Senior Financial Manager

Our client, a major industrial equipment and services organisation supporting the mining, construction and related sectors, is seeking an experienced Senior Financial Manager to join its Rental and Used business on a 6-month contract.

This is a senior finance leadership role responsible for strengthening financial governance, overseeing shared services and supporting the operational business through sound financial and commercial decision-making. The successful candidate will take ownership of financial reporting, working capital optimisation, internal controls, planning and forecasting, audit delivery and continuous improvement across the finance function.

The role oversees finance activities across five statutory entities and acts as a key business partner to regional finance leaders and operational teams, reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the shared services finance function across five statutory entities, including the general ledger, accounts payable and intercompany processes.
• Review and approve general ledger reconciliations, including payroll-related reconciliations.
• Manage and optimise working capital, including oversight and approval of weekly cash-flow forecasts.
• Drive initiatives to maximise cash collections and improve overall cash management.
• Lead financial planning and analysis, including strategic business planning, budgeting and forecasting.
• Coordinate internal and external audits and drive the successful completion of the external audit process.
• Ensure audit findings and control deficiencies are addressed timeously and effectively.
• Implement, monitor and continually strengthen internal controls and corporate governance.
• Manage the regional risk register and ensure appropriate mitigating actions are implemented.
• Provide financial and commercial guidance to operational stakeholders and act as a business partner to regional finance and operational teams.
• Manage supplier relationships and relevant commercial contracts.
• Identify and drive finance, systems and process improvement initiatives.
• Oversee finance and operational improvement projects where required.
• Lead, coach and develop the finance team, ensuring appropriate capability and performance.
• Build effective relationships with senior internal and external stakeholders and support commercially sound decision-making.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Commerce degree or another relevant tertiary qualification.
• CA(SA) preferred, or substantial senior financial management experience within a comparable complex operating environment.
• Minimum 8 years' post-articles experience, with at least 3 years at senior management level.
• Strong working knowledge of IFRS and financial reporting.
• Demonstrated experience managing a substantial finance function, ideally covering:
  • General ledger
  • Accounts payable
  • Intercompany accounting
  • Working capital and cash-flow management
  • Planning and forecasting
  • Internal controls
  • Internal and external audit
• Strong understanding of corporate governance, tax and applicable financial legislation.
• Experience with ERP systems, including SAP.
• Proven financial and commercial business-partnering capability.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and business decision-making skills.
• Experience identifying and managing financial and operational risks.
• Strong programme/project management and process-improvement capability.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and develop a diverse finance team.
• Ability to operate strategically while maintaining strong attention to operational and financial detail.
• Strong stakeholder-management, influencing, negotiation and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure, manage competing priorities and make sound independent decisions.
• High levels of integrity, accountability, resilience and professional judgement.