Finance Manager (Systems Strategic Finance)

Location: Johannesburg

Role Level: Mid-to-Senior Management

Salary: R55000 R75000 CTC per month

The Opportunity

We are transitioning from a high-growth startup to a stabilized, scalable enterprise. We are looking for a Finance Manager who is a hybrid of a traditional financial controller and a systems architect.

Your mission is to build our financial engine. You wont just be managing spreadsheets; you will be leading the projects that automate our core operationsspecifically Automated Driver Payments and Invoicing Automationto ensure our financial infrastructure can handle 10x our current volume without 10x the headcount.

Core Responsibilities

1. Systems, Technology Automation

• Project Leadership: Lead the implementation of Automated Driver Payments, integrating dispatch data with payment gateways for seamless disbursements.

• Invoicing Automation: Architect an Order-to-Cash system that automates billing for B2B clients, significantly reducing manual errors and Days Sales Outstanding (DSO).

• Continuous Improvement: Identify manual friction points in the finance workflow and deploy software solutions or API integrations to eliminate them.

2. Financial Planning, Analysis (FPA) Strategy

• Forecasting Budgeting: Develop and maintain rolling 12-month forecasts and annual budgets that provide the roadmap for stable growth.

• Capital Allocation: Provide data-driven recommendations on where to deploy capital (fleet, tech, or expansion) to maximize ROI.

• Strategic Financial Management: Act as a key advisor to the Executive Team, providing the financial modelling needed to support long-term company strategy.

• MA Support: Manage financial due diligence and valuation modeling for potential acquisitions or strategic partnerships.

3. Financial Operations Reporting

• Financial Reporting: Own the month-end close process and deliver accurate PL, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow statements.

• Cost Management Optimization: Identify inefficiencies in the delivery chain through granular unit-economic analysis (e.g., Cost per Delivery).

• Treasury Management: Oversee liquidity, cash flow forecasting, and banking relationships to ensure business stable reserves.

• Tax Compliance: Manage corporate tax filings, VAT, and ensure all regulatory reporting is airtight and audit-ready.

4. Risk, Governance Leadership

• Risk Management: Develop frameworks to mitigate financial risks, including fuel price volatility and credit risk.

• Corporate Governance: Establish internal controls and approval hierarchies that maintain integrity as the team grows.

• Investor Relations: Maintain the company data room and lead financial communications for shareholders and board members.

• Leadership: Recruit, mentor, and manage a lean, high-performing finance team.

The Ideal Candidate

• Experience: 3 years Post Articles and experience in finance/accounting, with a proven track record in a high-volume logistics, marketplace, or fintech environment.

• The Automator Mindset: You have successfully moved a company from manual processes to automated systems (ERP implementations, API integrations, etc.).

• Technical Savvy: Advanced Excel/SQL skills and experience with modern finance stacks (e.g., NetSuite, Sage, Xero, or specialized Fintech tools).

• Education: CA(SA)

• Collaborative: Ability to partner closely with the COO to optimize costs without interfering with daily operations.

Success Metrics (The First 12 Months)

Zero-Touch Payouts: Implementation of a fully automated driver payment system.

DSO Reduction: A measurable decrease in the time between delivery and payment collection through automated invoicing.

Audit Readiness: Transitioning the books to a state where an external audit can be completed with zero material findings.

Reporting Speed: Reducing the month-end close cycle by 50% through systems integration.