Senior Financial Manager

Level Up - Your Talent Partner; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Level Up - Your Talent Partner is seeking an experienced Senior Financial Manager to own the full finance function for a growing financial services business in Sandton, South Africa. You will report to the CFO and influence executive decisions with robust financial reporting and controls.

The role requires post-articles experience, team leadership, and strong commercial acumen. You will lead budgeting, forecasting, and treasury activities while ensuring IFRS compliance and governance.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years' relevant finance experience, including post-articles experience.
• Minimum 5 years' experience managing accountants / finance teams.
• Financial services or insurance experience advantageous.
• Strong financial modelling, budgeting, and forecasting capability.
• Strong commercial acumen and business partnering skills.
• Advanced Excel and financial systems proficiency.
• Experience with Sage, IDU, Quick Consol or similar systems advantageous.
• CIMA registration advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Own the preparation of monthly management accounts, including variance analysis and commentary.
• Deliver accurate, timely, and insightful financial reporting to support business decisions.
• Develop and monitor key financial and operational performance metrics.
• Oversee the general ledger, reconciliations, and integrity of financial records.
• Identify financial trends, risks, and opportunities and provide proactive recommendations to management.
• Drive continuous improvement and automation of finance processes and reporting.
• Lead annual budgeting and rolling forecasts; develop financial models for strategic initiatives.
• Partner with business leaders to align financial plans with operational strategy.

Skills

Financial modelling

Budgeting

Forecasting

Commercial acumen

Business partnering

Advanced Excel

Financial systems

Tools

Sage

IDU

Quick Consol

Job description

We are looking for an experienced and commercially minded Senior Financial Manager to take ownership of the full finance function within a growing financial services business.

Reporting directly to the CFO, you will work closely with executive leadership and business stakeholders to ensure accurate financial reporting, strong financial controls, effective planning, and commercially informed decision-making.

This role is suited to a hands-on finance leader who combines strong technical accounting capability with commercial insight, leadership experience, and the ability to influence senior stakeholders.

Key Requirements

• CIMA registration advantageous
• Minimum 5 years' relevant finance experience, including post-articles experience
• Minimum 5 years' experience managing accountants / finance teams
• Financial services or insurance experience advantageous
• Strong financial modelling, budgeting, and forecasting capability
• Strong commercial acumen and business partnering skills
• Advanced Excel and financial systems proficiency
• Experience with Sage, IDU, Quick Consol or similar systems advantageous

Key Responsibilities

• Own the preparation of monthly management accounts, including detailed variance analysis and commentary
• Deliver accurate, timely, and insightful financial reporting to support business decision-making
• Develop and monitor key financial and operational performance metrics
• Oversee the general ledger, reconciliations, and integrity of financial records
• Identify financial trends, risks, and opportunities and provide proactive recommendations to management
• Drive continuous improvement and automation of finance processes and reporting

Budgeting, Forecasting & Planning

• Lead the annual budgeting process across the business
• Prepare and maintain rolling forecasts and scenario analyses
• Develop financial models to support strategic initiatives and business cases
• Partner with business leaders to align financial plans with operational strategy
• Monitor performance against budget and provide actionable insights

Cashflow, Treasury & Working Capital

• Manage cashflow forecasting and liquidity planning
• Optimise working capital across debtors, creditors, and cash cycles
• Oversee banking relationships, facilities, and funding requirements
• Monitor financial risk exposures
• Approve and oversee payments in line with governance requirements

Tax & Statutory Compliance

• Oversee VAT, income tax, payroll-related and other statutory submissions
• Ensure compliance with IFRS, the Companies Act, and applicable regulatory requirements
• Liaise with tax advisors and support tax planning initiatives
• Monitor regulatory developments and assess their financial impact
• Own the external audit process from planning through to completion
• Prepare audit and risk committee reporting packs
• Maintain and strengthen the internal control environment
• Oversee financial governance processes and policies
• Ensure ongoing audit readiness and accuracy of financial records

Insurance & Risk Management

• Provide financial oversight of insurance portfolio profitability, performance, and risk trends
• Partner with underwriting and operational teams on the financial impact of business decisions
• Participate in risk reviews and support regulatory alignment
• Monitor claims, premiums, and key insurance performance drivers

Governance & Executive Reporting

• Maintain the risk register and financial risk reporting processes
• Provide financial input into Board, Exco, and committee reporting
• Ensure adherence to Group governance and reporting requirements
• Implement and monitor financial policies and procedures

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, coach, and develop the finance team
• Build a high-performing, accountable, and commercially focused finance function
• Drive continuous improvement and operational excellence
• Ensure the team is appropriately resourced and equipped to deliver against business requirements

What We Are Looking For

You will be a confident finance professional who is able to:

• Think analytically and solve complex financial problems
• Operate independently and manage multiple priorities
• Communicate and influence effectively at senior and executive level
• Build strong relationships across finance and non-finance teams
• Lead and develop finance professionals
• Maintain high standards of integrity, professionalism, and accountability

Senior Financial Manager • Sandton, South Africa