Hybrid Manager – Internal Finance at The Catalyst Group

Core Details and Responsibilities 

The Finance Manager – Internal Finance is responsible for overseeing the financial management, reporting, and accounting functions within The Catalyst Group's internal finance department. This role involves maintaining accurate financial records for global entities across South Africa, the Cayman Islands, Brazil, Canada, and the USA. The Finance Manager will support the Chief Finance Officer with recording accounting transactions, reporting, cash management, and compliance-related functions, ensuring consistent and timely financial operations.

From a high-level perspective, the core responsibilities that form your role are broken down into the following 9 categories:

1. 
   People Management Responsibilities.
2. 
   Financial Reporting
3. 
   Financial Accounting
4. 
   Taxation and Compliance
5. 
   Cash Management and Banking Operations
6. 
   Payroll and Expense Management
7. 
   Payables Management and
8. 
   Receivables Management
9. 
   Systems and Technology
10. 
    Risk and Compliance Responsibilities
    

Your Daily Tasks

1.People Management Responsibilities:

Includes (but not limited to) the following tasks:

• 
  Day-to-day Team management – Managing the team on a day-to-day basis by implementing:
  • Weekly task management
  • Weekly team meetings
  • Ad hoc needs
• 
  Team Satisfaction - Monitoring the team's capacity and ensuring high-level satisfaction and work-life balance.
• 
  Feedback and Coaching - Providing feedback and coaching to the team members with the aim of constantly improving their performance.
• 
  Team Training - Coordinating and providing training and development programs within the technology and product teams as or when required.

2.Financial Reporting:

Includes (but not limited to) the following tasks:

• 
  Assist in preparing and presenting comprehensive financial reports and management statements on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis.
• 
  Setting up a group consolidation model.
• 
  Ensure accurate and timely completion of annual financial statements as required.

3.Financial Accounting:

Includes (but not limited to) the following tasks:

• 
  Capture and maintain financial transactions using the designated electronic accounting system (e.g., Business Central) as well as other relevant systems.
• 
  Intercompany Transaction Booking: Manage and record intercompany transactions, ensuring accurate reconciliation and reporting.

4.Taxation and Compliance:

Includes (but are not limited to) the following tasks:

• 
  Perform and oversee accurate and timely provisional tax calculations for all relevant jurisdictions.
• 
  Ensure compliance with local and international tax regulations, including VAT submissions and reconciliations, in collaboration with external tax advisors.
• 
  Maintain compliance with regulatory and statutory requirements for the group’s financial operations.
• 
  Liaise with internal and external auditors and prepare all necessary documentation and schedules to support audit processes.
• 
  Filing or assisting in obtaining relevant information for submissions of statutory obligations (example CIPC, STATSSA, ANA).

5.Cash Management and Banking Operations:

Includes (but are not limited to) the following tasks:

• 
  Perform daily cash reporting and reconcile bank statements, managing cash movements within the group and across international entities.
• 
  Load and authorize monthly and ad hoc payments, adhering to corporate governance and internal control standards.

6.Payroll and Expense Management:

Includes (but are not limited to) the following tasks:

• 
  Manage the preparation, review, and processing of monthly payrolls in collaboration with outsourced HR firms, ensuring compliance with labor laws and company policies.
• 
  Record and post payroll journals and payments accurately, liaising with HR as needed to resolve payroll discrepancies.
• 
  Review staff expense claims for compliance with company policies and process reimbursements efficiently.
• 
  Ensure accurate recording of employee costs and related expenses within the financial statements.

7.Payables Management:

Includes (but are not limited to) the following tasks:

• 
  Oversee weekly payables reporting, monitoring and outstanding balances.
• 
  Support the operations team with the generation, booking, and receipting of invoices, ensuring timely payments.
• 
  Managing the Finance Mailbox: Respond promptly and efficiently to inquiries received in the finance mailbox, ensuring excellent communication.

8.Receivables Management:

Includes (but are not limited to) the following tasks:

• 
  Oversee weekly receivables reporting, monitoring collections and outstanding balances.
• 
  Support the operations team with the generation, booking, and receipting of invoices, ensuring timely collections.
• 
  Ensure receivables recovery and perform reconciliations in collaboration with the support team.

9.Systems and Technology:

Includes (but are not limited to) the following tasks:

• 
  Utilize and optimize accounting and financial systems, with a preference for experience in Business Central, to enhance accuracy and efficiency of reporting and processes.
• 
  Leverage advanced Microsoft Office tools, especially Excel, for data analysis, reporting, and automation where applicable.
• 
  Advocate for and implement technology-based solutions to improve financial processes and reporting capabilities.

10.Risk and Compliance Responsibilities:

Includes (but are not limited to) the following tasks:

• 
  Work Policy Implementation: Help implement compliance policies at the operational level.
• 
  Monitoring Tools: Utilize tools to monitor compliance with internal controls and regulatory requirements.
• 
  Compliance Culture - Working in tandem with the groups Head of Compliance and Governance to instill a culture that is centered around good governance and compliance.
• 
  Reporting: Assist in preparing compliance reports for management review.
• 
  Issue Tracking: Track and manage compliance-related issues and follow up on resolutions.
• 
  Communication: Communicate compliance requirements effectively within the team.

Strategic Expectations

• Share insights to enable development of new processes and procedures that will create business efficiency and support delivery of client excellence in service.
• Maintain awareness of industry, regulatory, jurisdictional, and other trends that could affect the business.
• Contribute to the creation, development and implementation of new products and solutions to accommodate the businesses continuous changing needs.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with operations staff, business users, project, and implementation managers to achieve desired and elegant solutions.

Required Skills & Experience

Are you getting excited? We are! Before we get too carried away, there are a few requirements you’ll need to check off before you can apply for the position:

• A Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Accounting, Finance, or a related field, with preference given to those holding professional qualifications such as CA, ACCA, CIMA, or similar.
• A minimum of 3-5 years of experience in an internal accounting function, preferably within a fund administration environment.
• Experience in preparing Annual Financial Statements and demonstrated success in financial reporting.
• Experience with Group consolidations
• Understanding of IFRS
• Experience with PowerBI
• Proven ability to lead and motivate staff, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.
• Experience in monitoring and ensuring the quality of output from finance teams.
• Technical aptitude with accounting systems, preferably with experience using Business Central.
• Expert-level proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel (knowledge of Power Query, Power Automate, or similar technologies is advantageous).
• Fluent in English, both written and spoken, with excellent communication skills.
• Comfort in working with individuals across different time zones and geographic locations.
• Strategic thinking capabilities with the ability to balance immediate business needs and future demands.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with high energy and drive, capable of working autonomously in a dynamic environment.
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and work under pressure.
• Process-oriented with a strong analytical mindset and an affinity for technology-driven solutions.
• Effective time management and ability to meet deadlines consistently.