Senior Financial Controller

Core Group ZA; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Core Group ZA is seeking an experienced Senior Financial Controller to join the Finance Shared Services team. This role focuses on financial reporting, month-end close, and process improvements using AI-enabled solutions.

You will prepare and review financial statements, support audits, and provide meaningful insights to drive business performance. A strong IFRS background and SAICA-article experience are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in financial accounting with SAICA articles completed.
• Minimum 2 years post-articles experience.
• Experience in shared services, retail, distribution, FMCG or commercial finance is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Own the monthly financial close process for allocated entities.
• Prepare, review and sign off Income Statements and Balance Sheets.
• Ensure timely month-end reporting in line with deadlines.
• Review journals, reconciliations and supporting documentation.
• Maintain general ledger integrity and control accounts.
• Drive improvements in finance processes and internal controls.
• Coordinate external audits and statutory reporting.

Skills

IFRS knowledge

Excel skills

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Stakeholder management

ERP experience

AI tooling

Power BI exposure

Automation experience

Problem solving

Education

BCom Degree in Financial Accounting

BCom Honours

SAICA Articles completed

Tools

Power Query

Python/SQL basics

Power BI

Job description

We are looking for an experienced Senior Financial Controller to join our Finance Shared Services team.

This is an excellent opportunity for a qualified finance professional who thrives in a fast-paced, commercially driven environment and is passionate about financial excellence, process improvement, and leveraging technology and AI to enhance finance operations.

About the Role

Reporting to the Finance Manager – Finance Shared Services, the Senior Financial Controller is responsible for the preparation, review, and final sign-off of the financial results for a portfolio of companies. Acting as the primary financial custodian, you will ensure the integrity of financial reporting, manage financial risk, oversee month-end close activities, support statutory compliance, and provide meaningful financial insights to the business.

You will work closely with Finance Business Partners, Operational Finance teams, Accounts Payable, Tax, External Auditors, and senior leadership to ensure accurate reporting and continuous improvement across the finance function.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Reporting & Month-End Close

• Take ownership of the monthly financial close process for allocated entities.
• Prepare, review and sign off Income Statements and Balance Sheets.
• Ensure accurate and timely completion of month-end reporting in accordance with reporting deadlines.
• Review journals, reconciliations and supporting documentation before final sign-off.
• Resolve accounting issues and ensure all financial information is complete, accurate and well supported.
• Maintain the integrity of the General Ledger and all control accounts.
• Review balance sheet reconciliations and ensure all reconciling items are resolved timeously.
• Monitor clearing accounts, accruals, intercompany balances and suspense accounts.
• Drive proactive financial risk identification and resolution.
• Ensure all balance sheet accounts are fully substantiated and audit-ready.

Operational Expenditure (Opex) Management

• Lead weekly Opex review meetings with the finance team.
• Review expenditure against budget and investigate material variances.
• Review creditor reconciliations and approve payment packs.
• Ensure accurate monthly accruals and expense recognition.
• Partner with operational finance teams to improve expenditure management.

Tax Compliance

• Review VAT reconciliations and VAT submissions.
• Support provisional and annual income tax calculations.
• Ensure compliance with all statutory tax requirements.
• Work closely with tax advisors and SARS where required.
• Ensure accurate tax accounting and eliminate compliance risks.

Financial Analysis & Business Support

• Deliver meaningful financial analysis and commercial insights to business stakeholders.
• Analyse profitability, expenses, working capital and operational performance.
• Support Finance Business Partners with decision-making information.
• Identify financial trends, risks and improvement opportunities.
• Assist with complex financial modelling and ad hoc business analysis.
• Coordinate external audit requirements for allocated entities.
• Prepare audit schedules and supporting documentation.
• Resolve audit queries efficiently.
• Support the preparation and finalisation of Annual Financial Statements.
• Ensure strong internal controls and audit readiness throughout the year.

Continuous Improvement & Process Optimisation

• Drive improvements in finance processes, controls and reporting.
• Develop and maintain accounting process documentation and work instructions.
• Improve reporting through automation, advanced Excel and AI-enabled solutions.
• Participate in finance transformation and system enhancement initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to simplify processes and improve efficiencies.

Stakeholder Management

• Build strong relationships with Finance Business Partners and operational teams.
• Provide expert financial guidance and support to internal stakeholders.
• Act as the key finance contact for allocated companies.
• Communicate financial risks and recommendations clearly to management.

Qualifications

• BCom Degree in Financial Accounting.
• BCom Honours (essential).
• Completed SAICA Articles.

Experience

• Minimum 2 years' post-articles experience.
• Experience within a shared services, retail, distribution, FMCG or commercial finance environment will be highly advantageous.
• Strong experience with financial reporting, month-end close and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Exposure to statutory reporting, taxation and external audits.

We're looking for someone who combines technical accounting expertise with commercial thinking and continuous improvement.

You'll demonstrate:

• Strong knowledge of IFRS and financial reporting principles.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• High attention to detail and exceptional accuracy.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to build strong relationships across multiple business functions.
• A proactive mindset with the ability to identify and solve problems independently.
• Strong financial controls and governance experience.
• Experience using ERP systems and financial reporting tools.
• Curiosity and enthusiasm for leveraging AI tools such as Claude, Gemini and Microsoft Copilot to improve finance processes.
• Exposure to automation, Power Query, Power BI or basic coding (Python, SQL or similar) will be advantageous.