Chief Finance Officer - SME Fintech

Outsourced CFO; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

A technology-focused financial consultancy in Sandton is seeking a CFO to oversee all financial aspects of the business. The ideal candidate has over 10 years of experience, qualified CA(SA) or equivalent, and expertise in Fintech and payments across African markets. This full-time position requires a strategic leader who will collaborate closely with the executive team, manage financial risks, and drive innovation in financial operations.

Qualifications

• 10+ years leading end-to-end finance functions.
• Proven leader in high-growth or turnaround settings.
• Deep experience in financial controls and commercial negotiations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all financial aspects of the business.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive financial strategy.
• Monitor key financial metrics and identify trends.

Skills

Financial modelling skills

Leadership and mentoring

Understanding of pricing models

Experience in Fintech and payments

Strong ethical foundation

Education

Qualified CA(SA) or equivalent

Job description

Our client, a scale-up SME, is seeking a CFO 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 position, based in Sandton.

Key Responsibilities

• 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