Finance Director/Head of Finance/CPT

Position Overview

Position Title: Head of Finance / Financial Director

Location: Cape Town, South Africa

Industry: Travel, Tourism & Services

Employment Type: Permanent | Full-Time

Reporting To: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Board of Directors

Direct Reports

• Senior Debtors Controller
• Creditors Controller

Indirect Reports

• Junior Debtors Controller
• Invoicing Clerk
• Debtors Intern
• Creditors Intern

Position Summary

A growing multi-entity services group operating within the tourism and travel sector is seeking a commercially minded and hands-on Head of Finance / Financial Director to lead the finance function across the organisation.

This senior finance leadership role combines the responsibilities traditionally associated with a Financial Controller, Head of Finance, Treasury Manager, and Financial Director. The successful candidate will oversee both strategic and operational finance activities, ensuring strong financial governance, reporting accuracy, compliance, cash flow management, and team leadership.

The role is ideally suited to a technically strong finance professional who enjoys balancing executive-level financial oversight with hands-on operational involvement.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Reporting & Control

• Lead month-end and year-end close processes.
• Prepare and review monthly management accounts.
• Maintain the integrity of the general ledger.
• Oversee balance sheet reconciliations.
• Manage fixed asset accounting and lease accounting.
• Oversee intercompany accounting across multiple entities.
• Present financial information and insights to executive leadership and the Board.

Debtors & Revenue Management

• Oversee the complete revenue cycle.
• Ensure accurate and timely invoicing.
• Manage debtor ageing and collections.
• Monitor revenue completeness and mitigate revenue leakage risks.
• Maintain strong relationships with key customers and business partners.

Treasury & Cash Flow Management

• Manage group cash flow and liquidity requirements.
• Prepare rolling cash flow forecasts.
• Manage banking relationships and facilities.
• Authorise payments and treasury transactions.
• Oversee surplus cash and investment accounts.

Creditors Management

• Oversee accounts payable processes.
• Review supplier reconciliations.
• Monitor supplier ageing.
• Ensure appropriate payment controls and approval processes.

Payroll & Human Capital Finance

• Oversee employee and contractor payroll functions.
• Ensure payroll accuracy and compliance.
• Manage payroll-related reconciliations and provisions.

Tax & Compliance

• Manage VAT, PAYE and Income Tax compliance.
• Oversee engagements with tax authorities and regulatory bodies.
• Ensure timely submission of statutory returns.

Audit & Governance

• Lead annual external audits.
• Maintain a strong internal control environment.
• Implement governance and risk management frameworks.
• Ensure year-round audit readiness.

Budgeting & Planning

• Lead annual budgeting processes.
• Monitor budget performance and variances.
• Support strategic planning and forecasting activities.

Team Leadership

• Lead and develop the finance team.
• Drive performance management and succession planning.
• Mentor and coach finance staff.

Minimum Qualifications

Essential

• Chartered Accountant (CA)

Advantageous

• Additional commercial, management, tax or treasury qualifications.

Experience

Essential

• Minimum 8–10 years post-articles finance experience.
• Proven experience leading a finance team.
• Strong month-end and year-end reporting experience.
• Treasury and cash flow management experience.
• Experience managing audits.
• Experience overseeing debtors and collections functions.
• Payroll oversight experience.
• Tax compliance experience.

Highly Desirable

• Multi-company or group structure experience.
• Experience within tourism, travel, hospitality, transport, destination management or service-based industries.
• Experience reporting to Boards and executive leadership teams.
• Experience within owner-managed businesses.

Technical Skills

• Advanced ERP/accounting system experience (preferably Sage Evolution or equivalent).
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Financial modelling and analytical capability.
• Financial reporting and management accounting.
• Treasury management.
• Payroll oversight.
• VAT, PAYE and Income Tax compliance.
• Intercompany accounting.
• Audit management.
• Internal controls and governance.

Market-related and dependent on experience, qualifications, and demonstrated capability.

If you feel you are a suitable fit for this role, please send us a copy of your CV to ***email_hidden***

If you have not heard back within 2 weeks, please consider your application unsuccessful.