Finance Manager

K2 Recruit; Durban; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 800,000; Full time

Job summary

K2 Recruit is seeking a Finance Manager for a fast-growing IT services company in Durban. This pivotal role emphasizes commercial finance leadership and requires a relevant finance qualification such as CA(SA) or CIMA. Key responsibilities include ensuring financial clarity, driving accountability in decision-making, and supporting risk management. The ideal candidate will have strong analytical skills and the ability to influence stakeholders. If you're ready to make a real commercial impact, apply today!

Qualifications

• Experience in commercial finance, financial planning and analysis (FP&A), or financial management.
• Strong understanding of IT cost modelling and business operations.
• Ability to influence leadership with data and insights.

Responsibilities

• Ensure financial clarity and discipline across the business.
• Act as financial pre-check for key business decisions.
• Translate growth strategy into financial targets and performance tracking.

Skills

Commercial finance expertise

Analytical capability

Financial judgement

Attention to detail

Education

Relevant finance qualification (CA(SA), CIMA, or equivalent)

Job description

K2 Recruit is partnering with a fast-growing, founder-led IT services company to appoint a Finance Manager who will act as the organisation’s financial conscience, commercial soundboard, and decision gatekeeper.

This is not a traditional accounting role — it is a commercial finance leadership position focused on driving discipline, accountability, and data-led decision-making across the business.

Purpose of the Role

To ensure the business operates with financial clarity, control, and discipline, translating strategy into numbers, guardrails, and measurable outcomes.

You will:

• Eliminate “hope-based” decision making
• Provide early warning on cash flow, margin, and forecast risk
• Embed financial accountability across leadership
• Ensure ROI-driven thinking in all major business decisions

Key Responsibilities

Financial Governance & Decision Control

• Act as the mandatory financial pre-check for key business decisions:
  • Hiring and headcount changes
  • Salary adjustments and offers
  • Software and vendor spend
  • Capex and strategic investments
• Review and recommend: Approve / Amend / Defer based on financial logic
• Ensure no material commitment proceeds without financial review (unless waived by Directors)

Budgeting, Forecasting & Strategy Translation

• Translate the company’s growth strategy into financial targets
• Own budgeting, forecasting, and performance tracking
• Deliver clear visibility on:
  • Revenue growth
  • Gross profit performance
  • Business unit contribution

Sales Engine & Commercial Oversight

• Monitor pipeline health and revenue realism
• Flag risk early (not after the fact)
• Ensure sales assumptions are backed by data, not optimism

Commercial Enablement

• Upskill managers in:
  • Costing and margin thinking
  • Headcount ROI
  • Cash flow impact
• Embed financial accountability language across leadership

Forecasting & Risk Management

• Provide forward-looking risk analysis (cash, margin, pipeline)
• Deliver early warning signals on financial pressure points
• Support proactive decision-making

Required Outputs

• Financial guardrails and approval framework
• Annual budget & forecasting model
• Sales engine financial dashboard
• Monthly executive summary (one-page insight view)
• Leadership commercial enablement inputs

Requirements

• Relevant finance qualification (CA(SA), CIMA, or equivalent preferred)
• Experience in commercial finance / FP&A / financial management
• Strong understanding of IT cost modelling, business operations and sales-driven environments
• Ability to influence leadership with data and insight
• High attention to detail with strong commercial judgement

Ideal Profile

• Confident, commercially sharp finance professional
• Comfortable challenging leadership constructively
• Strong analytical and forecasting capability
• Low ego, high clarity, systems-driven thinker
• Thrives in fast-growth, founder-led environments

Success Measures

• Improved forecast accuracy and financial predictability
• Stronger budget discipline and spend control
• Increased commercial maturity across leadership
• Clear, data-led decision-making culture

If you're a finance professional who wants to move beyond reporting into real commercial influence and decision-making impact, this role offers exactly that.