Head of Commercial Finance

SUMMARY:
Our client, a leading Financial Institution is looking for a highly skilled Head of Commercial Finance to join their team.

POSITION INFO:

Responsibilities:
Team leadership and culture

• Management of the Commercial Finance team and delivery of financial performance and analysis to support business decision making by creating clear functional area deliverables and aligning resources behind that, managing any setbacks proactively and mitigating risks; and
• Creating a team culture with a clear focus on continuous improvement, problem solving and development, ensuring a high level of

• Support the CFO in communicating financial strategy (aligned with companies’ strategy), associated issues and recommending improvements to the executives and
• Production of the five-year business plan and financial
• Provide the CFO, executives, and the Board with relevant, timely and accurate information to enable them to assess performance against strategy.
• Support the CFO and business executives to develop key financial KPI’s that can be used to assess the success of the business and financial strategy; and
• Assess competitor and market information, provide insight, and assist decision

• Track performance against key targets and outcomes and produce
• management information at a segmental level for business leaders and consolidated level for executives and the
• Ensure that all routine management information is produced in a timely manner seeking opportunities for automating processes and leveraging business
• Highlight key trends, required actions and strategic implications; and
• Build strong relationships with internal

• Develop, implement, and maintain effective planning and analysis capability to provide business leaders with analysis to establish goals and measure performance at a granular level (product, service, etc.).
• Project manage end-to-end delivery of budgeting and forecasting processes, including communication, timetables, and data
• Ensure the integrity of financial models and projections through implementation of suitable controls, documentation, and testing; and
• Produce professional reports and presentations summarizing the forecasts for business leaders, executives, and the

• Coordinate the capital spend review for the company, collaborating with business on their requirements and the technical accounting team on the nature of
• Create and develop ad hoc financial models and analysis as required to assist strategic initiatives and business cases.
• Lead the financial due diligence efforts related to M&A activity and support with financial
• Lead scenario modelling to assess risks and decision making; and
• Actively manage relevant risks (operational, people, strategic) in the Commercial Finance

• A professional Chartered Accountant, registered with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants.
• At least 3 – 5 years’ meaningful experience leading an FP&A function and managing teams of 5+ people.
• At least 3 – 5 years’ experience working at the “top of house”, engaging with internal and external stakeholders on budgets, forecasting and financial performance.

• The ideal candidate will have at least 10 – 15 years’ qualified CA (SA) experience in financial services, preferably in a finance function in capital markets or investment management.
• Post-graduate management qualification or diploma (e.g., MBA).

• Sound technical accounting knowledge and experience preparing budgets, reports (for a range of stakeholders including Board and analysts) and forecasts (income statement, balance sheet, cash flow and capital adequacy projections).
• Experience coordinating the capital spend allocation and review process and building long-term feasibility models to support the business’s strategic agenda.
• Demonstrated strategic nous in supporting business as a thought partner in developing their strategic plans and providing financial data to enable decision making and strategic trade-offs.
• Track-record of conceptualizing, collaboratively planning and developing processes that annually improve finance delivery as it relates to annual budgets, reporting and insights.
• Excellent interpersonal skills managing and growing a team of finance professionals able to effectively delegate and develop individuals to perform higher levels of work.
• Demonstrated experience scoping deliverables, engaging with external partners/ consultants, and ensuring outputs are aligned with expectations.
• Strong financial analysis skills, general business acumen and insights into critical business functions.

• Credible knowledge of the industry and evolution of the exchange ecosystem as evidenced in senior management roles in financial services companies.
• Tangible experience implementing finance transformation projects that drive automation and efficiencies.
• Demonstrated experience working in complex financial services organisation with cross-functional mandates, building relationships and demonstrating value-add on behalf of the finance function.
• Demonstrated experience directly managing budgets and allocating resources.
• Tangible experience supporting the business with delivering the strategy as it relates to M&A transactions from a financial forecasting and due diligence standpoint.

• Strategic orientation
• Results delivery
• Stakeholder relationship management
• Change leadership
• Technical expertise