SAICA has embarked on an exciting transformation to become an insights-driven, technology-enabled, and AI-powered organisation. As part of our journey, we are streamlining processes, enhancing our digital capabilities, and strengthening our focus on sustainability in the accounting profession.
This transformation presents an opportunity for you to grow and contribute to SAICA’s vision in a redefined, future-fit role. We are looking for passionate, skilled professionals who are eager to innovate, embrace data-driven decision-making, and help shape the future of the profession.
If you are ready to be part of this next chapter, make a meaningful impact, and you are a suitably qualified and experienced Difference Maker wanting to go further on this exciting journey, you are encouraged to apply.
Purpose of the job
The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is responsible for overseeing SAICA's group financial strategy, planning, and operations, encompassing procurement, financial reporting, finance operations, and facilities management. This role ensures financial sustainability, operational efficiency, and alignment with the organisation’s strategic objectives. The CFO also drives the transformation of SAICA into an insight-driven organisation by leveraging financial data and analytics to enhance decision-making, optimise resource allocation, and deliver long-term value for members and stakeholders.
Key/main outputs:
Output 1: Strategy Development and Execution and Overall Governance
- Develop and execute SAICA’s financial strategy aligned with organisational objectives and member value creation, supporting growth and sustainability and integrates real-time data analytics to inform decision-making.
- Identify risks and opportunities to enhance long-term financial sustainability and optimise revenue streams and cost efficiencies through digital finance solutions.
- Use data analytics to forecast trends and inform strategic financial decisions.
- Provide inputs towards the development of the SAICA’s strategy and business plan.
- Identify and implement opportunities to digitise, automate and deploy AI within Financial processes to enhance service delivery and create cost efficiencies.
- Present financial reports to the CEO, EXCO, Board and external stakeholders to sustain and grow stakeholder confidence in financial direction and enable effective decision making.
- Oversee the functioning of the finance related operational committees, ensuring effective constitution, functioning, decision making and reporting.
- Engage with business leaders and external stakeholders to align financial strategies with the organisation's growth and innovation goals.
- Lead cross-functional financial scenario planning to anticipate challenges and identify opportunities.
Output 2: Finance planning, Business Intelligence and Decision Support
- Responsible for co-ordination, planning, providing support and ensuring completeness of the annual budget process.
- Present budgets to Board Committees for approval
- Perform detailed budget analysis and evaluation in conjunction with Head of Departments on an ongoing basis.
- Support the development of pricing models for evolving SAICA solutions and services, guiding on profitable service and solution delivery.
- Oversee cost studies and recommends and implements actions from findings.
- Assist in the preparation of business plans and funding proposals.
- Provide monthly management accounts, variance analysis and profitability analysis, using data analytics and visualisation to enhance data driven decision making.
- Implement tools for financial data analysis and performance monitoring.
- Use data analytics and visualisation to promote insights to support strategic and operational decisions.
- Foster a culture of data-driven decision-making and utilise real-time financial dashboards to provide leadership with up-to-the-minute financial insights.
- Oversee the implementation of automated financial planning tools that enhance forecasting accuracy and scenario modelling.
- Establish a rolling budgeting framework that adapts dynamically to market change.
- Conduct deep-dive financial analytics to assess profitability, cost drivers, and investment returns.
- Guide teams in financial literacy, ensuring that key decision-makers understand financial impacts.
- Business Intelligence & Decision Support
- Utilise data visualisation tools to present complex financial insights in a digestible format for executives.
- Implement predictive models to assess the impact of business decisions on financial performance.
- Strengthen collaboration with business leaders to align financial insights with operational strategies.
- Ensure decision-making is supported by both financial intelligence and qualitative business judgment.
- Drive the adoption of self-service analytics tools that allow teams to access financial insights on demand.
Output 3: Finance Operations and Optimisation
- Provide systems, processes and tools for the effective working capital management of the organisation encompassing: Creditor management, debtor management, fixed assets management, payroll management and general ledger management.
- Cash management – responsible for planning and managing the cash requirements for SAICA.
