Finance Director

Ignition Group; Umhlanga Rocks; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading corporate entity in Umhlanga Rocks is seeking a Finance & Strategic Leader to oversee the Finance & Accounting function, drive strategic insights, and manage risk across the organization. The ideal candidate will be a Chartered Accountant with over 7 years of experience in senior finance roles, adept in IFRS/GAAP and proven ability to lead teams. This is a strategic role requiring strong leadership and analytical capabilities.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 7 years’ professional experience, with at least 5 years in senior finance leadership.
• Proficient in IFRS, GAAP, and compliance frameworks.
• Strong ERP and financial systems experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Finance & Accounting function to ensure sound financial planning.
• Identify and mitigate key financial and operational risks.
• Develop strong relationships with business units and executive leadership.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Commercial acumen

Leadership skills

Analytical skills

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Chartered Accountant (CA(SA))

Postgraduate qualification in Finance or Business

Tools

MS Office 365

Financial modeling tools

Job description

Finance & Strategic Leadership

• Lead the Finance & Accounting function, ensuring sound financial planning, accurate reporting, and strong controls.
• Provide executive leadership with data-driven insights into the financial performance and strategic implications of business decisions.
• Design, implement, and monitor financial management systems, policies, and internal controls aligned with IFRS/GAAP.
• Evaluate the financial impact of strategic plans, new programs, and regulatory changes.
• Drive the annual business plan, budgeting, and forecasting processes.
• Optimize capital allocation, liquidity, and cash flow management to support long-term growth.
• Develop and present detailed monthly financial reports, variance analysis, and performance diagnostics.
• Lead audit processes and statutory reporting, ensuring regulatory and compliance alignment.
• Serve as financial advisor and strategic business partner to the CEO and broader executive team.

Risk Management & Compliance

• Identify, assess, and mitigate key financial and operational risks across the organization.
• Ensure compliance with tax, statutory, and financial regulations.
• Maintain appropriate insurance coverage and safeguard the company's assets.
• Oversee internal and external audits and address compliance matters effectively.
• Develop risk and governance frameworks across finance and business operations.
• Procurement and Contract Management.

Cross-Functional Oversight

• Partner with HR, Legal, Procurement and IT to align functional strategies with organizational goals and support continuous improvement.

Business Partnering & Decision Support

• Build and maintain strong relationships with business units and executive leadership.
• Provide real-time, value-adding financial advice and modeling to support key decisions and investments.
• Drive performance improvement and ROI-focused culture through data-driven business cases and financial storytelling.

People Management

• Lead and develop the finance team, fostering a high-performance culture through coaching, feedback, and performance management.
• Recruit and retain high-caliber talent, ensuring appropriate structures, systems, and tools are in place to drive team success.
• Manage team assignments and capacity, ensuring efficient resource utilization.

Requirements

• Strategic thinker with strong commercial acumen and business insight.
• Proficient in IFRS, GAAP, and compliance frameworks.
• High emotional intelligence, influence, and stakeholder engagement ability.
• Strong leadership, people development, and collaboration skills.
• Excellent analytical, reporting, and project management capabilities.
• Proficiency in MS Office 365, financial modeling, and decision support tools.
• Commercially and technologically inclined.

Education and Experience:

• Chartered Accountant (CA(SA)) or equivalent professional registration.
• Postgraduate qualification in Finance or Business (advantageous).
• Minimum of 7 years’ professional experience, with at least 5 years in senior finance leadership.
• Proven experience in financial planning, analysis, reporting, and systems.
• Strong ERP and financial systems experience.
• Call Centre, specifically Telco experience (advantageous)