Mgr Finance

The Finance Manager, (Operations) is responsible for providing strategic financial and commercial direction to the Operations department, while managing its day-to-day financial activities. This role supports the Chief Operations Officer, Head of Operations, and Head of Service Delivery in achieving financial efficiency and operational excellence. Key responsibilities include designing and implementing financial processes to optimize OPEX and CAPEX expenditures, analyzing ROIC and profitability for new and ongoing operations, and driving process improvements from a financial perspective. The position oversees the SLAs from the Regional Structure in terms of the Power Accountant, Tower Accountant and Project Accountant resources, driving effective collaboration and influence, directly overseeing the Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable resources. Thus, ensuring adherence to policies, best practices, and operational efficiency. It also involves providing strategic direction and business partnership to teams within the Operations department—including Operations, Power, Utilities, and Service Delivery—focusing on cost savings and financial optimization. Additionally, this role ensures the timely coordination and supervision of finance activities, meeting SLA requirements, and preparing reports for the Chief Financial Officer to support monthly financial closings. As a business leader, the Head of Operational Accounting plays a critical role in driving financial efficiency and fostering collaboration across teams.

• Define and drive the strategic commercial agenda for the Operations and Service Delivery departments.
• Develop, implement, and oversee financial processes to optimize OPEX, CAPEX, and fixed asset management for the Operations and Service Delivery teams, ensuring cost savings.
• Foster a high-performing team environment that enables employees to maximize their potential and deliver exceptional business performance, including managing SLAs with regional service center resources.
• Provide effective leadership in managing relationships with Operations vendors and subcontractors.
• Establish and maintain a strong culture of financial and asset compliance, overseeing the entire compliance process within the Operations department.
• Lead the design, implementation, and adoption of accounting policies, procedures, and controls for the Finance team.
• Deliver comprehensive visibility into network performance relative to financial expenditure per site.
• Assess and analyze the cost-benefit equation for all CAPEX initiatives.
• Design and analyze monthly and quarterly financial reports for Operations and Service Delivery.
• Advise on appropriate contract types for Operations and Maintenance suppliers.
• Manage cash flow processes related to Operations involvement effectively.
• Oversee planning, budgeting, forecasting, and long-term financial planning (e.g., 10-year planning) for Operations and Maintenance.
• Provide strategic decision-making support to the Operations, Maintenance, NOC (Network Operations Center), and Power teams.
• Evaluate and mitigate financial risks associated with operations and service delivery, ensuring robust internal controls are in place.
• Identify and drive opportunities for process optimization, cost savings, and efficiency improvements across operations and financial activities
• Oversee the adoption and integration of financial technologies or systems that can streamline processes and improve data accuracy (e.g., ERP systems or automation tools).
• Provide training and development opportunities to stakeholders to improve their financial literacy and understanding of budgetary processes.
• Develop financial strategies to address potential disruptions or crises in operations, ensuring business continuity.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and Accounting or related field. 
• CA (SA) qualification

Education and Experience:

• A minimum of 8 years' experience in Compliance, Audit, Financial Reporting, Business Development, or Strategic Reporting across various industries, with at least 5 years spent supervising a team of 2 or more individuals.
• Proven P&L management experience at a divisional level within a multinational organization.
• Demonstrated expertise in managing debtor and creditor teams.
• Hands-on experience working with Oracle systems.

Competencies:

• Strong commercial, compliance, and business development orientation.
• Expertise in accounting and financial reporting.
• Knowledge of ATC South Africa's products and service offerings.
• Proven ability to build and sustain long-term stakeholder relationships.
• Self-motivated with the capacity to work independently and respond effectively to departmental needs.
• Advanced analytical skills to interpret data and provide actionable insights.
• Strong organizational, planning, and project management abilities to meet deadlines and prioritize tasks effectively.
• Resilience and adaptability to manage change in high-pressure environments. Leadership skills to inspire and drive team performance, fostering psychological safety and collaboration within the finance team.
• Effective in balancing independent work with teamwork to achieve organizational goals.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, including the ability to manage expectations and provide clear updates.
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving expertise to influence decision-making and negotiations.
• Capacity to understand detailed operations while maintaining focus on broader financial and operational impacts.
• Proactive mindset with a commitment to continuous learning and improvement.