Head of Finance
Location: Johannesburg
Employment Type: Full-Time | Senior Management
Industry: Technology | Group Finance | International Operations
WatersEdge Solutions is partnering with a growing international technology business to find an experienced Head of Finance to take full ownership of its group finance function.
Based in Mauritius and reporting directly to executive leadership, this is a genuinely hands-on senior finance role spanning multiple international entities. You’ll be responsible for everything from financial reporting, consolidations, cash flow and payroll through to tax, audits, Xero governance and the financial setup of new entities as the group expands.
About the Role
The Head of Finance will have end-to-end responsibility for the finance function across entities in Mauritius, South Africa and the UK, as well as new entities established as the business expands internationally.
You’ll operate as both a strategic finance partner to leadership and the person ultimately accountable for the accuracy and integrity of the underlying finance function. This means remaining close to the detail while providing the financial insight, analysis and recommendations needed to support business decisions.
You’ll lead a small internal finance team, manage outsourced finance providers across different regions and take ownership of relationships with in-country auditors through to Annual Financial Statements sign-off.
Key Responsibilities
Take full ownership of the finance function across multiple international entities.
Provide strategic financial guidance, reporting and recommendations to executive leadership and the Board.
Own monthly management accounts, group consolidations and annual financial statements.
Ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards, including IFRS.
Produce and interpret budgets, cash flow, AP, AR and expense reporting.
Own the complete invoicing cycle, including client and intercompany invoicing and revenue recognition.
Manage debtors, creditors, collections, payment runs and overall group cash flow.
Manage banking relationships, foreign exchange exposure and intercompany funding.
Take ownership of Xero across the group, including chart of accounts, user access, workflows, integrations and data integrity.
Ensure clean, accurate and fully reconciled ledgers across all entities.
Drive finance process improvement, automation and adoption of appropriate financial technologies.
Own multi-jurisdiction payroll, including statutory deductions, filings, employee tax obligations, benefits and reimbursements.
Manage outsourced finance providers across regions, including scope, service levels, fees, deliverables and performance.
Develop budgets, forecasts and financial projections.
Analyse financial performance, costs and supplier pricing and identify opportunities to improve profitability and efficiency.
Manage external auditors across each jurisdiction from engagement and planning through to AFS sign-off.
Own applicable tax filings and support tax-efficient international and intercompany structures while maintaining regulatory compliance.
Establish finance operations for new international entities, including registrations, banking, Xero setup and reporting structures.
Support relevant South African B-BBEE compliance and reporting requirements with external advisors.
Identify financial risks and develop appropriate mitigation plans.
Manage, mentor and develop the junior finance team while building capability as the group grows.
What You’ll Bring
Qualified Chartered Accountant - ACCA, ACA, CA(SA) or equivalent.
Minimum 3 years’ post-qualification experience.
Senior finance experience involving multi-entity and multi-currency group responsibility.
Strong knowledge of IFRS and group consolidation.
Hands-on experience with Xero, or a comparable cloud accounting/ERP platform.
Advanced Excel and analytical skills.
Experience managing payroll across multiple jurisdictions.
Experience managing outsourced finance providers.
Strong financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting and cash-flow management capability.
Experience working with senior leadership and presenting complex financial information clearly to non-financial stakeholders.
A hands-on, accountable approach and the ability to operate effectively within a fast-growing, technology-driven environment.
Nice to Have
Working knowledge of Mauritian, South African and/or UK tax and regulatory environments.
Experience with international and intercompany tax matters.
Experience establishing finance functions for new legal entities.
Familiarity with South African B-BBEE requirements.
Experience managing foreign exchange exposure and intercompany funding.
Experience driving finance automation and systems improvement.
What’s On Offer
This is a high-ownership opportunity to lead the complete finance function of an international, growing business. You’ll work directly with executive leadership while retaining meaningful involvement in the operational detail of finance.
The position offers exposure across multiple jurisdictions, international group structures, new entity establishment, strategic finance, systems improvement and the opportunity to shape the finance function as the organisation continues to grow.
Company Culture
The environment suits a self-starter who combines strong technical finance expertise with commercial judgement and personal accountability. The business values clear communication, knowledge sharing, continuous improvement and people who can move comfortably between strategic conversations and hands-on execution.
This is a role for someone who enjoys taking ownership, building structure and ensuring that a growing international organisation has a finance function capable of supporting its next stage of development.
Please Note: If you have not been contacted within 10 working days, consider your application unsuccessful.