Senior Finance Manager at Santam Insurance

Job Description

• As the Head of Finance – Outsourced Business, you will provide strategic leadership across finance, risk, and operational processes. You will play a critical role in ensuring high quality financial outputs that enhance business understanding, strengthen governance, and support strategic decision making.
• You will partner closely with Santam Broker Solutions leadership and Santam Group Finance to deliver accurate reporting, robust controls, and forward-looking financial insights.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Reporting & Analysis

• Lead monthly financial management reporting.
• Ensure reporting adheres to Santam Group, IFRS, and regulatory requirements.
• Develop effective reporting processes across business units.
• Deliver variance analysis, revenue and expense insights, and financial dashboards.
• Support financial reporting changes driven by business transformation.

Planning, Budgeting & Forecasting

• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, scenario planning, and strategic financial modelling.
• Provide forward looking insights that support business strategy.
• Lead the annual budgeting cycle and monthly forecasting processes.

Executive & Operational Reporting

• Prepare business review packs and executive reporting for SBS and Group Exco.
• Report on financial performance, including growth, underwriting results, and expense trends.
• Manage statistical data, broker reporting, and business unit expense allocations.

Strategic & Operational Finance Leadership

• Drive key financial projects such as VAT changes, budget optimisation, and process improvements.
• Oversee data management, expense approvals, fee invoicing, and supplier cost governance.
• Review ledger reconciliations and liaise with internal and external auditors.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high performing finance team.

Qualifications and Experience

• CA or CIMA qualification
• Minimum 7 years of experience in a financial department
• Minimum 5 years of experience in financial analysis/ management reporting
• Experience in setting up financial reporting processes
• Experience in data validation, accuracy and completeness reporting is strongly recommended
• Insurance industry experience is strongly recommended

Skills and Knowledge

• Strong excel skills required
• Excellent analytical skills and logical reasoning required
• Insurance knowledge strongly recommended
• Good reporting and communication skills required
• Strong relationship management skills required
• Ability to work under pressure
• General financial & risk management knowledge
• Relevant experience in terms of managing relationships with business partners
• Leadership or Managerial experience
• Portfolio Administration
• Knowledge and experience of strategy formulation and implementation

Competencies

• Strong resilience and a positive attitude are required
• Self-confidence & assertiveness
• Leading and deciding
• Planning and organising
• Analysing and interpreting
• Creating and conceptualizing
• Applying expertise and technology
• Pro-active and achievement orientation
• Adherence to principles and values
• Work well in diverse and changing environment
• Delivering results and managing customer expectations
• Commercial orientation
• Client focus
• Enabling innovation
• Change leadership
• Continuous learning
• Emotional intelligence
• Integrity
• Team-focused leadership
• Talent enablement
• Driving strategy