Head of Finance

SUMMARY:
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POSITION INFO:

Company Overview

Cash Crusaders is South Africa's largest second-hand retailer, founded in 1996 and headquartered in Cape Town. With over 280 retail stores nationwide, we specialize in buying, selling, and pawning a wide range of new and pre-owned goods, including electronics, appliances, jewellery, musical instruments, and more. We also provide short-term cash loans and pawning services, empowering entrepreneurs and communities through accessible retail and financial solutions. The business is split into 3 divisions:

• Franchising (Original franchise company with approx. 120 stores)
• CCW (New Goods imports and supply chain solutions)
• Corporate stores (Company owned outlets with approx. 160 stores)

Job Title: Head of Finance

Department: Finance

Reports to: Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Location: Cape Town, South Africa

Employment Type: Full-time,

Job Summary

The Head of Finance acts as a strategic deputy to the CFO and the head of administration, financial reporting and compliance. Managing the financial operations of Cash Crusaders' retail network and lending activities. The ideal candidate will have deep experience in financial management, including payroll.

Key Responsibilities

• Team Leadership: Mentor and lead a finance team in excess of 30 members across all 3 divisions, promoting a culture of excellence, ethical practices, and adaptability in a franchised retail setting. Responsibilities include succession planning, skills development, and fostering excellence and accuracy within the finance team.
• Operational Finance Management: Lead accounting, treasury, tax, and audit processes, ensuring accurate reporting, cash flow optimization, and compliance with IFRS, South African Revenue Service (SARS) requirements, and the Companies Act.
• Managing the Payroll Department: Take overall responsibility for the design, implementation, and monitoring of all payroll-related functions within the organization. This includes overseeing monthly and ad-hoc payroll runs for both corporate stores and head offices, ensuring that employees are paid accurately and on time across multiple store locations. The Head of Finance will be accountable for compliance with statutory requirements, including PAYE, UIF, SDL, and pension/provident fund contributions, as well as ensuring alignment with collective agreements, BCEA provisions, and internal company policies. Duties also extend to the management of payroll audits, internal controls, and the integration of payroll systems with HR and finance platforms. The role further requires maintaining payroll data confidentiality, overseeing third-party vendor relationships for payroll systems, resolving payroll-related disputes, and providing strategic recommendations to optimize payroll efficiency and accuracy. Additionally, the Head of Finance will ensure payroll reporting contributes effectively to overall financial planning and analysis, delivering insights into labor cost trends, overtime, and incentive structures.
• Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A): Develop and oversee annual budgets, forecasts, and multi-year financial strategies, accounting for seasonal retail trends, franchise royalties, pawn loan interest, and inventory cycles specific to second-hand goods.
• Risk Management and Compliance: Establish internal controls and manage risks associated with retail and lending, including adherence to the National Credit Act (NCA), National Credit Regulator (NCR) guidelines, Second-Hand Goods Act, Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA), and anti-money laundering regulations.
• Strategic Support: Deliver financial modeling for business decisions, such as franchise expansions, store acquisitions, or digital lending initiatives, while advising the CFO on South African economic factors like inflation, exchange rates, and consumer spending trends.
• Cost Control and Optimization: Analyze and reduce costs across Corporate stores, Franchise operations and supply chain
• Stakeholder Engagement: Partner with franchisees, executives, auditors, banks, and regulators (e.g., FSCA) to present financial metrics, KPIs, and insights, including franchise performance reports. Serve as a trusted advisor to stakeholders by communicating financial implications in accessible language.
• Technology Integration: Implement and enhance financial systems (e.g., ERP like Sage or Pastel). Champion the adoption of automation and analytics tools to enhance financial accuracy and decision-making speed.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Commerce, or a related field; Master's degree or MBA preferred.
• Professional certification such as CA(SA)
• At least 12-15 years of progressive finance experience, with 5-7 years in a senior role preferably in retail or franchising
• Experience in managing payroll operations at a senior level, including knowledge of South African labor law, statutory deductions, and payroll systems integration with HR and ERP platforms (Sage 300)
• Experience in a franchised or multi-site environment, with knowledge of South African regulatory frameworks for credit providers and second-hand dealers and advantage.
• Proven track record managing substantial budgets (R 1bn and above)

Skills and Competencies

• Leadership and Communication: Excellent interpersonal skills to lead and manage a large financial team. Influence stakeholders, including clear communication of financial data to non-finance teams like franchise operations.
• Adaptability: Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, franchised retail environment with multiple priorities.
• Technical Proficiency: Proficiency in financial software (Sage one and Sage intact)
• Excel Proficiency: Highly skilled and well versed in Microsoft Excel
• Payroll Expertise: Strong understanding of payroll governance, systems, and compliance, with the ability to translate payroll data into actionable financial insights.
• Problem-Solving: Skilled at addressing issues around financial reporting , tax and year end audits.
• Ethical Integrity: Dedication to ethical financial practices and transparency, in line with local governance standards.
• Analytical and Strategic Thinking: Strong capability to analyze complex data, forecast retail and lending trends, and offer insights tailored to South Africa's economic context.

What We Offer

• Competitive remuneration package, including annual performance bonuses, medical aid, pension fund contributions, and employee discounts on products.
• Professional development opportunities and career progression within South Africa's leading second-hand retailer.
• A collaborative, entrepreneurial culture that values innovation