Senior Finance Manager: Accounting

Conservation International; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Conservation International is seeking a Senior Finance Manager: Accounting to lead financial accounting, general ledger, and reporting for the Cape Town or Johannesburg office on a fixed-term contract funded through 2028.

You will oversee payroll, budgeting, cash flow, audit preparation, and donor-funded project accounting, while supervising three or more finance staff and ensuring compliance with South African regulations and donor requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Financial Management, Commerce, or a related discipline (BCom Accounting).
• 5–7 years of progressively responsible accounting and financial management experience, including month-end close and donor reporting.
• 2–3 years of supervision of finance staff.
• Experience in a non-profit or donor-funded project environment with multi-project accounting and grant compliance.
• Strong knowledge of SA SARS PBO and Section 18A, VAT and PAYE, plus ERP systems and advanced Excel.

Responsibilities

• Financial accounting, general ledger and reporting: maintain ledger integrity; lead monthly and annual close; prepare financial statements and audit schedules.
• Grant and project accounting: update project master files and complete ERP project closures.
• Payroll and banking: review payroll and statutory filings; release online payments within delegated authority.
• Budgeting, forecasting and cash flow: coordinate budgets; monitor expenditure; analyze variances and cash projections.
• Audit, compliance and controls: lead donor, SARS and HQ audits; ensure internal controls over cash, payroll, procurement and donor funds.
• Additional tasks as requested by supervisor.

Skills

Analytical ability

Leadership & coaching

Advanced Excel

ERP systems

Donor grant compliance

Audit preparation

Education

BCom Accounting

CA(SA) qualification

CIMA/CGMA/AGA(SA)/SAIPA/ACCA

BCom Honours

Tools

Business World

Sage

Xero

Pastel

Workday

Job description

Senior Finance Manager: Accounting

Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork, and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, biodiversity, and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples, and local communities to help people and nature thrive together.

Conservation South Africa (CSA), as a local affiliate of Conservation International (CI), is committed to helping societies adopt a more sustainable approach to development—one that considers and values nature at every turn and improves human well-being through the conservation of healthy ecosystems and the goods and services they provide. CSA seeks to influence policy, develop markets, engage the private sector, and support communities to develop and implement conservation-based economic growth models and long-term human well-being.

Position Summary – in the Cape Town or Johannesburg Office, South Africa. It is a fixed-term contract, renewable based on donor funding and performance. The contract will commence on or before 4 January 2027 and end 31 December 2028.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Financial accounting, general ledger and reporting: Ensure transactions are accurately recorded in ERP; maintain general ledger integrity; lead monthly and annual close; prepare financial statements, monthly management accounts and audit schedules; review and approve balance sheet, bank, payroll, debtor, creditor and fixed-asset reconciliations, prepare quarterly Fringe and PASC submissions; compliance with legislative requirements; Additional finance responsibilities as required.
• Grant and project accounting: Complete monthly Project Master File updates, ERP project closures, and approved project master file adjustments.
• Payroll and banking: Review monthly payroll and statutory filings, and review and release online banking payments within delegated authority and segregation-of-duties requirements.
• Budgeting, forecasting and cash flow: Coordinate annual operational and project budgets, monitor expendi-ture, analyse variances and cost drivers, recommend corrective actions, and submit consolidated monthly cash-flow projections.
• Audit, compliance and controls: Lead internal, external, donor, SARS and headquarters audits; prepare working papers; address queries; implement recommendations; ensure compliance with SARS PBO, Section 18A, PAYE and UIF requirements; and monitor controls over cash, banking, assets, payroll, procurement and donor funds; oversee filing of supporting documents.
• Additional tasks as requested by supervisor.

PEOPLE AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

• Set clear performance objectives, conduct annual assessments, monitor delivery, and foster staff development and service orientation.
• Provide day-to-day supervision, guidance and coaching to Financial Accountants and assigned finance support staff, with 3 or more direct reports.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Financial Management, Commerce, or a related discipline (BCom Accounting).
• Five to seven years of progressively responsible accounting and financial management experience, including month-end close, various reconciliations, and financial and donor reporting.
• Two to three years of experience directly supervising, coaching, and evaluating finance support staff.
• Experience in a non-profit or donor-funded project environment, including multi-project accounting and grant compliance.
• Strong knowledge of South African statutory requirements, including SARS PBO and Section 18A, VAT and PAYE, together with ERP financial systems and advanced Microsoft Excel skills.

Preferred

• Professional accounting qualification or active registration with CIMA (CGMA), AGA(SA), SAIPA or ACCA, or a BCom Honours degree.
• A CA(SA) qualification would be advantageous but not required
• Experience with Business World, Sage, Xero or Pastel.
• Experience with or knowledge of Workday.

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Excellent operational accounting, trial-balance management, donor grant compliance, and audit-preparation capability.
• Strong analytical ability to interpret financial data, investigate budget variances, and provide practical financial advice to non-finance managers.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel capability, including pivot tables and variance models, and strong ERP operating skills.
• Pragmatic team leadership and coaching focused on delivery, objective setting, and staff development.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Standard office environment in Cape Town or Johannesburg.
• This is an office-based position, with employees expected to work from the designated office during standard working hours.
• Willingness to travel periodically to project field sites in South Africa.
• Flexibility to work extended hours when required to meet deadlines.

EMPLOYMENT EQUITY & LEGAL COMPLIANCE DISCLAIMER

We are committed to fair employment practices and abide by the Employment Equity Act (Act No. 55 of 1998, as amended) all related regulations and the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. We promote equity by eliminating unfair discrimination and affirmatively implementing measures to hire designated groups, including Black people, women, and people with disabilities.

As a designated employer, we have implemented an Employment Equity Plan aligned with sectoral and national benchmarks, and we monitor and report progress annually in compliance with the Employment Equity Regulations (2025).

When entering into offers or contracts with any organ of state, we comply with Section 53 of the Act by attaching either a valid Employment Equity compliance certificate or a declaration of compliance with Chapters II and III of the Act, as required.

Conservation International is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all individuals. We believe in hiring based on merit and qualifications, ensuring a fair and inclusive hiring process for everyone.

Application Deadline: November 6, 2026 (11:49 PM EST)