Head of Finance

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS A CA(SA), CIMA/CGMA, or equivalent recognised professional accounting qualification is preferred. A qualified actuary (AMASSA or FASSA) may also be considered where the candidate has demonstrated finance leadership, financial reporting, commercial finance and control experience. An additional qualification or substantive experience in insurance, financial services, risk or actuarial environments will be advantageous. At least five years of relevant post-qualification experience in a finance management or senior finance role, preferably within financial services, insurance or a similarly regulated environment. Candidates who completed accounting articles should have at least five years of post-articles experience. SKILLS & EXPERIENCE Demonstrated experience leading or building a finance function in a start-up, growth or transformation environment. Strong financial accounting, management accounting, FP&A and cash-flow management capability. Strong commercial acumen and ability to partner with executive and commercial teams. Experience designing and implementing finance policies, processes, controls and governance frameworks. Experience implementing, integrating and optimising finance and operational systems in a comparable business, including systems for financial accounting and reporting, together with systems supporting revenue, billing and collections, procurement, payments, expense management, payroll and other operational processes. Working knowledge of the insurance regulatory environment, applicable reporting requirements and relevant industry practices, with the ability to obtain specialist input where required. Strong understanding of accounting principles, financial reporting, tax and applicable regulatory requirements. Strong stakeholder management, interpersonal, communication, influencing and presentation skills. Strong understanding of end-to-end finance and business systems architecture, including interfaces, master data, automated workflows, access controls and reconciliations across accounting, revenue, procurement and operational platforms, with the ability to translate business requirements into scalable system solutions. Demonstrated experience managing, developing and holding finance team members and external service providers accountable for agreed deliverables. A hands-on, entrepreneurial and solutions-oriented approach.