible for providing financial support and strategic guidance to management, enabling cost-effective operational management across business units while ensuring alignment with the company’s overall strategy, budgets, and plans. Candidates must hold a Financial Degree (CA or equivalent) and have a minimum of four years’ finance-related experience across multiple industries.

DUTIES:

Group Reporting:

• Prepare and manage consolidated monthly and quarterly financial reports.
• Ensure compliance with relevant accounting standards (e.g., IFRS and IFRS fro SMEs).
• Collaborate with internal teams to gather accurate inputs for group reports.

Audit Preparation and Liaison:

• Serve as the primary contact for external auditors during year-end.
• Prepare and submit audit files, working papers, and supporting documentation.
• Address audit queries and coordinate access to relevant information or team members.

Year-End Financial Close:

• Lead the financial year-end close process, ensuring deadlines are met.
• Compile the annual financial statements and assist with internal review processes.
• Coordinate closely with the finance team to ensure all reconciliations and journals are up to date.

Financial Management:

• Oversee full financial function including daily processing.
• Review creditor payments for accuracy and submit for release via the online banking portal.
• Monitor the Debtors Book and assess for compliance with IFRS 9.
• Provide financial insights and analysis to senior management.
• Conduct variance analysis against budget and forecast.
• Collaborate with departments to track and report on topline performance.
• Lead the annual company budget preparation in collaboration with the FD, while providing support and guidance to other departments throughout the budgeting process.Support the FD in governance and financial oversight of M&A transactions and other strategic initiatives, ensuring alignment with internal control frameworks, due diligence standards, and compliance requirements.

Internal Financial Controls:

• Identify control gaps and assist in maintaining financial policies and procedures.
• Support the Financial Director in monitoring and mitigating financial risk.
• Ensure compliance with governance and internal control standards.

Project and Transition Management:

• Manage short-term year-end close as a project, including task delegation and timeline monitoring.
• Ensure seamless handover of responsibilities within the finance team during the year-end period.

Role Outputs

• To oversee financial aspects of the company and ensure the flow of accurate financial data to the company stakeholders to support management decisions.
• Accurate and relevant preparation, interpretation and presentation of financial statements, as well as financial reports for functional areas and management to support decision making and business unit management.
• Reliable group financial reporting and consolidation.
• Identify and share best practices and benchmarks across the business to improve business performance.

REQUIREMENTS:

Minimum Qualifying Criteria

• Financial Degree (CA) or equivalent, at a minimum
• Minimum of 4 years’ finance related experience in multiple related industries.
• Successful and proven track record in a similar or related role.
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in management or supervision role

Required Skills

• Demonstrate financial expertise and strong business acumen within business operations to delivery against strategy and budgets.
• Build report and partner with business unit managers to monitor and improve financial performance.
• Committed to adherence to governance and compliance standards.
• High attention to detail and ability to manage large volumes of financial data
• Passionate about business improvement and benchmarking against industry standards. 
• Proficient in Excel and finance systems; Pastel knowledge