Financial Manager

STELO GROUP; Paarl; Hybrid; ZAR 800 000 - 1 200 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading operations and maintenance company is seeking a Financial Manager to lead financial strategy and compliance across Africa. The role involves financial management, governance, contract administration, and HR functions. Ideal candidates will have over 8 years of experience in financial management and strong knowledge of compliance regulations. This is a permanent, full-time position located in South Africa or Mauritius.

Benefits

Competitive remuneration

Occasional travel to Mauritius and operational sites

Qualifications

• Minimum 8-10 years senior financial management experience.
• Proven experience in contract or commercial management, preferably in industrial sectors.
• Strong knowledge of IFRS, tax, exchange control, and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the financial strategy and policies.
• Ensure compliance with financial, tax, and statutory regulations.
• Manage accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and group consolidation.

Skills

Strategic financial planning and analysis

Contract negotiation and commercial acumen

Strong governance and compliance orientation

Systems and process implementation expertise

Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or Commerce

CA(SA), ACCA, or equivalent qualification

Tools

Xero

Job description

Overview

Position Title: Financial Manager

Location: Mauritius; or Paarl, Western Cape, South Africa

Reports To: Managing Director

Company Overview

STELO is an Operations and Maintenance (O&M) services company providing integrated technical, operational, and maintenance support to process plants and mining operations across Africa.

Headquartered in Mauritius, STELO operates in multiple African jurisdictions, delivering sustainable, performance-driven asset management and plant operations solutions to the mining sector.

Position Purpose

STELO is a relatively young company that has experienced some good growth over the past couple of years and requires a Financial Manager that can support STELO to implement the right processes, systems, and teams, to ensure that the business can grow sustainably while complying with regulatory requirements.

The Financial Manager is responsible for the financial management, compliance, contracts administration, systems, payroll, and human resources functions of the STELO group.

This role ensures sound governance, accurate reporting, efficient operations, and commercial control across jurisdictions, with the head office in Mauritius and operations across Africa.

Based in Mauritius, or South Africa, this position provides financial leadership and strategic oversight across the STELO group, supporting operational and executive decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

1. Financial Management & Strategy
   • Develop and implement the groups financial strategy, systems, and policies.
   • Manage accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and group consolidation across jurisdictions.
   • Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial and management reports.
   • Oversee cash flow management, treasury, and foreign exchange controls.
   • Support the MD and Board with financial analysis and strategic decision support.
   • Manage relationships with banks, auditors, and financial institutions.
2. Compliance & Governance
   • Ensure compliance with all financial, tax, and statutory regulations in Mauritius, South Africa, and operational jurisdictions.
   • Oversee external audits, company secretarial duties, and statutory returns.
   • Maintain group structures, intercompany transactions, and shareholder registers.
   • Establish and enforce internal controls, financial risk management, and corporate governance frameworks.
3. Contracts & Commercial Management
   • Support contract drafting, negotiation, and financial review of O&M and service agreements.
   • Ensure that commercial terms, cost structures, and risk allocations align with group financial policies.
   • Oversee contract compliance and financial reporting under each agreement.
   • Manage contract variations, invoicing schedules, and financial performance tracking.
   • Provide financial input into tendering, pricing models, and bid evaluations.
   • Liaise with operational managers to ensure contract execution aligns with profitability and performance targets.
4. Financial Systems & Reporting
   • Oversee and continuously improve the groups systems, including the financial system (Xero).
   • Standardize reporting templates and automate monthly reporting.
   • Integrate operational data (production, cost, KPIs) into financial dashboards.
   • Ensure data integrity, system security, and process efficiency.
5. Payroll & Human Resources Administration
   • Manage group payroll across all jurisdictions, ensuring compliance with local labour and tax laws.
   • Oversee employment contracts, benefits, and HR policy implementation.
   • Support HR in recruitment, performance management, and remuneration frameworks.
   • Maintain confidentiality and data protection in HR and payroll processes.
6. Leadership & Coordination
   • Lead and mentor finance, HR, and administrative staff.
   • Collaborate closely with operational teams and project managers across Africa.
   • Ensure alignment between financial goals, operational performance, and contractual outcomes.
   • Contribute to executive decision-making and group strategy execution.

Key Relationships

• Internal: MD, Operations Managers, Project Managers, HR teams, Board
• External: Auditors, Banks, Legal Advisors, Tax Authorities, Clients, Contractors

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelors degree in Accounting, Finance, or Commerce (Honours preferred).
• CA(SA), ACCA, or equivalent qualification strongly preferred.
• Minimum 810 years senior financial management experience.
• Proven experience in contract or commercial management, preferably in the mining, engineering, or industrial sectors.
• Experience working across multiple African jurisdictions.
• Strong knowledge of IFRS, tax, exchange control, and cross-border compliance.
• Demonstrated experience implementing or managing financial and ERP systems.
• Experience managing HR and payroll processes.

Skills & Competencies

• Strategic financial planning and analysis
• Contract negotiation and commercial acumen
• Strong governance and compliance orientation
• Systems and process implementation expertise
• Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural communication
• Analytical and problem-solving capability
• Attention to detail and organisational discipline
• Leadership and team development

Languages

• Fluent in English (required)
• French proficiency advantageous (for interaction in Francophone Africa)

Personal Attributes

• Integrity and professional ethics
• Commercial awareness and strategic mindset
• Proactive, solutions-oriented, and adaptable
• Collaborative and culturally sensitive
• Capable of operating autonomously and under pressure

Employment Details

• Location: Mauritius, or Paarl, Western Cape
• Contract Type: Permanent, full-time
• Travel: Occasional to Mauritius and African operational sites
• Remuneration: Competitive, commensurate with qualifications and experience