Head: Financial Planning & Regulation at Transnet

Position Purpose

• To provide strategic leadership and integrated financial stewardship for TRIM's Financial Planning and Regulation function, ensuring that budgeting, investment planning, regulatory pricing, revenue assurance and long-range financial modelling are coordinated to support a financially sustainable, open-access rail infrastructure manager. The role provides CFO-level support through evidence-based financial analysis, capital allocation advice, tariff and regulatory submissions, scenario modelling and performance insights across four critical sub functions:
• Management Accounting and Budgeting – Driving the annual budget process, management reporting, forecasting, costing, and working capital management
• Investment Management – Overseeing the capital Investment programme, asset valuation, and governance associated with asset purchases.
• Regulatory Tariffs and Revenue Assurance – Leading tariff applications, regulatory compliance, revenue assurance, access pricing, customer affordability analysis and economic regulation.
• Financial Modelling and Strategic Scenario Analysis – Developing and maintaining integrated financial models, corridor-level scenario analysis, tariff elasticity modelling, investment appraisal, funding cases and long-term sustainability analytics.
• The role ensures that TRIM's financial planning, capital allocation, tariff strategy, revenue integrity and financial modelling frameworks are aligned with the National Rail Policy, PFMA requirements, applicable regulatory frameworks and the strategic objective of establishing a financially sustainable, access-neutral and investment-ready rail infrastructure manager.

Position Outputs

• Strategic Financial Planning and Management Accounting  Lead the consolidation of TRIM's annual budget, incorporating revenue, operating expenditure (OPEX), capital investment (CAPEX), and capital operating expenditure (COPEX) within agreed deadlines.  Oversee the preparation of accurate monthly management accounts, forecasts, and long-term financial projections (10-year plans) to inform TRIM Exco and Group Exco decision-making.  Drive product and service costing to inform commercial decisions, pricing strategies, and Private Sector Participation (PSP) business cases.  Determine reasonable expenditure targets based on Group guidelines, evaluate motivations for additional funding, and review the accuracy of monthly phasing against budget targets.  Establish and monitor TRIM's working capital policy and prepare weekly cash flow forecasts to inform funding requirements from Transnet Group and development finance institutions (DBSA, AfDB).Assess financial performance and recommend corrective actions (e.g., cost saving initiatives, revenue enhancement strategies) to ensure financial targets are achieved. 
• Investment Management  Oversee the consolidation of the annual capital programme budget, ensuring alignment with TRIM's infrastructure renewal and expansion priorities.  Lead the financial evaluation of business cases for capital investment projects (rail network, support services), ensuring adherence to IFRS, IAS 16, and IFRIC 12 requirements.  Manage the strategic financial processes for capital projects, including cash flow forecasting, budgetary adherence, and evaluation of cost reviews.  Ensure compliance with PFMA and Delegation of Authority (DoA) for all capital expenditure, contracts, and asset transactions.  Serve as the primary finance liaison with internal and external auditors on all matters pertaining to the capital programme.
• Regulatory Tariffs and Revenue Assurance  Oversee the tariff application process, including strategic financial modelling, scenario analysis, and engagement with Transport Economic Regulator (TER) / IRERC.  Lead the development and maintenance of regulatory mechanisms and frameworks, including tariff methodology, pricing strategy, and regulatory accounts.  Drive the revenue assurance agenda to eliminate revenue leakage, minimise revenue exposure, and ensure end-to-end revenue integrity across all TRIM income streams.  Manage TRIM's participation in public consultation processes regarding regulations, rules, guidelines, and directives for rail infrastructure regulation.  Provide expert advice and present results of regulatory and economic studies to TRIM Exco and the Regulator.
• Financial Modelling and Strategic Scenario Analysis  Lead the development, maintenance and governance of TRIM's integrated financial models, including corridor-level models, long-term financial forecasts, tariff scenarios, capital prioritisation models and sustainability projections.  Provide scenario analysis, sensitivity testing, NPV/DCF evaluation, affordability assessment and funding requirement analysis to support tariff applications, BFI submissions, PSP/concession decisions and executive investment choices.  Establish modelling standards, version control, assumption governance and audit trails to ensure models are robust, transparent, reproducible and defensible for CFO, Exco, Board, National Treasury, Regulator and AGSA purposes.  Translate complex financial modelling outputs into clear executive insights, decision papers, regulatory evidence, corridor prioritisation recommendations and long-term financial sustainability options.
• Governance, Compliance, and Audit  Ensure full compliance with IFRS, PFMA, Companies Act, and King IV Code across all financial planning, capital investment management, and regulatory activities.  Establish and maintain robust internal controls over budgeting, capital allocation, revenue integrity, and regulatory reporting.  Manage the external audit process (AGSA) for the Financial Planning and Regulation function, ensuring audit deadlines are met with minimal adjustments.  Lead the development and implementation of financial systems and process improvements to enhance reporting, data analytics, and operational efficiency.
• Leadership and People Management  Design and lead the Financial Planning and Regulation departmental structure, with four senior management sub-functions: Management Accounting and Budgeting, Investment Management, Regulatory Tariffs and Revenue Assurance, and Financial Modelling.  Lead, mentor, and develop staff to meet the objectives of their roles’, ensuring performance is evaluated, training targets are met, and succession planning is in place.  Drive a culture of high performance, integrity, and continuous improvement within the department, aligning TRIM's values and strategic objectives.

Qualifications and Experience

•  Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Financial Management, or Economics with CA(SA), CIMA (ACMA, CGMA), or CFA qualification being strongly preferred.  10–12 years’ relevant experience in senior finance, FP&A, management accounting, infrastructure finance, regulatory finance, investment appraisal, tariff/pricing or financial modelling, including at least 5 years at senior management level.  Proven experience in financial modelling, scenario analysis, DCF/NPV/IRR evaluation, tariff/pricing models, capital prioritisation, revenue assurance and executive decision-support reporting.  Experience in rail, transport infrastructure, utilities, energy, ports, regulated industries, public entities or other capital-intensive environments is advantageous.  Advanced Excel and financial modelling capability essential; ERP, BI or data analytics experience advantageous. Standard Job Requirements  Driver’s license code 08  Travel as required and approved