Job Ref #: 0032026
Industry: Accounts
Job Type: Permanent
Positions Available: 1

Job Description

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Location: South Africa | Travel across Africa
Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer

 

As an international environmental and social consultancy, we partner with clients  to deliver responsible, sustainable solutions in complex operating environments.

Our Group operates under a UK holding company structure, with subsidiaries and operations in South Africa, Mali, Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania, Côte d’Ivoire and Jersey (Channel Islands).

As we continue to strengthen our international governance and support our long-term growth ambitions, we are looking to appoint a Chief Financial Officer to join our Executive Leadership Team.

This is a strategic, Board-facing role responsible for the financial stewardship, governance integrity and sustainable value creation of the Group.

The Role

Reporting to the CEO and working closely with the Board and Finance and Risk Committee, the CFO will provide strategic financial leadership, responsible for driving profitability, financial discipline and accountability acrossour multi-jurisdictional structure.

This role is focused on stewardship, governance and long-term sustainability, ensuring that our financial strategy supports our purpose, our people and the communities in which we operate.

Strategic Financial Stewardship

?        Responsible for commercial performance, including profitability, utilisation and revenue quality. The CFO should partner with operational leaders to improve financial performance across service lines and countries.

?        Develop and guide the Group’s long-term financial strategy in alignment with our five year growth plan.

?        Advise the CEO and Board on capital allocation, dividend strategy and reinvestment priorities.

?        Support strategic expansion into new markets and jurisdictions.

?        Facilitate and manage the setup of new entities, mergers, joint ventures and other investment opportunities.

?        Drive financial resilience and sustainable profitability across the Group.

Governance and International Oversight

?        Ensure sound corporate governance across the Group, including oversight of the UK holding company structure.

?        Uphold compliance with UK Companies Act requirements and relevant statutory frameworks.

?        Development of group transfer pricing strategy, cross-border structuring and international tax strategy given the Group structure.

?        Provide oversight of international tax governance and implementation of transfer pricing principles.

?        Oversee financial risk management across all jurisdictions.

?        Present consolidated Group financial performance and forward outlook to the Board.

Financial Risk and Sustainability

?        Development of financial levels of authority across the business.

?        Define the Group’s financial risk appetite and ensure appropriate control environments across operating entities.

?        Identifying and mitigating financial risks and subsequent reporting to the finance and risk committee

?        Oversee capital structure and funding strategy across multiple jurisdictions.

?        Ensure governance frameworks are robust, transparent and aligned to international best practice.

?        Act as a custodian of fiduciary responsibility and ethical financial leadership.

Leadership and Capability

?        Lead the global finance function through the Group Financial Manager and in country finance teams.

?        Ensure finance systems and processes are scalable and aligned to international operations.

?        Build a culture of accountability, integrity and high performance within the finance function.

?        Strengthen financial capability to support operations in emerging market environments.

Job Requirements

Who We Are Looking For

We are seeking a values-driven, commercially astute financial leader with experience operating at Group and Board level within an international structure.

Qualifications

?        Chartered Accountant (CA(SA), ACA, ACCA or equivalent internationally recognised qualification).

?        Additional qualifications in corporate governance or international tax advantageous.

Experience

?        15+ years progressive financial leadership experience.

?        At least 10 years operating at Executive or Board level.

?        Experience overseeing multi-entity, multi-country structures.

?        Direct exposure to UK holding company governance requirements.

?        Strong understanding of international tax governance and cross-border compliance.

?        Experience operating across African or emerging market jurisdictions essential.

?        Background in professional services, consulting, engineering or resources environments preferred.

?        Experience supporting acquisitions, joint ventures or strategic growth initiatives.

The Right Fit

The successful candidate will:

?        Have the confidence to challenge constructively and uphold financial discipline across the Organisation.

?        Be comfortable holding senior leaders accountable for financial performance

?        Demonstrate strong personal integrity and sound judgement.

?        Balance commercial acumen with a commitment to responsible governance.

?        Be comfortable operating in diverse and complex regulatory environments.

?        Bring a collaborative leadership style aligned to our partnership culture.

?        Have the credibility and presence to engage effectively at Board level.