Financial Controller

SUMMARY:
Location: Gqeberha (Nelson Mandela Bay), Eastern Cape, Southern Africa, South Africa. On-site.
Department: Finance, Governance and Risk
Reporting Line: Reports to the CEO. Line-manages the Finance and HR Administrator
Closing date for submissions: Friday, 4 December 2026

Purpose
Lead the finance function and the day-to-day governance, compliance and risk work of a donor-funded, science-based non-profit trust and its subsidiaries. Funding comes mainly from multi-year international grants, alongside corporate partnerships and earned income. The role therefore combines sound fund accounting with close attention to funding agreements, statutory obligations and audit readiness. You will review, sign off, analyse and control, supported by an administrator who handles processing and records, and work alongside external accountants, auditors, legal advisers and an HR adviser.

Key areas: month-end close and Board reporting, cash and budgeting, donor financial management, payroll and tax compliance, trustee and company secretarial administration, and risk and contracts.

Qualifications and Experience

• BCom (Accounting), BCompt or equivalent degree
• At least five years’ accounting experience, including at least two years running a month-end close and supervising staff
• Donor-funded or NPO financial management experience, including grant accounting and funder reporting in foreign currencies, is strongly preferred
• Working knowledge of South African payroll and tax compliance, and of PBO and NPO requirements
• Experience of statutory compliance and governance administration. Company secretarial experience (trust deeds, company MOIs, Companies Act) is an advantage
• Experience reviewing contracts and identifying legal or financial risk is an advantage
• Experience preparing for and managing audits under IFRS for SMEs
• Advanced Excel, and proficiency in Sage (or similar) and a cloud-based payroll system
• Excellent written and spoken English

• High integrity, discretion and attention to detail
• Takes ownership: tracks own deadlines, raises risks early and closes work out without being chased
• Communicates clearly and directly, and can explain financial information to non-finance colleagues and trustees
• Builds systems and develops others rather than absorbing the work personally
• Works well to tight deadlines in a small, busy team; practical and service-oriented
• Culturally sensitive and comfortable in a cross-cultural African environment
• Passionate about the organisation’s mission

• Full-time fixed-term contract to 28 February 2028, renewable subject to funding
• Start date: as soon as possible in early 2027
• Salary: competitive, market-related.  
• Eligible to work in South Africa. Valid driver’s licence essential; must be comfortable driving alone
• Clean criminal and credit history (essential)
• Shortlisted candidates complete a practical financial assessment

POSITION INFO:
Financial Controller