CFO or COO

The Legends Agency; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 2 500 000 - 3 000 000; Full time

Job summary

A national leader in engineering and financial services is seeking a CFO or COO in Cape Town, South Africa. The role requires in-depth experience in process optimization and financial leadership, with a strong background in capital-intensive manufacturing. Responsibilities include strategic financial planning, overseeing budgeting, and enhancing financial controls. The ideal candidate should possess a degree in a relevant engineering or business field and over 10 years of expertise in manufacturing or related sectors. This position offers competitive compensation of R2.5M–R3M CTC.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in process engineering within manufacturing.
• Experience in automotive, aerospace, or related industries.
• Degree in Electrical, Electronics, Mechatronics, Chemical Engineering, or Business.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a financial strategy aligned with growth.
• Lead financial performance improvement initiatives.
• Oversee budgeting and long-term financial planning.

Skills

Process Optimization

Financial Leadership

Data Analytics

Lean Manufacturing

International Business Operations

Education

Degree in Engineering or Business

Tools

ERP Systems

Job description

CFO or COO, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

R2,500,000-R3,000,000 CTC

Overview

Required:

Qualifications

• Degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or Chemical Engineering
• Degree in Business, Finance, Management, or similar
• Minimum 10+ years of experience in process engineering within manufacturing, capital-intensive, and export-oriented environments
• Experience in automotive, aerospace, advanced composites, or related engineering industries
• International business operations
• Process Optimization experience

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Financial Leadership
• Develop and execute a financial strategy aligned with long-term growth, innovation, and global expansion.
• Provide commercial and financial insights to guide executive decision-making, capital investment, and operational improvements.
• Support strategic initiatives across manufacturing, engineering development, hybrid technology, and international markets.

Process Optimisation & Manufacturing Excellence

• Lead financial and operational performance improvement initiatives across production and supply chain functions.
• Drive lean manufacturing, cost optimisation, and continuous improvement frameworks (similar to automotive best practices).
• Analyse production efficiencies, yield, waste, inventory turnover, and working capital to improve profitability.
• Partner with engineering and operations teams to streamline processes and improve throughput and quality.

Financial Planning, Reporting & Control

• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and long-term financial planning in a capital-intensive manufacturing environment.
• Deliver accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reporting with clear performance insights.
• Establish strong cost accounting systems, including standard costing, variance analysis, and project costing.
• Implement and maintain robust financial controls and compliance frameworks.

Treasury, Capital & Risk Management

• Manage cash flow, liquidity, and treasury operations to support production cycles and large project builds.
• Oversee funding structures, banking relationships, and capital investment strategies.
• Manage financial risks, including foreign exchange exposure, export financing, credit risk, and commodity costs.
• Optimise capital structure to support growth while maintaining financial resilience.

ERP, Systems & Data Analytics

• Lead ERP system implementation and optimisation to integrate finance, manufacturing, procurement, and inventory management.
• Drive data-driven decision making using advanced financial analytics and performance dashboards.
• Ensure system integrity, reporting accuracy, and real-time operational visibility.

International Business & Export Support

• Support global sales contracts, export pricing models, and financial feasibility studies.
• Manage multi-currency transactions, international tax considerations, and compliance requirements.
• Structure financial models for long-term projects and international partnerships.