Financial Manager

Responsibilities

• Guide and assist the unit with budgeting and forecasting processes;
• Prepare and provide monthly financial reports for the monitoring of the success of the business plan implementation;
• Develop, prepare and provide standard and on-request financial reports and data analysis of unit activities or stakeholder financial contract information;
• Prepare stakeholder specific reports, including cash flow reports and forecasts for the National Integrated Cyberinfrastructure System Centre (NICIS) and participate in NICIS management meetings;
• Obtain an understanding of the unit financial environment by pro-actively analysing and interpreting data and reports;
• Review customer and supplier agreements to mitigate risk and maximise cash flow;
• Implementation of effective contract management process that ensures compliance with IFRS 15, cost control and that invoicing is done timely and in line with contract;
• Identify and determine the impact of stakeholder requirements on financial reporting for timeous and accurate submission of financial information;
• Review planned purchases of property, plant and equipment to assess financial risks, availability of funding, payment terms and conditions, legislative requirements for importing and the return on investment;
• Participate in Procurement Selection Committees;
• Review classification and useful life of assets to ensure adherence to accounting policies;
• Assist with the integration of new initiatives into and out of the CSIR and the transfer of initiatives between units within the CSIR;
• Attend initiative specific meetings with industry partners to provide financial feedback against the programme budget, deliverables and objectives;
• Ensure that customer contracts are accurately captured and administered in the financial system;
• Manage, direct and advise relevant staff on month end, quarter end and year end processes;
• Create awareness of relevant financial legislative and policy changes to assist management with the implementation of financial policies and procedures, legislation, accounting framework and audit requirements;
• Review and improve unit financial business processes and the financial internal control environment;
• Manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders, customers and suppliers;
• Prepare, assist and provide process descriptions and other financial information requirements to assist the auditors in meeting the set deadlines;
• Manage staff to ensure performance of duties in accordance with job requirements;
• Evaluate segregation of duties continuously to ensure the control environment remains intact;
• Identify gaps for training or development of staff to assist with skills retention and succession planning.

Minimum Requirements

• A BCom Honours degree or equivalent, with at least seven years working experience in a complex and multi-dimensional financial department with at least five years at management level;
• Chartered Accountant (SA) or CIMA qualifications;
• Excellent experience in analysing and interpreting financial data and complex financial reporting;
• In depth experience in dealing with various internal and external stakeholders such as auditors, suppliers, industry funders, etc.;
• Understanding of legislation applicable to a state-owned entity and working experience in such an entity will be beneficial;
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills;
• Ability to make informed decisions, attention to detail and a high level of accuracy;
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to develop solutions to complex financial issues;
• Very effective organisational skills and advanced Microsoft Office suite skills;
• Outstanding knowledge and ability to apply accounting principles;
• Excellent knowledge of statutory requirements, legislation, policies and procedures typically relevant in the area of responsibility;
• Exceptional ability to assess risk within the area of responsibility and skills to recommend and implement appropriate internal control systems;
• Ability to analyse financial data and to communicate the results to a diverse group;
• Ability to manage, evaluate and develop people;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to have effective working relationships with people at all levels in the organisation;
• Excellent verbal, written, listening, presentation and communication skills;
• Ability to work/function well within teams with sensitivity to diverse cultures;
• Sound work ethic, time management skills and the ability to manage stress.