Chief Financial Officer

Smith Garb; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 1,500,000 - 3,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Smith Garb in Gauteng seeks a strategic, hands-on Finance Leader to steer budgeting, forecasting, reporting and cash flow management. You will partner with the MD/EXCO to drive profitability and oversee Finance, Procurement, IT, HR, Payroll and Operations.

The role demands stock-heavy industry experience, strong commercial acumen, and a track record in improving performance beyond finance through robust controls and leadership.

Qualifications

• CA(SA) essential for appointment.
• 7+ years post-articles in a senior finance leadership role.
• Experience in industrial, engineering, manufacturing or process-driven sectors with substantial stock exposure.
• Proven procurement, costing, inventory management and working capital expertise.
• Ability to influence and improve performance beyond finance.
• Strong commercial, analytical, leadership and financial modelling skills.
• Advanced ERP and Excel capabilities; AI-driven reporting/forecasting is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead financial strategy, budgeting, forecasting, reporting and cash flow management.
• Partner with the MD and EXCO to drive profitability, growth and overall business performance.
• Provide cross-functional oversight across Finance, Procurement, IT, HR, Payroll and Operations.
• Drive procurement strategy, supplier negotiations, stock forecasting, inventory control and working capital optimisation.
• Identify operational inefficiencies and implement improvements across systems, processes and resource utilisation.
• Maintain strong financial controls, governance, statutory compliance and risk management.
• Lead and develop the finance team while promoting accountability across the business.

Skills

Finance leadership

Stock management

Procurement

Costing

Inventory management

Working capital

ERP

Excel

Financial modelling

Commercial acumen

Education

CA(SA)

Tools

ERP systems

Excel

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• Lead financial strategy, budgeting, forecasting, reporting and cash flow management.
• Partner with the MD and EXCO to drive profitability, growth and overall business performance.
• Provide cross-functional oversight across Finance, Procurement, IT, HR, Payroll and Operations.
• Drive procurement strategy, supplier negotiations, stock forecasting, inventory control and working capital optimisation.
• Identify operational inefficiencies and implement improvements across systems, processes and resource utilisation.
• Maintain strong financial controls, governance, statutory compliance and risk management.
• Lead and develop the finance team while promoting accountability across the business.

Requirements

• CA(SA) essential and is required for appointment.
• Minimum 7 years' post-articles experience in a senior finance leadership role.
• Strong industrial, engineering, manufacturing or process-driven experience, with substantial stock exposure.
• Proven understanding of procurement, costing, inventory management and working capital.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and improve performance beyond the finance function.
• Strong commercial, analytical, leadership and financial modelling skills.
• Advanced ERP and Excel capabilities; experience with AI-driven reporting or forecasting is advantageous.
• Equipment rental, industrial distribution, turnkey projects or welding industry experience will be beneficial.

The Ideal Candidate

A strategic yet hands-on leader who is energetic, positive, commercially minded and comfortable getting involved at every level of the business. Someone who takes ownership, challenges constructively, solves problems and turns strategy into action.