Head of Finance & Operations

Our client is a specialist brand and communication company entering a new growth phase with an increasing focus on productised and subscription-based services. They are hiring a Head of Finance & Operations to run the financial and operational engine of the business. This role brings structure, financial discipline, and calm leadership, enabling a scalable, tech-enabled, international company. This is a senior, hands-on leadership role with a clear pathway to General Manager or Managing Director for the right person.

What you’ll do

• Lead the endâtoâend finance function (SA & UK): budgeting and budget control, cash flow, management accounts, QuickBooks, payroll oversight, VAT, PAYE, EMP501, COIDA and compliance (with external accountants and bookkeeping support).
• Build and run simple, reliable financial data, reporting and forecasting that guide decisions, pricing, resourcing, project profitability and growth strategy.
• Own operations: capacity and utilisation oversight, workflow, quality checks, internal processes, supplier and client onboarding, and basic HR execution with our HR partner.
• P&L Mindset: Own and actively improve business profitability – including margin analysis, pricing, utilisation, cost control, cash flow and cash conversion – ensuring the business scales profitably, not just operationally.
• Lead departmental middle managers (Client Service , Creative and Contracting) supported by an admin assistant; set expectations, follow through and support them to perform.
• Act as day to day right hand to the founders – turning ideas into plans, tightening execution, and helping shape a scalable, tech enabled, international studio (including AI enabled services).

Who you are

• Degree essential – ideally BCom/BA in Finance or Management or Legal
• 7+ years’ experience in SME or agency environments (no big corporate lifers) across finance and operations; comfortable being hands on and strategic.
• Strong with financial data, modelling and dashboards; able to translate numbers into clear actions for non finance founders.
• Proven experience making small teams perform – setting structure, following through, and having tough conversations calmly.
• Tech comfortable: happy in cloud tools, automations and AIâenabled workflows; exposure to SaaS or tech enabled services a bonus.
• Self-starter, low ego, calm, consistent, emotionally mature; you like tidy systems, clear ownership and getting things finished.
• P&L accountable – you don’t just report numbers, you use them to guide decisions, improve margins and drive sustainable profit.
• Experience working with international clients, multi-currency businesses or globally distributed teams is highly advantageous.

What we offer

• Fully remote role based in South Africa, working with international clients.
• Great salary plus potential profit share (post a year of hitting the targets) and a clear path to General Manager / Managing Director for the right person.
• Sixâmonth probation with close support and a planned handover from the current contractor.

Success in this role will be measured by improved profitability, predictable cash flow, higher utilisation, operational clarity and a calmer, better-run business. 

If you’re a commercially minded finance/ops leader who prefers building real businesses over corporate bureaucracy – and you love helping teams perform – we would love to hear from you.