Corporate Finance Director

SNG GrantThornton; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 1,800,000 - 3,200,000; Full time

Job summary

SNG Grant Thornton is seeking a Corporate Finance Director to lead and expand the Advisory division’s corporate finance practice, delivering premier services in valuations, due diligence, M&A advisory, and transaction support. You will provide strategic leadership, build client relationships, and drive growth across diverse industries.

The role requires Chartered Accountant (CA(SA)) qualification and a track record of originating and closing complex deals, with a focus on delivering high-quality

Qualifications

• CA(SA) qualification is mandatory.
• Proven ability to lead advisory projects and teams.
• Strong financial modelling and deal origination skills.
• Experience across valuations, due diligence & transaction advisory.

Responsibilities

• Lead buy-side/sell-side advisory engagements and drive deal flow.
• Oversee financial due diligence assignments and quality of earnings.
• Lead valuations, PPA, and impairment testing using accepted methodologies.
• Develop sophisticated financial models for M&A, forecasting, and capital raising.
• Manage client relationships with boards and executives, and broaden service lines.
• Lead business development, proposal work, and revenue growth initiatives.
• Mentor managers and junior staff to foster a high-performance culture.

Skills

Strategic Thinking

Analytical Expertise

Leadership

Communication

Business Acumen

Education

CA(SA)

Job description

Role Purpose

The Corporate Finance Director will lead and grow the Advisory division’s corporate finance practice, delivering high-quality services in valuations, due diligence, M&A advisory, and transaction support. This role requires a strategic leader with strong technical expertise, client relationship skills, and the ability to drive business development initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

1. Transaction Advisory Services

• Lead buy-side and sell-side transaction engagements.
• Advise clients on mergers, acquisitions, disposals, restructurings and capital raising initiatives.
• Manage transaction processes from initial strategy through to deal completion.
• Coordinate with legal, tax and other advisors during transactions.

Financial Due Diligence

• Lead financial due diligence assignments for acquisitions and disposals.
• Analyse historical financial performance, quality of earnings, working capital and cash flows.
• Identify deal risks and opportunities and provide commercially focused recommendations.
• Present findings to clients, investment committees and stakeholders.

Business Valuations

• Lead valuations of:
• Businesses and shares
• Intangible assets
• Purchase Price Allocations (PPA)
• Financial instruments
• Impairment testing
• Apply valuation methodologies including:
• Discounted Cash Flow (DCF)
• Comparable Companies Analysis
• Precedent Transactions
• Asset-based valuations
• Prepare valuation reports compliant with relevant standards and best practice.

Financial Modelling

• Develop and review sophisticated financial models for:
• M&A transactions
• Forecasting and budgeting
• Strategic planning
• Capital raising
• Business valuations
• Perform scenario and sensitivity analyses.

Client Relationship Management

• Serve as a trusted advisor to clients, boards and executive management teams.
• Build and maintain long-term client relationships.
• Identify cross-selling opportunities across Advisory, Tax and Assurance service lines.
• Lead presentations, workshops and proposal discussions.

Business Development

• Develop and execute a growth strategy for the Corporate Finance practice.
• Identify new market opportunities and sectors.
• Lead proposal development and pitch presentations.
• Contribute to revenue growth and achievement of annual targets.

Leadership and People Management

• Lead and mentor managers and junior team members.
• Foster a high-performance and collaborative culture.
• Review work products and ensure quality standards are maintained.
• Support talent development and succession planning.

Qualifications & Experience

• Chartered Accountant (CA(SA)) – mandatory.
• Minimum 10 years’ post-qualification experience, with at least 5 years in corporate finance/advisory leadership.
• Proven expertise in valuations, due diligence, and transaction advisory.
• Strong track record in managing complex projects and delivering results under pressure.
• Demonstrated ability to originate and close deals.
• Experience working with diverse industries and multinational clients.

Skills & Competencies

• Strategic Thinking – ability to align advisory services with client business objectives.
• Analytical Expertise – advanced financial modeling and problem-solving skills.
• Leadership – proven ability to inspire, coach, and lead teams.
• Communication – excellent presentation, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Business Acumen – deep understanding of market trends, corporate strategy, and deal-making.

Why Join SNG Grant Thornton?

• Opportunity to lead a high-impact advisory practice within a globally recognized firm.
• Exposure to diverse industries and complex transactions.
• Collaborative culture that values innovation, integrity, and client success.