Senior Area Manager

Cash Crusaders; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Cash Crusaders is seeking a Senior Area Manager to oversee day-to-day operations of multiple franchise stores within a designated region in South Africa. You will drive profitability, mentor franchise partners, and ensure standards across all stores, with regular travel between locations.

The role reports to senior management and acts as the direct line manager for Store Managers, focusing on stock, merchandising, and customer service excellence while implementing business improvement plans.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in senior management or multi-site operational roles.
• Strong financial analysis of P&L and business performance.
• Excellent leadership, coaching, and people management.
• Proficient in Excel, PowerPoint, and reporting tools.
• Valid driver's licence and reliable vehicle.
• Willingness to travel extensively.
• Ability to complete a pre-employment polygraph assessment.

Responsibilities

• Drive profitability across product categories and stores.
• Manage store sales vs budgets; analyze P&L and optimize profitability.
• Coordinate stock availability, merchandising, stocktakes, and stock aging.
• Coach and develop franchise partners; implement improvement plans.
• Ensure staffing, recruitment, and employee development.
• Ensure policies, SOPs, security, and governance across stores.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Strategic planning

Financial acumen

Communication

Organisational skills

Travel readiness

Problem solving

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

We are looking for an experienced and results-driven Senior Area Manager to oversee the day-to-day operations of multiple franchise stores within a designated region.

The successful candidate will be responsible for driving operational excellence, improving store profitability, mentoring franchise partners, and ensuring that company standards are consistently implemented across all stores. This role requires regular travel between stores and reports directly to senior management, while serving as the direct line manager for Store Managers.

Key Responsibilities

Financial & Commercial Performance

• Drive profitability across New Goods, Second-Hand Goods, and SSB profit centres.
• Manage store sales performance against budgets.
• Analyse profit and loss statements and identify opportunities to improve profitability.
• Monitor expenses and implement cost-control measures.
• Review key business statistics and operational reports to improve store performance.

Operations & Stock Management

• Ensure consistent implementation of merchandising standards.
• Oversee marketing initiatives across all stores.
• Coordinate stock availability and optimise stock distribution.
• Monitor stock ageing, discontinued stock, repair stock, and damaged stock.
• Organise and participate in monthly stocktakes.
• Safeguard company assets, including stock, vehicles, fixtures, equipment, and petty cash.
• Ensure repair turnaround times meet company standards.

Franchise & Store Development

• Coach, mentor, and develop franchise partners.
• Develop and implement business improvement plans where required.
• Review improvement plans regularly and adjust strategies to achieve business objectives.
• Manage change initiatives within stores.
• Ensure customer service standards are consistently maintained.
• Review Mystery Shopper results and implement corrective actions where necessary.
• Ensure social media activity complies with company standards.

Leadership & People Management

• Ensure stores maintain appropriate staffing levels.
• Support recruitment, training, and employee development.
• Drive succession planning initiatives.
• Manage employee performance effectively.
• Promote positive employee relations and engagement.
• Oversee HR administration and remuneration processes where applicable.

Compliance & Governance

• Ensure all stores comply with company policies, procedures, SOPs, and system requirements.
• Maintain high security standards across all stores.
• Conduct regular operational meetings and provide detailed reports to management.

Minimum Requirements

• Minimum of 7 years' experience in a senior management or multi-site operational role.
• Strong financial acumen with experience analysing P&L statements and business performance.
• Excellent leadership, coaching, and people management skills.
• Strong communication and relationship-building abilities.
• High level of organisation and attention to detail.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and reporting tools.
• Innovative, ambitious, and solutions-driven.
• Valid driver's licence and reliable vehicle.
• Willingness to travel extensively.
• Ability to successfully complete a pre-employment polygraph assessment.