Job Description
- We are recruiting on behalf of our client for a skilled and detail-oriented Financial Accountant.
- The successful candidate will play a key role within the business operations team, taking ownership of core finance functions such as accounts receivable and payable, financial systems management, month-end close, client onboarding, and external financial communications. This role is vital in ensuring financial data accuracy, timely reporting, and strong alignment with the company’s strategic business objectives.
Key Responsibilities:
Accounts Receivable Lead
- Oversee timely and accurate client invoicing based on signed cost estimates (CEs) and POs received.
- Match payments received to invoices in Xero.
- Manage credit notes and invoice corrections.
- Reconcile bank receipts from clients weekly.
- Debt collection and ensuring open relationships with clients.
- Build strong relationships and collaborate with Business Unit Directors and clients in a bespoke and complex environment.
Finance Systems Custodian
- Maintain, optimize, and troubleshoot Xero accounting software and Zoho CRM.
- Clean and structure financial data and ensure consistency across systems.
- Create and maintain custom dashboards and reports in Zoho CRM.
- Train and onboard new staff on Zoho CRM processes.
Client Onboarding (Finance Focus)
- Provide clients with accurate vendor onboarding documentation (banking, tax, and company details).
- Ensure EVG and EVG Publishing are onboarded as suppliers on client systems.
Financial Reporting & Compliance
- Allocate invoices and POs accurately in Zoho for reporting and revenue tracking.
- Prepare and send monthly debtor statements to clients.
- Liaise with clients for AP confirmations and reconciliations.
- Support internal and external audit requests.
Month-End Close & Year-end Financial Support
- Prepare the month-end close for the CFO to TB level.
- Ensure accuracy of monthly revenue recognition and retainer reporting.
- Clear bank accounts
- Reconcile revenue-related accounts for month-end reporting.
- Reconcile fixed assets, tax, Intercompany loans, and other accounts.
- Respond to queries from the CFO.
- Liaise with internal teams (External Bookkeeper, Client Services, CGO) to support completeness of financial data.
- Monthly VAT calculations and returns submission.
- Bi-annually assist CFO with Provisional tax estimates and manage the revenue estimates with Business Unit Directors.
Ad Hoc & Strategic Support
- Prepare revenue and debtor analyses for leadership.
- Support due diligence processes across the business with different department heads.
- Respond to ad hoc queries from CFO, CGO, and BUDs (Business Unit Directors).
- Assist in strategic business decisions with financial insights.
- Run internal process to accurately forecast Revenue at February year end for Provisional tax purposes.
Key Relationships;
- Internal: CGO, Client Service Team, Bookkeeper, OCFO, Departmental Heads.
- External: Clients (Finance/AP Teams), Vendors, Financial Service Providers.
Requirements
Experience:
- 3+ years experience in a financial operations or finance lead role
- Experience with cloud-based finance tools (Xero, Zoho, Dext) preferred
- Understanding of financial reporting, tax, and compliance in South Africa
- Experience in the media industry is preferable.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance
- CIMA or SAIPA qualification is preferred.
- Based in Claremont, Cape Town - Hybrid work set up
Skills and Characteristics:
- Strong financial acumen and attention to detail.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management.
- Proficient in Xero and Zoho CRM
- Process-oriented with the ability to handle high volumes.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
- Strong analytical and reporting skills.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced and changing environment.
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Job Description
- Our client, a scale-up SaaS SME, is seeking an Interim Head of Finance to report directly to the CEO and step into a critical leadership role. You will oversee all financial aspects of the business, providing strategic guidance, ensuring stability and compliance, and delivering data-driven insights to support both immediate priorities and long-term growth. You will also play a key role in risk management and contribute to the companyʼs ongoing transformation and innovation efforts.
- This is a full-time temporary position, based in Sandton with a minimum of 3-6 months' commitment with possibility of being considered for permanent placement.
Key Responsibilities:
Leadership and Strategy
- Insight-Driven Leadership
- Utilize data-driven insights to make informed financial decisions and provide actionable recommendations to the CEO and the Board.
- Monitor key financial metrics, identify trends, and proactively address financial challenges and opportunities.
