Operational Head of Finance

Salix Recruitment; Midrand; On-site; ZAR 1,800,000 - 3,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Salix Recruitment is scouting for a senior finance leader who can partner with EXCO and operations to drive profitability, cash flow and strategic decisions. You will translate financial data into actionable business outcomes, challenge assumptions, and guide commercial decision-making across pricing, contracts and working capital.

The role demands a commercially astute, hands-on leader who can operate across Finance, Operations and Strategy, delivering measurable improvements and sustaining

Qualifications

• Matric (Grade 12) is assumed.
• CA(SA) or completed CIMA is essential.
• BCom Accounting with Honours preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the financial strategy and operational finance agenda to drive performance.
• Oversee budgets, forecasts, and performance targets with commercial insight.
• Partner with Commercial and Operations on pricing, tenders and profitability.
• Own P&L performance and drive corrective action.
• Oversee financial reporting, controls and compliance.
• Drive cash flow, working capital and liquidity management.
• Identify cost optimisation and productivity opportunities.
• Lead cross-functional projects and transformation initiatives.
• Develop and coach the finance team.

Skills

Commercial acumen

Operational leadership

Strategic thinking

P&L orientation

Business partnering

Financial analysis

Contract governance

Working capital management

Problem-solving

Change leadership

Stakeholder management

People leadership

Communication

Influencing skills

Results orientation

Education

BCom Accounting

BCom Honours

CA(SA) or CIMA

Tools

MS Office

Excel

ERP systems

Job description

This is a senior leadership position for a finance professional who can go beyond reporting and financial governance to actively influence business performance, operational efficiency, profitability and commercial decision‑making. The successful candidate will act as a strategic business partner to EXCO, MANCO and senior operational leadership, providing financial insight and commercial challenge across P&L performance, pricing, contracts, working capital, cost optimisation and business improvement initiatives. The role will suit a commercially astute finance leader who is comfortable working closely with operational teams, challenging business assumptions and translating financial data into practical actions that improve profitability, cash flow and operational performance.

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for a finance leader who is commercially curious, operationally hands‑on and comfortable challenging senior stakeholders. The ideal candidate will not simply tell the business what happened – they will understand why it happened, what it means for the business and what needs to happen next. You will be someone who can move comfortably between: Finance → Operations → Commercial → Strategy → People and turn financial insight into measurable business outcomes.

Duties

• Lead the financial strategy and operational finance agenda, partnering with EXCO, MANCO and operational leadership to drive business performance.
• Oversee budgets, forecasts, financial plans and performance targets, providing commercial insight and scenario analysis to support decision‑making.
• Partner with Commercial and Operations on pricing, tenders, bids, contract negotiations and profitability, ensuring strong margins and commercial governance.
• Own P&L performance, analysing revenue, EBITDA, costs and key business drivers, and driving corrective action where required.
• Oversee financial reporting, management accounts, controls and compliance, ensuring accurate and timely financial information.
• Take ownership of cash flow, working capital, liquidity, collections and debtor performance, driving improved cash conversion.
• Identify and address financial leakage, cost drivers, waste and operational inefficiencies, driving cost optimisation and productivity.
• Strengthen financial and operational controls, managing financial risk, tax, audit and statutory compliance.
• Drive continuous improvement and business transformation initiatives across finance and operations.
• Identify opportunities to automate and optimise financial processes, reporting and systems, including ERP and BI solutions.
• Use data, analytics and business intelligence to identify trends, risks and opportunities and improve decision‑making.
• Lead strategic projects, ensuring effective governance across scope, budgets, timelines, risks and benefits realisation.
• Lead, coach and develop the finance team while building financial and commercial capability across the wider business.
• Foster a culture of accountability, commercial thinking, collaboration, continuous improvement and high performance across Finance and Operations.

Job Experience & Skills Required

Qualifications

• Matric (Grade 12)
• BCom Accounting
• BCom Honours
• CA(SA) or completed CIMA qualification – essential

Experience

• 10+ years' senior financial management experience, including full-cycle accounting
• Minimum 5 years' experience in a senior leadership/executive finance role
• Proven experience partnering with Operations and senior business leadership
• Strong commercial finance experience, including pricing, tenders, contract profitability and margin management
• Demonstrated experience in P&L management, budgeting, forecasting and business performance
• Strong working capital, cash flow and liquidity management experience
• Proven experience in financial risk management, tax, IFRS and compliance
• Experience overseeing payroll, audits and statutory reporting
• Advanced MS Office and Excel skills, with strong ERP/system experience
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and large-scale improvement or transformation projects
• Project Management certification (PMI/PRINCE2) – advantageous
• Lean Six Sigma / Business Optimisation experience – advantageous
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to translate financial information into business decisions
• Excellent leadership, communication, analytical and problem‑solving skills

Skills & Competencies

• Commercial acumen
• Operational leadership
• Strategic thinking
• P&L orientation
• Business partnering
• Financial and commercial analysis
• Contract and pricing governance
• Working capital management
• Problem‑solving
• Change and transformation leadership
• Stakeholder management
• People leadership
• Strong communication and influencing skills
• Results orientation
• High integrity and accountability