Senior Financial Manager/CFO designate - Property & Infrastructure Development - Sandton

Intrepid HR; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Intrepid HR is seeking a commercially minded Senior Financial Manager for a well‑funded development organisation delivering large‑scale property and infrastructure projects in South Africa. This CFO designate role is hands‑on and focuses on building and leading the finance function to support a growing portfolio of capital‑intensive developments.

Reporting directly to the CEO, you will establish accounting systems, implement project cost tracking, manage budgets, forecast cash flows and engage

Qualifications

• Relevant accounting or finance degree with substantial financial management experience.
• Direct experience in property development, infrastructure development or construction.
• Practical project accounting experience.
• Ownership of cash-flow forecasting and funding requirements.
• Experience establishing or improving a finance function.
• End-to-end financial reporting capability.
• Experience preparing financial information for shareholders or lenders.
• Strong financial modelling and Excel skills.

Responsibilities

• Establish the finance function, including accounting systems, controls and reporting.
• Select and implement technology for accounting, project cost tracking and reporting.
• Manage project budgets, expenditure, and cash-flow forecasts across developments.
• Identify funding needs and support financing discussions with banks and capital providers.
• Evaluate project feasibility and provide financial analysis for investments and negotiations.
• Produce management accounts and reporting for leadership, shareholders and investors.
• Oversee year-end financial statements, audits, and statutory compliance.

Skills

Finance leadership

Financial modelling

Excel

Budgeting & cash flow

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Accounting/Finance degree

CA(SA)/CIMA qualification

Tools

Accounting software

Project cost tracking tools

Job description

We are recruiting a commercially minded Senior Financial Manager for a well-funded development organisation delivering large-scale property and infrastructure projects.

Backed by a substantial long-term investment shareholder, the organisation combines a disciplined, private-sector approach to development with a mandate to create lasting economic and social value. Its development pipeline spans industrial, commercial, residential, healthcare and education projects.

This is a CFO designate role and is a hands‑on opportunity to build and lead the finance function, establishing the systems, controls and reporting needed to support a growing portfolio of capital-intensive developments.

The role

Reporting directly to the CEO, and closely with the development leadership team, you will:

• Establish the finance function, including accounting systems, financial controls, policies and reporting processes.
• Select and implement technology for accounting, project cost tracking and financial reporting.
• Manage project budgets, expenditure, contractual commitments and cash‑flow forecasts across multiple developments.
• Identify funding requirements and support financing discussions with banks and other capital providers.
• Evaluate project feasibility and provide financial analysis for investment decisions and commercial negotiations.
• Produce management accounts and reporting for leadership, shareholders and investors.
• Take responsibility for year‑end financial statements, external audits and statutory compliance.

To be considered, you must demonstrate:

• A relevant accounting or finance degree and substantial financial management experience, including responsibility for a finance function or a significant project portfolio.
• Direct experience in property development, infrastructure development or construction, with financial responsibility for substantial capital projects through development and delivery.
• Practical project accounting expertise, including tracking approved budgets, actual expenditure, committed costs, variations and forecast costs to completion.
• Ownership of project cash‑flow forecasting and funding requirements, including the timing of capital expenditure, funding drawdowns and potential cash shortfalls.
• Experience establishing or materially improving a finance function, with personal involvement in implementing accounting systems, project reporting and financial controls.
• End‑to‑end financial reporting capability, covering management accounts, balance‑sheet reconciliations, year‑end financial statements and audit delivery.
• Experience preparing financial information for shareholders, investors or lenders, and engaging directly with senior commercial stakeholders.
• Strong financial modelling and Excel skills, with the ability to assess development feasibility, funding scenarios and project returns.

Particularly advantageous

• CA(SA), CIMA or an equivalent professional qualification.
• Experience within a property developer, infrastructure developer or development investment platform.
• Direct involvement in securing development finance, negotiating funding terms or managing lender reporting and covenants.
• Experience overseeing several projects at different stages of development.

This role requires both strategic judgement and hands‑on execution. Applicants must be comfortable building processes, working through detailed project financials and taking personal ownership of reporting and delivery.