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Controller / Finance Operations

Somewhere

Fully Remote
📍 Johannesburg
🇿🇦 SA Friendly: 1.0/1.0

🇿🇦 Hirezar Summary for South African Applicants

This fully remote full time position at Somewhere is open to applicants from South Africa. This role is suited for senior-level professionals. As a remote position, you can work from anywhere in South Africa — whether you're based in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, or a smaller town.

Job Description

Controller / Finance Operations Lead

Employment Type:Full time, independent contractor

Work Model:Remote

Work Hours:US work hours alignment

Role Summary

We are seeking a commercially sharp, process-drivenController / Finance Operations Leadto professionalize, streamline, and scale the financial infrastructure of our fast-moving media and e-commerce ecosystem. This isnota rigid, traditional corporate accounting position. We are looking for an entrepreneurial financial operator who can thrive in a high-growth startup environment characterized by rapid experimentation, multiple monetization channels, and fluid operational priorities.

Reporting directly to leadership, you will take full ownership of our financial operations—bridging the gap between day-to-day bookkeeping and high-level strategic forecasting. You will be tasked with cleaning up legacy processes, building robust cash flow models, and deep-diving into cross-channel profitability (merchandise, sponsorships, and digital media) to ensure we scale predictably and remain entirely audit-ready.

Key Responsibilities

1. Financial Operations & Accounting Infrastructure
* Month-End Close:Own the end-to-end month-end close process and compile highly accurate financial reporting packages for leadership.
Month-End Close:Own the end-to-end month-end close process and compile highly accurate financial reporting packages for leadership.
* Systems Architecture:Audit, improve, and scale internal financial systems, automation workflows, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Systems Architecture:Audit, improve, and scale internal financial systems, automation workflows, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
* Cross-Functional Coordination:Manage day-to-day accounts payable (AP), accounts receivable (AR), and vendor management pipelines, while serving as the primary point of coordination for external accountants and bookkeepers.
Cross-Functional Coordination:Manage day-to-day accounts payable (AP), accounts receivable (AR), and vendor management pipelines, while serving as the primary point of coordination for external accountants and bookkeepers.
* Due Diligence Support:Maintain meticulous financial organization and clean historical records to support investor diligence and strategic capital planning.
Due Diligence Support:Maintain meticulous financial organization and clean historical records to support investor diligence and strategic capital planning.

2. E-Commerce, Media, & Profitability Analysis
* Unit Economics Tracking:Systematically track inventory cycles, Cost of Goods Sold (COGS), landed costs, and real-time product margins.
Unit Economics Tracking:Systematically track inventory cycles, Cost of Goods Sold (COGS), landed costs, and real-time product margins.
* Multi-Channel Analysis:Perform deep-dive profitability analysis across distinct revenue streams, specifically breaking down performance across e-commerce merchandise, media assets, and brand sponsorships.
Multi-Channel Analysis:Perform deep-dive profitability analysis across distinct revenue streams, specifically breaking down performance across e-commerce merchandise, media assets, and brand sponsorships.
* Data Integration:Ensure seamless financial data synchronization across core platform tools (e.g., Shopify, payment gateways, and banking ledgers).
Data Integration:Ensure seamless financial data synchronization across core platform tools (e.g., Shopify, payment gateways, and banking ledgers).

3. Forecasting, Budgeting, & Strategic Planning
* Cash Flow Modeling:Build, maintain, and stress-test dynamic rolling cash flow forecasts to manage working capital requirements efficiently.
Cash Flow Modeling:Build, maintain, and stress-test dynamic rolling cash flow forecasts to manage working capital requirements efficiently.
* Budgetary Guardrails:Partner with executive leadership to develop departmental budgets, monitor variance, and support long-term strategic growth planning.
Budgetary Guardrails:Partner with executive leadership to develop departmental budgets, monitor variance, and support long-term strategic growth planning.

Required Skills & Qualifications
* Experience:4+ years of progressive experience in accounting, finance, or corporate controller roles—ideally within a fast-paced startup or agency setting.
Experience:4+ years of progressive experience in accounting, finance, or corporate controller roles—ideally within a fast-paced startup or agency setting.
* US Market Fluency:A rigorous understanding of U.S. accounting principles and corporate financial workflows.
US Market Fluency:A rigorous understanding of U.S. accounting principles and corporate financial workflows.
* Business Model Context:Direct experience working withe-commerce, Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) brands, or digital media/creator companiesis highly preferred.
Business Model Context:Direct experience working withe-commerce, Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) brands, or digital media/creator companiesis highly preferred.
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Tips for South African Applicants

Timezone Advantage

South Africa (SAST, UTC+2) overlaps well with European business hours and has a few hours of overlap with US East Coast. Mention your timezone flexibility in your application.

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Salary in Context

Even without a listed salary, international remote roles typically pay 2-3x more than equivalent local positions in South Africa due to the exchange rate advantage.

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Application Tips

Tailor your CV to international standards — use a clean format, highlight remote work experience, and include your English proficiency. Many SA applicants succeed by emphasising their strong work ethic and cultural adaptability.

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Load Shedding Preparedness

If you're applying for a remote role, having a backup power solution (UPS, inverter, or generator) and mobile data as a backup internet connection shows employers you're prepared for South Africa's infrastructure challenges.

About Somewhere

Somewhere is a company in the Recruitment & Staffing industry that hires remote workers from South Africa. They currently have 686 open positions on Hirezar. View all Somewhere jobs →