Financial Operations Manager at Oxford University Press Southern Africa

Principal Accountabilities:

Lead the preparation of internal and external financial reports and statements

• Oversee and timely execution of month-end and year-end closing processes in alignment with group policies and procedures.
• Coordinate and deliver all statutory and regulatory reporting requirements across markets.
• Maintain high standards of quality control over financial transactions, reporting outputs, and the underlying processes that support them.
• Ensure the accuracy and integrity of all finalised and submitted financial reports.
• Provide oversight of accounting activities across all relevant departments to ensure consistency and compliance.
• Utilise key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor and enhance operational efficiency, accuracy, and regulatory compliance.

Drive the standardization and continuous improvement of financial operations processes and procedures by: 

• Reviewing, updating, and documenting current process maps to ensure clarity and consistency.
• Conducting ongoing evaluations of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to align with evolving business needs.
• Leveraging technology and automation to streamline routine tasks and enhance operational efficiency.
• Monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs) and delivering regular insights and recommendations to the Finance Director.
• Leading regular reviews of financial operations to identify improvement opportunities and ensure best practices are maintained.
• Control environment; Identification and flagging of financial, operational and compliance business risks for implementation of appropriate applicable controls

Financial Statement Preparation & Review:

• Prepare and review all financial statements for submission, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
• Ensure all submissions comply with applicable financial reporting frameworks for each territory and are delivered within required timelines.

Regulatory Compliance:

• Ensure full compliance with financial regulations across all jurisdictions in which the company operates.
• Coordinate and manage the timely delivery of annual external audits across territories.
• Lead internal audit processes, ensuring satisfactory or higher audit outcomes.

Internal Controls Management:

• Strengthen and maintain the internal control framework to address operational risks and ensure the integrity of the accounting function within Africa Finance.
• Ensure Delegation of Limits of Authority (DLA) is current and consistently implemented across all territories.
• Align and update business policies and procedures in accordance with the DLA.
• Ensure the Chart of Accounts is accurately maintained and updated in a timely manner.

Team Leadership & Development:

• Set clear roles, responsibilities, and performance goals aligned with organisational objectives.
• Invest in team development through training, cross-functional learning, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Foster a culture of accountability by assigning clear deliverables, adhering to performance review processes, and promoting ownership.

Requirements

Qualifications and Experience

• CA (SA), ACCA, CIMA qualified
• Minimum of 5 years managerial experience in financial operations or shared services
• Global finance experience will be advantageous
• Proven ability to design, implement, and improve standardized processes across multiple business units or regions.
• Proficiency in SAP (or similar) and workflow automation tools.
• Skilled in managing relationships with internal customers, vendors, and external partners.
• Experience in defining and managing SLAs, KPIs, and performance metrics for finance operations.