Finance Manager | Johannesburg | Permanent

Lead a high-impact finance function within a developmental finance environment where strong financial governance directly supports organisational sustainability and strategic decision-making. This is an opportunity for an experienced finance professional to combine technical accounting expertise, people leadership and strategic financial insight.

The Finance Manager will oversee the day-to-day financial management function, ensuring accurate reporting, effective controls, regulatory compliance and sound financial governance. The role will take responsibility for management accounts, annual financial statements, budgeting, cash management, portfolio-related financial activities, audit coordination and statutory reporting.

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Finance Manager will play an important role in strengthening the overall control environment and providing reliable financial information to support management and organisational decision-making. The position will also lead and develop the finance team, ensuring that outputs are accurate, timely and aligned with applicable policies, legislation and regulatory requirements.

The organisation is a national developmental finance institution established to promote and facilitate black economic participation through financial and non-financial support to black-owned and managed businesses. Operating within a highly regulated public-sector environment, the institution places strong emphasis on financial stewardship, governance, accountability and sustainable economic impact.

What You'll Do

Financial Management

• Oversee the day-to-day financial operations, including payroll, invoicing and other financial transactions.

• Manage and develop finance department staff and ensure appropriate allocation and quality of work.

• Oversee external financial services where required, including tax, audit, banking and investment-related services.

• Monitor financial performance and identify opportunities for improvement and cost reduction.

• Provide accurate and insightful financial information to management to support decision-making.

• Lead the preparation of the organisational budget and support effective MTEF and ENE processes.

• Establish, maintain and review finance policies, procedures and controls.

• Review the general ledger and ensure reconciliations are completed and appropriately signed off before management accounts are finalised.

• Ensure timely and accurate creditor payments.

• Monitor developments in IFRS, GRAP and relevant legislation, regulations and instructions and incorporate applicable requirements into finance policies and processes.

• Coordinate annual planning and year-end audit activities.

• Drive timely completion of the year-end audit within approved timelines and budget.

• Support the achievement of an unmodified audit outcome with minimal significant management findings.

Statutory and Regulatory Management

• Oversee monthly and quarterly financial reporting.

• Ensure compliance with statutory requirements relating to financial control, financial management and accounting.

• Coordinate external audit arrangements and manage the audit process.

• Support the successful completion of annual audits.

• Contribute to relevant sections of the integrated annual report and ensure accurate and timely submissions.

• Maintain a strong working knowledge of PFMA requirements, National Treasury regulations and relevant regulatory frameworks.

Reporting and Governance

• Review financial data and prepare monthly and annual financial reports.

• Ensure monthly management accounts are finalised accurately and on time.

• Provide management with useful financial and strategic insights rather than purely historical reporting.

• Ensure compliance with PFMA, National Treasury and dtic reporting requirements.

• Prepare ad hoc financial reports for the dtic and National Treasury.

• Ensure accurate and compliant preparation of annual financial statements and National Treasury reporting packs.

• Maintain current and approved finance policies and procedures.

• Drive timely resolution of audit findings within agreed implementation dates.

• Manage the finance function within approved departmental budgets.

Portfolio and Cash Management

• Ensure accurate and timely processing of investment disbursements.

• Oversee collections and debit orders.

• Ensure appropriate and accurate processing of impairments and write-offs.

• Provide portfolio analysis that supports strategic business decisions.

• Ensure weekly and monthly bank reconciliations are reviewed in accordance with finance standards and procedures.

• Optimise cash management and returns within applicable governance requirements.

• Maintain effective banking relationships.

Risk Management

• Identify and implement measures to minimise financial risk.

• Monitor developments in accounting technology and financial systems.

• Support the effective use of accounting systems and technology within the finance function.

• Identify opportunities to strengthen financial controls and the broader control environment.

People Management

• Develop team work plans and allocate responsibilities according to business requirements.

• Monitor performance and ensure finance outputs meet required standards.

• Drive productivity, delivery and accountability across the team.

• Provide mentorship, coaching and development opportunities.

• Build technical capability and maintain high levels of team engagement and performance.

What You Bring

• A BCom degree in Finance or Accounting.

• An Honours degree in Finance, Accounting or a related discipline.

• At least 8 years' progressively responsible financial management experience.

• Proven experience managing finance staff.

• Strong experience preparing monthly management reports and annual financial statements.

• Experience managing internal and external audits.

• Thorough working knowledge of GRAP and IFRS.

• Practical understanding of PFMA and National Treasury regulations.

• Practical IFRS 9 experience.

• Experience in budget preparation, financial reporting and financial analysis.

• Experience preparing and finalising accounts in accordance with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

• Strong Excel and computer literacy, with experience using accounting systems or financial software.

• The ability to analyse financial and statistical information and translate it into clear, useful insights for non-financial stakeholders.

• CA(SA) qualification will be advantageous.

What Success Looks Like

• Accurate and timely monthly management accounts and annual financial statements.

• Strong financial controls and an improved overall control environment.

• Consistent compliance with PFMA, National Treasury, dtic, IFRS, GRAP and other applicable requirements.

• Effective budget preparation, monitoring and reporting.

• Audit processes are well planned, efficiently managed and completed within approved timelines.

• Audit findings are resolved within agreed implementation dates.

• Financial information provides meaningful insight for management and strategic decision-making.

• Cash, portfolio transactions, collections, impairments and write-offs are managed accurately and efficiently.

• Finance policies and procedures remain current, effective and appropriately approved.

• The finance team delivers consistently against agreed work plans and standards.

• Financial risks are identified early and appropriate mitigating actions are implemented.