Senior Financial Manager

What will you do?

We are seeking a highly experienced and commercially driven Senior Financial Manager (Technology Finance/Commercial Finance) to lead financial oversight, performance management, and strategic partnering within a large-scale technology or shared services environment.
This role is responsible for managing a significant cost base, delivering insightful financial analysis, strengthening governance frameworks, and enabling data-driven decision-making at executive level.
The successful candidate will partner closely with senior leadership and operational stakeholders to drive financial discipline, cost optimisation, and business performance.

What will make you successful in this role?

1. Financial Planning & Performance Management

• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting processes for a large operational cost base
• Provide detailed variance analysis and performance insights to support business decisions
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting aligned to corporate requirements

2. Strategic Business Partnering

• Partner with senior stakeholders (including ExCo-level) to support strategic decision-making
• Provide financial input into business cases, investments, and transformation initiatives
• Translate business strategy into financial plans and measurable outcomes

3. Cost Management & Commercial Optimisation

• Drive cost optimisation initiatives across technology and operational spend
• Lead supplier/vendor financial negotiations to deliver commercial value
• Monitor and manage ongoing Opex and project-related costs

4. Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Strengthen and maintain a robust financial control environment
• Ensure compliance with IFRS, internal policies, and audit requirements
• Drive audit readiness and support internal and external audit processes

5. Finance Transformation & Process Improvement

• Drive finance transformation initiatives including automation and digital solutions
• Implement reporting enhancements (e.g., dashboards, analytics tools)\
• Improve financial processes to increase efficiency and data quality

6. Financial Systems & Technology Enablement

• Provide finance leadership in system-related initiatives (e.g. SAP S/4HANA, TM1 Planned Analytics and Power BI reporting tools)
• Ensure finance processes align with system capabilities and business requirements
• Partner with IT and finance teams to enable effective system utilisation

7. Team Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Lead and develop a team of finance professionals
• Build strong relationships across multiple business units and functions
• Influence decision-making across finance, technology, and operations

Qualification

• CA(SA) or equivalent professional qualification preferred

Experience

• Extensive experience in senior finance roles within large, complex organisations
• Strong background in:
  • Financial planning & analysis
  • Governance and controls
  • Commercial finance and negotiations
  • Finance transformation and systems, specifically automation and the use of AI in finance processes

Key Skills & Competencies

• Strong commercial acumen and strategic thinking
• Excellent stakeholder engagement (executive level)
• Advanced financial modelling and analytical capability
• High attention to detail and governance discipline
• Experience with financial systems (e.g. SAP, TM1, Power BI)
• Leadership and change management capability
• Knowledge of automation principles

Success Measures

• Delivery of accurate financial plans and reporting
• Measurable cost savings and commercial value creation
• Strong audit outcomes and compliant control environment
• Improved efficiency through automation and process improvements
• High-quality executive decision support

Knowledge and Skills

Personal Attributes

Build a successful career with us

We’re all about building strong, lasting relationships with our employees. We know that you have hopes for your future – your career, your personal development and of achieving great things. We pride ourselves in helping  our employees to realise their worth. Through its five business clusters – Sanlam Fintech, Sanlam Life and Savings, Sanlam Investment Group, Sanlam Allianz, Santam, as well as MiWay and the Group Office – the group provides many opportunities for growth and development.

Core Competencies

Turnaround time

The shortlisting process will only start once the application due date has been reached. The time taken to complete this process will depend on how far you progress and the availability of managers. 

Closing date: 19 June 2026

Our commitment to transformation