Finance Operations Lead

Lesaka Technologies; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Lesaka Technologies is seeking a Financial Operations Lead in Cape Town to ensure accurate financial operations across LADP. The role focuses on reconciliations, system configuration, and settlements, leading the Settlement team and automating processes.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in financial operations within fintech/payments, with strong controls and cross-functional collaboration abilities. Based in Cape Town, relocation support may be available.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in financial operations, reconciliations, configuration and settlements.
• CA(SA) or CIMA qualification beneficial, but not essential.
• Experience leading or supporting a settlement or financial operations function.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end reconciliation processes across LADP.
• Manage and maintain configuration of settlement and financial systems.
• Oversee end-to-end settlement to merchants, partners and stakeholders.
• Drive automation of manual reconciliation, configuration and settlement processes.
• Lead financial operations projects for the Enterprise CFO and cross-functional initiatives.
• Lead, coach and develop the Settlement team.
• Partner with Finance, Tech, Product and Operations stakeholders across LADP.
• Maintain sound financial controls and support audit/compliance needs.

Skills

Reconciliations

System configuration

Settlement processing

Automation

Project management

People leadership

Stakeholder management

Financial controls

Education

CA(SA) or CIMA beneficial

Professional accounting qualification

Job description

FINANCIAL OPERATIONS LEAD

Job Specification — Lesaka Enterprise Division

Job Title

Financial Operations Lead

Division

Lesaka Enterprise Division

Supporting

Lesaka Alternative Digital Products (LADP)

Reports To

Enterprise CFO

Direct Reports

Settlement Team

Location

Cape Town

JOB PURPOSE

The Financial Operations Lead is accountable for the integrity, accuracy and efficiency of financial operations across Lesaka Alternative Digital Products (LADP), with particular focus on reconciliations, system configuration and settlements. The role leads the Settlement team, drives automation of manual financial processes, and partners closely with the Enterprise CFO on financial operations projects that support the growth and control environment of the Enterprise Division.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Reconciliations: Own end-to-end reconciliation processes across LADP, ensuring all settlement, merchant and banking reconciliations are accurate, complete and performed within agreed timelines.
• Configuration: Manage and maintain the configuration of settlement and financial systems, ensuring changes are controlled, tested and correctly applied across products.
• Settlements: Oversee the end-to-end settlement process, ensuring timely and accurate settlement to merchants, partners and internal stakeholders, and resolving settlement exceptions and discrepancies.
• Financial Operations & Execution: Drive strong day-to-day financial operations discipline, ensuring processes are executed reliably, controls are respected, and issues are escalated and resolved quickly.
• Automation: Identify opportunities to automate manual reconciliation, configuration and settlement processes, working with Tech and Finance to implement scalable solutions that reduce risk and improve turnaround times.
• Project Work: Lead and contribute to financial operations projects for the Enterprise CFO, including system implementations, process re-engineering and cross-functional initiatives spanning LADP.
• Team Leadership: Lead, coach and develop the Settlement team, setting clear performance expectations and building a high-accountability, execution-focused team culture.
• Stakeholder Management: Partner with Finance, Tech, Product and Operations stakeholders across LADP to align financial operations with business requirements and resolve cross-functional issues.
• Controls & Risk: Ensure sound financial controls are maintained across recon, configuration and settlement processes, and support audit and compliance requirements as needed.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum 5 years' experience in financial operations, reconciliations, configuration and settlements, gained within the fintech or payments industry.
• CA(SA) or CIMA qualification beneficial, but not essential.
• Proven experience leading or supporting a settlement or financial operations function, ideally with direct people leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience driving automation of financial operations processes.
• Track record of delivering financial operations or systems-related project work.
• Based in, or willing to relocate to, Cape Town.

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

• Strong technical grounding in reconciliations, financial systems configuration and settlement processing.
• Sound understanding of payments and fintech industry operating environments.
• Strong financial and analytical acumen, with high attention to detail and accuracy.
• Process improvement and automation mindset, with the ability to translate manual processes into scalable solutions.
• Project management skills, with the ability to plan, execute and land cross-functional initiatives.
• Strong people leadership skills, able to build and manage a high-performing Settlement team.
• Clear, confident communicator able to engage effectively with the Enterprise CFO and senior stakeholders across LADP.

BEHAVIOURAL ATTRIBUTES

• Autonomous and self-starting, comfortable operating with minimal supervision and taking ownership of outcomes.
• Strong personal execution — gets things done, follows through, and holds self and team accountable to deadlines.
• Willing to roll up their sleeves and work hands-on where needed, regardless of seniority.
• Positive, can-do attitude that energizes the team and builds trust with stakeholders.
• Resilient and adaptable, able to operate effectively in a fast-paced, evolving fintech environment.

This job specification is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required.