Financial Manager

Job Specification: Financial Manager

Location: Tokai

1.  Job Purpose

The Financial Manager is responsible for overseeing the accurate and timeous preparation, review and delivery of tax-related reporting and financial administration services to the firm's individual and trust clients, in addition to broader financial management duties within the asset management business. The role combines technical tax reporting expertise with financial control, client service, and process oversight, ensuring that clients, their tax practitioners, and internal stakeholders receive complete, accurate and well-organised financial and tax information in support of annual tax compliance, financial intermediary requirements, and fiduciary obligations.

2.  Key Responsibilities

2.1   Tax Reporting & Client Tax Services (Individuals and Trusts)

• Check downloaded and saved tax reports for completeness and accuracy, ensuring all required reports (e.g. IT3(b), IT3(c), IT3(s), capital gains schedules, dividend and interest certificates) have been correctly retrieved and filed for each client.
• Prepare tax calculations and file tax returns for clients and the company.
• Prepare schedules of assets and liabilities for both tax reporting purposes and Financial Intermediary purposes, ensuring schedules reconcile to underlying statements and portfolio records.
• Prepare consolidated tax reports for clients with more complex structures (e.g. multiple investment accounts, trusts with underlying beneficiaries, or multi-entity portfolios), consolidating data from various sources into a single, client-ready report.
• Obtain personal income tax reports and supporting documentation from clients for whom the firm is responsible for preparing and/or submitting income tax returns.

• Send finalised tax reports to clients and/or their appointed tax practitioners within agreed turnaround times, and manage related queries, corrections and clarifications professionally and promptly.
• Liaise with trustees, beneficiaries, tax practitioners and third-party administrators to resolve discrepancies in tax data.

2.2  Fee, Commission & Recurring Client Reporting

• Process fee and commission-related tasks following completion of fee calculations in the valuation books, including actioning payment of fees/commissions and ensuring supporting records are accurate and filed.
• Send monthly statements to third parties for certain clients.

2.3  Financial Management

• Oversee the firm's month-end and year-end financial close processes, including management accounts, reconciliations and variance analysis.
• Prepare annual financial statements for the firm and/or relevant client entities, in accordance with applicable accounting standards (e.g. IFRS for SMEs), ensuring accuracy and timeous completion ahead of audit and statutory deadlines.
• Review accounts, trial balances (TB) and general ledgers (GL) on a regular basis, identifying and resolving discrepancies, misallocations or reconciling items prior to reporting or year-end close.
• Prepare and review budgets, cash flow forecasts and financial reports for management and stakeholders.
  • Ensure compliance with applicable South African financial regulations, including FICA, FAIS, FSCA requirements, and relevant SARS regulations affecting individual and trust taxation.
  • Take ownership of statutory reporting obligations and associated deadlines (e.g. annual financial statements, tax filings, CIPC annual returns, and other regulatory submissions), ensuring all statutory requirements are met accurately and on time.
  • Manage relationships with external auditors, tax practitioners, and regulatory bodies.
    • Review and strengthen internal financial controls, policies and procedures relating to client tax reporting and financial administration.
    • Work with the Head of Finance and external auditors through the annual audit process, ensuring statutory financial statements are finalised and filed within required timelines.

3.  Minimum Qualifications

• Must be a Registered Tax Practitioner (registered with SARS), in good standing.
  • A relevant tertiary qualification in Accounting, Finance, Taxation or a related field (e.g. BCom Accounting, BCom Honours).

4.  Experience Required

• A minimum of 5 years' relevant experience in financial management, taxation, or trust and estate administration, ideally within a tax practitioner firm or professional services environment.
• Demonstrated experience in preparing and reviewing individual and trust tax calculations and returns.
  • Working knowledge of South African tax legislation as it applies to individuals and trusts (Income Tax Act, Tax Administration Act), and familiarity with SARS e-filing processes.
  • Experience liaising with third-party investment platforms, custodians and tax practitioners to obtain and reconcile tax data.

 5.  Skills & Competencies

• Strong technical knowledge of South African individual and trust taxation.
• High attention to detail and accuracy, particularly in reconciling financial data across multiple sources.
  • Excellent organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage high volumes of client reports within strict deadlines (particularly during tax filing season).
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to liaise confidently with clients, trustees, and tax practitioners.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
  • Sound problem-solving skills and the ability to manage and resolve client queries diplomatically.
  • High level of integrity and discretion in handling confidential client financial information.
  • Strong leadership and people-management skills where the role includes oversight of a junior staff member.

This job specification is intended to provide a general overview of the role and is not exhaustive. Duties may be amended from time to time in line with the needs of the business.