Head of Finance

Job Title: Head of Finance (Acting CFO)
Location: Remote - South Africa.
Reports To: Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Type: Full-Time (Permanent Hire)
 

Role Overview:
We are looking for a highly capable and hands-on Head of Finance to lead our financial operations during a critical growth phase. This individual will initially serve as the Acting CFO, establishing and owning key finance functions, with the intent to transition into a senior accounting or financial management role after a permanent CFO is hired.
This is a pivotal role for a startup-minded finance leader who thrives in dynamic environments and has a solid background in FP&A, reporting, M&A transactions, and operational finance. Experience working across multiple entities or portfolio companies is essential.

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as Interim CFO, owning all finance functions and strategy in partnership with the COO.
• Lead M&A modeling, due diligence, and transaction support for prospective acquisitions or exits.
• Oversee bookkeeping and financial management of portfolio companies, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
• Build, maintain, and optimize internal financial reporting systems and dashboards across all entities.
• Partner with external accountants and auditors; serve as internal point of contact for all third-party finance vendors.
• Develop and maintain budgets, forecasts, cash flow models, and key financial metrics.
• Create investor-ready financial reports and presentations as needed.
• Support financial onboarding and integration of new acquisitions into the portfolio.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with leadership to provide insights and drive decision-making through data.

Qualifications:

• 6+ years of progressive experience in finance or accounting; VP of Finance, Finance Director, or Senior Finance Manager level preferred.
• Strong FP&A, financial modeling, and M&A experience is required.
• Solid grasp of accounting principles; CPA or equivalent is a plus.
• Proven ability to manage multiple sets of books for multiple entities or portfolio companies.
• Skilled in building and delivering executive-level financial reports.
• Hands-on and resourceful, with a startup or high-growth environment mindset.
• Experience working with or managing external accounting firms.
• Proficiency in financial software, Excel/Google Sheets, and modern reporting tools.

Nice to Have:

• Experience working in PE/VC-backed businesses or in a holding company structure.
• Exposure to ERP implementations or financial systems scaling.
• Familiarity with equity management and cap table reporting.