The Regional Finance Controller plays a critical role in ensuring the financial health and sustainability of the assigned region. This position is responsible for providing strategic financial guidance, maintaining robust financial controls, and delivering accurate and timely financial information to support decision-making. By overseeing financial operations and collaborating with regional and corporate teams, the Regional Finance Manager helps drive profitability, manage risk, and ensure compliance with regulatory and corporate standards.
Financial Reporting & Analysis:
- Oversee and manage all finance operations for Africa, including reporting, planning, revenues to receipt, the expense to pay and tax.
- Provide management and oversight for all financial controlling and technical (tax and audit) accounting activities.
- Analyse financial results and provide insights to senior management on performance against budgets and forecasts.
- Lead and manage month end and year end closing activities to group timelines
- Responsible for implementing the audit framework objectives across the region and managing compliance to the framework.
- Responsible for the regional accounting, consolidation and tax positions including management of the relevant annual audit process.
- Engagement with external auditors to ensure smooth flow of information to the audit process and swift resolution of issues.
Internal Controls & Compliance:
- Responsible for the overall understanding of end to end finance controlling processes and ensure relevant internal controls are in place to provide management with assurance on the quality of information in the Accounting system
- Ensure that all financial operations within the region comply with company policies, apply consistent and standardised global accounting practices, and regulatory requirements.
- Provide management and oversight for compliance in tax related matters, ensuring all returns and other statistical information are submitted with high quality on a timely basis.
- Manage tax compliance of the company in each jurisdiction, with the assistance of the tax consultants where required.
- Develop, implement, and maintain strong internal controls to safeguard company assets.
Team Leadership & Development:
- Manage, mentor, and develop the regional finance team, ensuring high levels of performance and engagement.
- Foster a collaborative environment and promote continuous learning and professional development.
Strategic Financial Planning:
- Support senior management in strategic planning activities by providing financial insights and analysis.
- Evaluate investment opportunities, cost-saving initiatives, and other financial strategies to enhance profitability.
- Collaborate with regional business units to align financial goals with operational strategies.
- Proactively liaise with the bank, auditors, government agencies, persons and entities related to the job.
Cash Flow & Treasury Management:
- Monitor and manage regional cash flow, ensuring adequate liquidity for operations.
- Optimize working capital and support treasury functions, including foreign exchange management and banking relationships.
Payroll Management:
- Review, pay and record the monthly payroll including permanent & casual staff and students and their related social security, tax and insurance payments.
- Liaise with our third-party payroll provider to ensure that employees are paid correctly and in a timely manner.
Cross-functional Collaboration:
- Work closely with other departments and regions (e.g., Operations, Sales, HR) to support business initiatives and ensure financial objectives are met.
- Act as a financial advisor to regional management, providing guidance on financial implications of business decisions.
Risk Management:
- Identify, assess, and mitigate financial risks within the region.
- Ensure robust risk management practices are in place and aligned with corporate policies.
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field; CPA, ACCA, CA, or equivalent certification preferred.
- At least 10 years of relevant accounting/finance experience
- CA (SA), CIMA, CPA, ACCA or equivalent
- Strong knowledge of accounting principles, financial reporting, and regulatory requirements.
- Experience in audit and international accounting
- Experience working in the SA, Rest of Africa & KSA markets with strong knowledge of local laws and regulations
- Proven experience in budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis.
- Excellent leadership and team management skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
- Proficiency in financial software and ERP systems with advanced excel experience