Finance Head

The role of Finance Head at Liberty in Johannesburg requires a strategic leader to translate and embed the finance strategy within a specific business area. This pivotal position involves providing vision, direction, and leadership to the financial management team, ensuring the effective implementation of value management support. The ultimate goal is to empower the business to achieve its strategic objectives through robust financial oversight and guidance.

About the Opportunity

This is a senior leadership role within Liberty, a prominent financial services group with a significant presence in Africa. The organisation is dedicated to fostering growth across the continent, delivering substantial value to its diverse clientele, which ranges from individuals to large multinational corporations. Liberty prides itself on creating meaningful career paths and offering opportunities to collaborate with highly skilled professionals in the financial sector. This position offers the chance to contribute to a forward-thinking organisation committed to innovation and client success.

The Finance Head will be instrumental in the strategic execution of financial management. Key responsibilities include:

• Translating high-level finance strategies into actionable plans for the supported business units.
• Leading, mentoring, and directing the finance management team, fostering a culture of high performance and continuous improvement.
• Ensuring the seamless integration of financial management processes and value-adding financial support into the daily operations of the business.
• Facilitating the execution of the overarching business strategy through informed financial decision-making and support.
• Interpreting complex financial data and communicating these insights effectively to senior stakeholders, enabling strategic discussions and decisions.
• Driving financial discipline and best practices across various finance functions, potentially including tax, reporting, and forecasting, across different jurisdictions.

What They're Looking For

Candidates for this role will possess a strong academic background and extensive practical experience in financial leadership. Essential qualifications and experience include:

• A Chartered Accountant (SA) qualification or equivalent.
• A degree in Finance and Accounting.
• A minimum of five years of post-qualification experience.
• Demonstrated significant experience in leading finance teams and overseeing financial management activities and processes.
• Proven experience in finance business partnering and value management.
• A track record of executing financial management activities and processes that span multiple finance capabilities (such as tax, reporting, forecasting) and potentially across different geographical jurisdictions.
• The ability to interpret and clearly communicate financial data and performance to senior management and other stakeholders.
• Strong behavioural competencies such as challenging existing ideas, convincing others, directing teams effectively, embracing change, empowering individuals, establishing rapport, exploring possibilities, generating innovative ideas, interacting positively with people, interpreting data accurately, making sound decisions, and providing valuable insights.
• Proficiency in technical areas including continuous process improvement, financial acumen, financial and accounting control, financial management, financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, process governance, quality management, root cause analysis, statistical and mathematical analysis, and transfer pricing.

This role is ideal for a seasoned finance professional looking to make a significant impact within a leading South African financial institution. Success in this position requires a blend of strategic thinking, strong leadership capabilities, and a deep understanding of financial management principles.

Type of Qualification: CA (SA)
Field of Study: Finance and Accounting

Experience Required
Finance Business Partnering

Finance & Value Management

• 5 years Post Qualification Experience
• Significant experience in leading finance teams in executing financial management activities and processes that cut across multiple finance capabilities (tax, reporting, forecasting etc.) and jurisdictions. Experience in interpreting and communicating financial data to senior stakeholders.

Behavioural Competencies:

• Challenging Ideas
• Convincing People
• Directing People
• Embracing Change
• Empowering Individuals
• Establishing Rapport
• Exploring Possibilities
• Generating Ideas
• Interacting with People
• Interpreting Data
• Making Decisions
• Providing Insights

Technical Competencies:

• Continuous Process Improvement
• Financial Acumen
• Financial and Accounting Control
• Financial Management (Financial)
• Financial Planning
• Planning, Forecasting and Budgeting
• Process Governance
• Quality Management
• Root Cause Analysis
• Statistical & Mathematical Analysis
• Transfer Pricing