Assistant Regional Financial Manager

SUMMARY:
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POSITION INFO:

Management Level: Mid-Senior Finance Leadership
Reporting Line: Regional Financial Manager / Finance Executive

Role Context

The organisation requires a commercially strong finance professional capable of partnering with senior finance leadership to drive operational performance, profitability, governance, and financial excellence across multiple dealerships.

This opportunity suits a hands-on finance leader who combines strong commercial insight, operational partnership capability, and leadership experience within a complex, fast-paced dealership environment.

Purpose of the Role

The Assistant Regional Financial Manager will support the Finance Executive and Regional Financial Manager in driving financial performance, strategic decision-making, governance, and operational excellence across multiple dealerships.

The role focuses on:

• Delivering accurate and timely financial reporting
• Supporting business modelling and strategic planning initiatives
• Driving operational profitability and commercial performance
• Strengthening governance and internal control environments
• Identifying financial risks and implementing corrective actions
• Supporting budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis activities
• Managing financial processes and working capital performance
• Developing finance capability across dealership teams

The successful candidate will be expected to recognise that financial measurement drives behaviour and ultimately drives value creation and preservation, ensuring strong return on effort and sustainable long-term business performance.

The role carries significant responsibility for stakeholder relationship management and communication across finance leadership, operational teams, dealership management, and broader business stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Financial Management & Reporting
  • Oversee financial operations across assigned dealerships, ensuring timely and accurate management accounts and reporting
  • Consolidate regional financial performance reporting for presentation to senior leadership
  • Analyse dealership performance and identify trends, risks, opportunities, and profitability drivers
  • Ensure reporting accuracy and adherence to accounting policies and financial standards
  • Ensure all Head Office and internal reporting deadlines are consistently achieved
  • Review monthly General Ledger audit files
  • Ensure all financial information and reporting received from Financial Managers is complete and accurate
  • Ensure completeness, validity, and accuracy of provisions and accruals
  • Ensure expenses are recognised and disclosed in the correct accounting periods
  • Oversee dealership commission reporting and authorisation accuracy
• Strategic Financial Planning, Budgeting & Forecasting
  • Assist with preparation of annual budgets and periodic forecasts across dealerships and regional operations
  • Provide financial analysis and commercial insight to support strategic planning and decision-making
  • Monitor financial performance against budget and investigate variances
  • Recommend and implement corrective actions where required
  • Support business modelling initiatives and operational performance improvement activities
• Governance, Risk & Internal Controls
  • Maintain strong internal controls and ensure adherence to operational and financial policies
  • Monitor credit, operational, regulatory, and financial risks across dealerships
  • Ensure compliance with accounting standards, statutory regulations, group requirements, and internal controls
  • Coordinate internal and external audits and ensure findings are resolved effectively
  • Actively participate in internal and external audit reporting activities and support timely implementation of corrective actions
  • Support implementation of corrective actions following audit outcomes
  • Ensure FIC compliance requirements are maintained
  • Monitor compliance with financial controls, tax requirements, audit standards, OEM requirements, and operational procedures
  • Visit dealerships to ensure control standards and segregation of duties are appropriately maintained
  • Implement new policies and procedures where required
  • Safeguard company assets and ensure strong control environments across dealerships
• Working Capital & Commercial Performance
  • Drive dealership profitability and cost-saving initiatives across business functions
  • Monitor floorplan utilisation, inventory ageing, and associated interest costs
  • Manage regional cash flow and working capital efficiency
  • Ensure payments are processed accurately and timeously with appropriate authorisations and controls in place
  • Maintain tight control over financial performance and operational expenditure
• Asset, Inventory & Operational Oversight
  • Ensure company assets are managed and controlled effectively
  • Oversee stock and asset control processes including:
    • Weekly vehicle stock counts
    • Daily parts perpetual inventory controls
    • Two annual wall-to-wall stock counts
    • Two annual fixed asset counts and associated control procedures
    • NATIS and key control requirements
  • People Leadership & Development
    • Lead and mentor dealership finance teams to drive capability and performance
    • Support succession planning initiatives and capability development
    • Train and coach finance staff on accounting matters, VAT requirements, policies, and procedures
    • Support performance improvement and talent development initiatives
    • Assist Dealer Principals and Financial Managers with operational and financial queries
  • Process Improvement & Automation
    • Promote automation and standardisation of finance processes
    • Support continuous improvement initiatives across finance and operational environments
    • Drive efficiency improvements and identify opportunities for process optimisation
  • Payroll Oversight
    • Oversee payroll reporting processes and ensure accurate departmental allocations and reporting structures are maintained

Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s)

• Regional profitability and cost control
• Working capital performance
• Timeliness and accuracy of financial reporting
• Compliance with audit and financial control requirements
• Performance development of Finance Managers
• Achievement of budgeted financial targets
• Delivery of operational efficiency improvements

Key Competencies

• Financial Leadership
• Financial Reporting & Analysis
• Budgeting & Forecasting
• Governance & Internal Controls
• Risk Management
• Audit Coordination
• Working Capital Management
• Commercial & Business Acumen
• Stakeholder Management
• Team Leadership & Development
• Strategic Planning
• Analytical Thinking
• Problem Solving & Decision-Making
• Communication & Interpersonal Skills
• Attention to Detail
• Process Improvement & Standardisation
• Change Management
• High Integrity & Accountability

Minimum Requirements

• Education & Professional Qualification
  • Relevant Finance qualification required
  • CA(SA), CIMA or equivalent qualification advantageous
• Experience
  • Minimum 5–7 years’ experience as a Dealership Financial Manager
  • Demonstrated experience within automotive retail or dealership finance environments
  • Proven leadership experience managing finance teams
  • Strong commercial and operational finance exposure
  • Experience supporting multiple operational business units or dealerships advantageous
• Systems & Technical Experience
  • Strong dealership management systems experience such as Kerridge/CDK or similar platforms
  • Advanced Microsoft Excel capability
  • Strong financial reporting and analysis capability

Leadership Profile & Attributes

• Strong commercially minded finance professional
• High levels of integrity and attention to detail
• Strong analytical and decision-making capability
• Ability to manage multiple priorities within a fast-paced environment
• Hands-on leadership approach
• Strong stakeholder engagement capability
• Ability to partner effectively with both operational and finance leadership teams
• Capable of balancing governance, performance, and operational priorities

Travel Requirements

• Position based in Gauteng
• Travel across dealerships and regional operations will be required
• Ability to spend extended periods at dealership locations during audits, investigations, training initiatives, or operational requirements

Employment Equity

• All suitably qualified candidates will be given fair consideration.

Remuneration

• A competitive remuneration package is offered aligned to the seniority, scope, and strategic nature of the position.