Group Financial Manager

Job description

Group Financial Manager (Group Level)
Department: Finance
Reports To: Group Managing Director/CEO
Location: Bryanston, Johannesburg

Who We Are
We are a dynamic, Integrated Marketing & Communications business where financial insight directly influences campaign profitability, sustainability and long-term success. We operate in a fast-paced, project-driven environment where commercial agility matters as much as compliance.

We are looking for a strategic Group Financial Manager — not just a numbers custodian, but a commercially astute partner to leadership across the Group.

The Opportunity
This is a high-impact Senior Management role at Group Level responsible for driving financial strategy, strengthening commercial performance and providing consolidated financial oversight across all entities.
You will partner closely with the Board to ensure campaigns are profitable, cash flow is optimised, risks are mitigated and growth is sustainable.

If you understand project-based accounting, agency economics and the importance of turning financial data into strategic decisions — this role is for you.
Key Responsibilities
1. Group Financial Strategy & Leadership
• Develop and implement Group-wide financial strategy aligned to long-term growth objectives for approval by Group Exco.
• Provide consolidated financial oversight across all entities.
• Deliver financial modelling and scenario planning for expansion, new ventures, and investments.
• Present strategic financial insights to Group Exco.

2. Working Capital & Liquidity Management
• Oversee debtors’ days, creditors terms, and overall working capital optimisation.
• Monitor cash conversion cycles across entities.
• Forecast short- and medium-term liquidity requirements.
• Implement controls to improve cash flow predictability in a project-based environment.

3. Budgeting, Forecasting & Performance Management
• Coordinate and lead consolidated annual budgets and rolling forecasts.
• Monitor entity-level margin performance, realization rates, overhead recovery, and client profitability.
• Develop and maintain Group performance dashboards and financial reporting structures.

4. Financial Reporting & Governance
• Prepare consolidated management accounts, P&L statements, balance sheets, and cash flow reports.
• Ensure IFRS compliance and adherence to South African statutory regulations (SARS -VAT, PAYE and Income Tax).
 Oversee tax submissions, audits, and BBBEE/Economic Development reporting.
• Identify and mitigate financial risks including credit exposure and project overruns.

5. Commercial Deal Structuring & Revenue Integrity
• Review, approve, and maintain oversight of client contracts, SLAs and commercial agreements across the Group.
• Advise on pricing models including retainers, project fees, blended margins and scope adjustments.
• Oversee revenue recognition (retainer vs project-based accounting).
• Manage commercial risk, penalties, and payment term negotiations.
• Support new business pitches with financial viability assessments.

6. Cost Control & Operational Partnership
• Partner with operations, production, and client service teams to enforce financial discipline.
• Improve cost visibility across media, talent, subcontractors and suppliers.
Identify efficiencies to strengthen Group profitability.

7. Finance Team Leadership
• Lead and mentor the Group finance team (bookkeepers, accountant, procurement).
• Strengthen systems and financial controls (Xero, or Sage essential; Chase/Payspace advantageous).
• Build a high-performance, accountable finance function across entities.

Qualifications
• CA(SA), CIMA, ACCA or equivalent professional qualification.
• Bachelor of Commerce Honours ’s degree in Finance, Accounting or related field.

Experience
• 5–10+ years in senior financial management.
• 5 years experience in consolidation at Group Level
• Experience within agency, media, advertising, or professional services environments highly advantageous.
• Strong project-based accounting exposure.
Technical & Commercial Skills
• Advanced Excel and financial modelling capability.
• Strong knowledge of Sage, Payspace and project management tools (e.g., Chase).
• Deep understanding of South African tax, VAT and regulatory requirements.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to translate numbers into strategic direction.
Leadership Attributes
• Strategic thinker with operational discipline.
• Decisive, commercially assertive, and solutions-oriented.
• Strong communicator able to influence non-financial stakeholders.
• High integrity and strong governance mindset.
Why Join Us?
● Be part of a growing, ambitious business.Join a growing, ambitious Group at an exciting inflection point.
● Influence real commercial outcomes.Drive real commercial outcomes — your decisions will shape profitability and growth.
● Work directly with executive leadership.Report directly to and collaborate with executive leadership at Group level.
● Shape financial strategy in a creative, fast-moving environment.Shape and own financial strategy within a creative, fast-moving, purpose-led environment.

Posted on 24 Feb 10:03, Closing date 25 Apr