Senior Fractional Financial Manager

Finovate Group; Somerset West, Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Finovate SA, a Somerset West-based fractional CFO firm, is seeking a Senior Fractional Financial Manager to oversee a client portfolio and provide strategic financial leadership. You will lead client meetings, review junior staff work, and deliver timely financial reporting and tax readiness.

This role blends hands-on accounting with advisory leadership in a hybrid setup. Ideal candidates hold a CA(SA) or equivalent, with 5–7 years in accounting or client-facing finance, and experience with IFRS

Qualifications

• BCom with Honours in Accounting or Finance required.
• Qualified CA(SA), CIMA CGMA, AGA(SA) or SAIPA Professional Accountant required.
• 5–7 years in accounting or client‑facing finance role, with at least 2 years post‑qualification.
• Proven ability to review others' work and lead client meetings independently.
• Strong IFRS for SMEs knowledge, tax legislation and management accounting.

Responsibilities

• Review monthly management accounts and reports, and prepare them when required.
• Oversee monthly reconciliations: payroll, VAT, bank, balance sheet and income statement.
• Prepare and review annual financial statements and schedules.
• Lead client budgeting, forecasting, cost modelling and unit economics.
• Lead annual income tax planning and tax readiness with the Tax & Compliance team.
• Design, document and implement SOPs and cadences for clients.
• Lead monthly financial meetings independently with insights and recommendations.
• Advise clients on cash flow management and financial decisions.
• Develop financial dashboards and management information tools.
• Lead special projects: system implementations and due diligence.
• Manage audit and independent review processes and resolve queries.
• Identify additional Finovate service opportunities within portfolio.
• Coach Junior Fractional Financial Managers and Management Accountants.

Skills

Leadership

Client meetings

Financial analysis

Communication

Strategic advising

Education

BCom with Honours in Accounting or Finance

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

Tools

Xero

QuickBooks

Dext

ApprovalMax

Draftworx

Cin7 Core

Job description

Think of a CA(SA), CIMA CGMA, AGA(SA) or SAIPA professional with 5 to 7 years' experience (at least 2 post-qualification) in an accounting firm or client-facing finance role, who has moved beyond preparing accounts to reviewing and signing off on others' work and running a client portfolio. They lead monthly client meetings on their own, give proactive cash flow and budgeting advice, build SOPs and reporting cadences, and coach juniors. They live Finovate's values of servant heart, growth mindset and extreme ownership.

Job Spec

About the role Finovate SA is a Somerset West-based fractional CFO firm that partners with South African SMEs to deliver strategic financial leadership, accounting, tax and compliance support. As a Senior Fractional Financial Manager you will manage the financial operations and reporting of a portfolio of clients, working independently as their trusted financial advisor and reviewing the work of Junior Fractional Financial Managers and Management Accountants. You will take full responsibility for delivery across your client portfolio. You will lead client meetings and coach the junior team.

What you'll be doing

• Review monthly management accounts and reports, and prepare them where required
• Oversee monthly reconciliations: payroll, VAT, bank, balance sheet and income statement
• Prepare and review annual financial statements and supporting schedules
• Lead client budgeting, forecasting, cost modelling and unit economics
• Lead annual income tax planning and tax readiness with the Tax & Compliance team
• Design, document and implement SOPs and financial management cadences for clients
• Lead monthly financial meetings independently, giving insights and recommendations
• Advise clients on cash flow management and financial decision-making
• Develop financial reporting dashboards and management information tools
• Lead special projects: system implementations, restructuring support and due diligence
• Manage audit and independent review processes and resolve audit queries
• Identify additional Finovate service opportunities within your portfolio
• Coach and review the work of Junior Fractional Financial Managers and Management Accountants
• Support the Fractional CFO with high-quality financial information

What we're looking for

• BCom degree or Honours in Accounting or Finance
• Qualified CA(SA), CIMA CGMA, AGA(SA) or SAIPA Professional Accountant (required)
• 5 to 7 years' experience including traineeship (minimum 2 years post-qualification) in an accounting firm or client-facing finance role
• Proven experience reviewing others' work and leading client meetings independently
• Strong understanding of IFRS for SMEs, tax legislation and management accounting
• Proficiency in Xero, QuickBooks, Dext, ApprovalMax, Draftworx or similar
• Cin7 Core or similar inventory/ERP platform (advantageous)
• SARS eFiling experience (advantageous); international or cross-border exposure (advantageous)
• Strong communication and relationship management skills; able to manage multiple clients and deadlines
• Openness to AI and emerging technologies

Finovate's values

• Servant heart
• Growth mindset
• Team player
• Extreme ownership

Details Reports to: Fractional FM – Team Lead Location: Somerset West / Cape Town hybrid Target start date: 4 January 2027