- Maximise the return-on-investment activity in consultation with investment advisers and Board Committees
- Accountable for preparation of annual financial statements, monthly financial reports, special analysis, and information reports
- Advise Management and Board on the financial viability and sustainability of SAICA.
- Maintain credit control procedures that will ensure credit terms are adhered to and exposure to doubtful debt is limited to the level stipulated in SAICA’s credit control policy, complying with legislation and company policies.
- Implement intelligent process automation to optimise transaction processing, reconciliations, and reporting.
- Enhance digital invoicing and payments to improve cash flow efficiency.
- Strengthen cross-department collaboration by ensuring finance teams work closely with operations, IT, and other divisions to enhance workflow integration.
- Ensure the integration of financial data across all platforms for improved transparency and accessibility.
- Maintain a balance between automation and human judgment to preserve strategic oversight.
Output 4: Finance Governance Risk and Statutory Compliance
- Develop and implement internal control procedures to assure safeguarding of assets and reliability of financial statements.
- Plan and manage SAICA’s tax affairs under existing and proposed legislation.
- Evaluate the tax liability impact of contemplated courses of action, minimise the tax burden and deal with tax authorities.
- Ensure proper preparation for the Annual Financial Audit
- Effectively prepare files and supporting documentation for the annual audit to minimize costs associate with external and internal audits.
- Establish real-time financial risk tracking systems that proactively identify potential financial risks.
- Ensure adherence to global and local financial regulations while leveraging compliance automation.
- Develop a fraud detection framework that combines financial intelligence with human-led investigation teams.
- Regularly engage with compliance, standards and legal teams to ensure alignment with financial reporting standards
- Strengthen ethics and accountability in financial decision-making, balancing automation with human oversight.
Output 5: Procurement Optimisation and Supplier Management
- Establish procurement policies and procedures that promote accelerated and effective service delivery while being cost efficient, well governed, transparent, and ethical.
- Negotiate and manage contracts with suppliers, driving value for SAICA.
- Monitor supplier performance and compliance with agreements.
- Use analytics to identify opportunities for cost optimisation and supplier performance improvement.
- Introduce digitally optimised procurement processes that improve efficiency and reduce cost and identify and implement opportunities to automate procurement workflows to improve process efficiency.
- Implement spend analytics and vendor risk assessment tools to enhance procurement decision-making.
- Strengthen supplier relationship management by integrating smart contract solutions that ensure transparency and efficiency.
- Foster collaboration between procurement and operational teams to align procurement strategies with business needs.
- Conduct regular supplier performance reviews, integrating data-driven insights with human assessments.
Output 6: Facilities and Assets Management
- Oversee the maintenance and optimisation of SAICA’s physical infrastructure to promote an environment that is safe and promotes productivity and employee morale, while being cost efficient
- Develop policies for sustainable facilities and asset usage and maintenance in line with the SAICA’s sustainability goals
- Oversee smart building technology integration to improve energy efficiency and operational cost management.
- Implement automated asset tracking systems to enhance asset utilisation and reduce loss.
- Ensure that facilities support a flexible, digitally enabled work environment that aligns with future workforce trends.
- Strengthen employee experience by aligning facilities management with hybrid and digital workspace solutions.
- Foster regular engagement with operational teams to align facility needs with business objectives.
Output 5: Stakeholder Engagement & Reporting
- Establish automated yet interactive financial reporting processes that improve accessibility and understanding.
- Regularly engage with CEO, EXCO, board members, investors, internal auditors and external auditors to ensure transparency and trust
- Optimise the presentation of financial reports using data storytelling techniques.
- Align financial communication strategies with stakeholder expectations for greater engagement and clarity.
- Ensure regulatory bodies receive timely and precise reports through automated compliance tracking.
Output 6: High-performing Team Development and Leadership and Financial Discipline
- Recruit, mentor, and retain top talent.
- Provide training and development opportunities.
- Foster collaboration and a growth-oriented mindset within teams
- Lead a high-performing and motivated team.
- Drive continuous skill development and capability building.
- Create a culture of innovation and excellence within the Finance function.
- Ensure effective and efficient financial management of the function’s allocated budget.
