About the Role

Our client is seeking ahands-on Finance Managerto build and manage core finance operations. You will establish the finance function from the ground up, oversee day-to-day accounting, and provide forward-looking financial models to guide strategic decisions.

This is anoperator role—you’ll roll up your sleeves to implement processes, ensure accurate reporting, and create actionable insights that support growth and stability.

Key Responsibilities
* Own the Books:Set up and manage accounting from scratch in Xero; maintain the general ledger, reconcile accounts, and prepare monthly closes.
Own the Books:Set up and manage accounting from scratch in Xero; maintain the general ledger, reconcile accounts, and prepare monthly closes.
* Payables & Approvals:Oversee supplier payment cycles, manage approval workflows, and improve vendor management and payment terms.
Payables & Approvals:Oversee supplier payment cycles, manage approval workflows, and improve vendor management and payment terms.
* Cash Flow Management:Build and maintain 13-week cash flow forecasts, monitor runway, identify risks, and recommend actions.
Cash Flow Management:Build and maintain 13-week cash flow forecasts, monitor runway, identify risks, and recommend actions.
* Financial Modeling & Forecasting:Develop short- and long-term financial models, scenario plans, and unit economics dashboards to support decision-making.
Financial Modeling & Forecasting:Develop short- and long-term financial models, scenario plans, and unit economics dashboards to support decision-making.
* Reporting & Insights:Deliver monthly management reports, including P&L, balance sheet, cash flow, and key KPIs.
Reporting & Insights:Deliver monthly management reports, including P&L, balance sheet, cash flow, and key KPIs.
* Systems & Controls:Design reliable yet lightweight finance policies, close checklists, and internal controls appropriate for a growing company.
Systems & Controls:Design reliable yet lightweight finance policies, close checklists, and internal controls appropriate for a growing company.
* Compliance Support:Coordinate with external accountants and advisors on tax, payroll inputs, and statutory filings.
Compliance Support:Coordinate with external accountants and advisors on tax, payroll inputs, and statutory filings.
* Cross-Functional Partnership:Work with leadership and department heads to budget, track spend, and improve margins.
Cross-Functional Partnership:Work with leadership and department heads to budget, track spend, and improve margins.

Required Qualifications
* Based in South Africa with full-time availability.
Based in South Africa with full-time availability.
* 4+ years of experience in accounting or finance with full ownership of bookkeeping and monthly close.
4+ years of experience in accounting or finance with full ownership of bookkeeping and monthly close.
* Proficiency inXero.
Proficiency inXero.
* StrongExcel or Google Sheetsskills, including cash flow forecasting and scenario modeling.
StrongExcel or Google Sheetsskills, including cash flow forecasting and scenario modeling.
* Experience managing accounts payable cycles, supplier payments, and approvals.
Experience managing accounts payable cycles, supplier payments, and approvals.
* Process-oriented and capable of building systems and controls in a lean environment.
Process-oriented and capable of building systems and controls in a lean environment.
* Strong communicator who can translate financial data into clear business recommendations.
Strong communicator who can translate financial data into clear business recommendations.

Nice to Have
* Experience working inhigh-growth startupsorsmall to medium-sized businesses (SMBs).
Experience working inhigh-growth startupsorsmall to medium-sized businesses (SMBs).
* Exposure toinvestment tracking,foreign exchange (FX), ormulti-entity structures.
Exposure toinvestment tracking,foreign exchange (FX), ormulti-entity structures.
* Familiarity withbudgeting toolsorlightweight business intelligence (BI)platforms.
Familiarity withbudgeting toolsorlightweight business intelligence (BI)platforms.

Tools Used
* Xero– Accounting
Xero– Accounting
* Excel / Google Sheets– Financial modeling and reporting
Excel / Google Sheets– Financial modeling and reporting