Strategic Financial Planning
- Develop and execute a comprehensive financial strategy aligned with the companyʼs mission and objectives
- Collaborate with the executive team to set financial goals and objectives, ensuring alignment with the company's vision.
Balancing Short-Term and Long-Term Value
- Manage short-term financial requirements while strategically planning for long-term financial sustainability and growth.
- Implement financial strategies that balance immediate needs with long-term value creation.
Risk Management and Compliance
- Set the risk appetite for the business and establish risk management frameworks.
- Monitor and mitigate financial risks, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
Transformation and Innovation
- Lead and mentor the finance team, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Drive transformational change within the finance department and contribute to the company's overall digital transformation journey.
Payments and Financial Operations
- Financial Strategy for Payments
- Develop and implement financial strategies specific to the payments industry.
- Optimize transaction processing costs, manage interchange fees, and explore new revenue streams within the payment ecosystem.
Payment Processing Oversight
- Oversee the financial aspects of payment processing
- Ensure the security and compliance of payment transactions, monitor chargebacks and collaborate with payment processors
Compliance and Regulatory Management
- Stay updated on payment industry regulations and compliance requirements (e.g. PCI DSS)
- Ensure the company's adherence to these standards and manage regulatory fillings and audits related to financial operations
Treasury Management
- Manage the company's liquidity, optimize cash flow, and oversee treasury functions, including cash management, investments and working capital
- Maintain relationships with banks and financial institutions to secure favorable terms for banking services
Financial Reporting and Analysis
- Prepare accurate and timely financial reports, including income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, and financial forecasts.
- Conduct in-depth financial analysis to identify trends, opportunities, and potential risks within the payment business.
Mergers & Acquisitions
- Evaluate potential M&A opportunities within the payments sector.
- Lead financial negotiations and post-acquisition financial management.
Payment Technology Investment
- Assess and recommend investments in payment technologies
- Evaluate the ROI of technology investments and their impact on the company's financial performance within the payments domain.
Cost Management
- Implement cost-control measures and strategies to optimize operational expenses within the payment processing ecosystem.
- Identify opportunities for cost reduction and efficiency improvements in payment processing.
- Investor Relations and Stakeholder Engagement
Capital Planning and Funding
- Develop capital allocation strategies, manage capital budgets, and explore funding options for expansion and growth initiatives in the payments sector.
- Investor Relations
- Engage with investors and financial analysts to communicate the company's financial performance, strategies, and growth prospects.
- Participate in earnings calls and investor presentations.
Board and Stakeholder Engagement
- Present financial reports and strategies to the board of directors.
- Collaborate with other executives to align financial goals with the company's overall mission, including payment-related initiatives.
Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Planning
- Develop and maintain plans to ensure uninterrupted payment processing and financial operations in case of disruptions or disasters, recognizing the critical nature of payment services.
Requirements
- Qualified CA(SA) or equivalent, with strong financial modelling skills and deep E2E finance operations expertise
- Commercially minded with an investorʼs lens, experienced in Fintech and payments across African markets
- Deep understanding of payment infrastructure, including PoS hardware, SaaS platforms, and value-added services
- Proven leader in high-growth or turnaround settings, with strong grasp of pricing models and outsourced services
Experience:
- Proven senior finance leader with 10+ years' leading end-to-end finance functions
- Strong track record in transformation, automation, data, AI, and building future-ready finance teams
- Deep experience in financial controls, restructuring, pricing strategy, and commercial negotiations
- Strategic business partner with board-level influence and strong collaboration with C-suite, sales, product, and commercial teams
- Demonstrated success scaling businesses across African markets; retail and payments experience is a plus
Skills and Characteristics:
- Transformational leader with strong gravitas, strategic vision, and executive team alignment
- Proven people leader with a hands-on approach and ability to build and mentor high-performing finance teams
- Strong ethical foundation, interpersonal skills, and cross-functional influence across diverse teams and regions
- Commercially astute with a deep understanding of pricing, negotiation, and market dynamics
- Future-focused mindset with passion for innovation, automation, and continuous improvement through data and tech
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