Finance Business Partner

Finance Business Partner

Cape Gate, Western Cape | Hybrid Working Model | Permanent

Our client, a growing healthcare technology and medical device business, is seeking an experienced Finance Business Partner to take ownership of the finance function while partnering closely with the Managing Director on commercial and strategic decision-making.

This is a hands-on, commercially focused finance role suited to someone who enjoys working close to the business, building financial infrastructure, challenging assumptions and turning financial information into actionable business decisions.

Key ResponsibilitiesStrategic & Commercial Finance

• Act as the financial right-hand to the Managing Director, translating commercial objectives into financial insights and supporting informed decision-making.
• Provide financial input into pricing, commercial deals, hiring, capital expenditure and market expansion.
• Prepare management accounts, Exco reporting, cash-flow reporting and KPI packs.
• Maintain an integrated P&L, balance sheet and cash-flow model.
• Partner with sales and operational teams to drive financial performance and accountability.

Financial Management

• Own the finance function end-to-end, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, billing, payroll coordination and month-end close.
• Lead annual budgeting and rolling forecasting.
• Analyse actual performance against budget and forecast, identifying risks and opportunities.
• Monitor key financial and operational indicators, including gross margin, revenue conversion, debtor days, inventory turns and cash position.
• Review balance sheet reconciliations and ensure the integrity and accuracy of financial information.
• Ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards, including IFRS.

Cost & Margin Management

• Own and scrutinise the operating cost base and expenditure.
• Develop and maintain landed-cost models for imported medical devices, incorporating freight, insurance, customs duties, clearing costs and foreign exchange.
• Monitor and protect gross margins across products and commercial deals.
• Monitor principal/OEM cost increases and ensure pricing keeps pace with currency movements.
• Manage working capital across inventory, demo and consignment stock, debtor collections and creditor terms.

Commercial Deal & Contract Modelling

• Provide financial modelling for capital equipment sales, including pricing, payment terms, margins and financing or rental structures.
• Model service and maintenance contracts, including multi-year revenue recognition, escalation clauses, cost to serve, warranty and spares provisioning.
• Develop deal-evaluation tools to support the commercial team.
• Review significant tenders and bids prior to submission.
• Provide financial input into contract terms, including retentions, milestone billing, penalties and foreign exchange clauses.

Trade Finance & Foreign Exchange

• Coordinate banking, trade finance and foreign currency activities within group policies.
• Arrange and administer Letters of Credit for supplier and principal purchases.
• Manage bank guarantees and performance bonds required for tenders and customer contracts.
• Manage foreign currency exposure and import payment timing.
• Work with the relevant stakeholders on exchange-control requirements and foreign exchange management.

Compliance, Controls & Risk

• Ensure compliance with VAT, income tax, customs, duties and SARS submission requirements.
• Coordinate the annual audit.
• Maintain appropriate internal controls and segregation of duties.
• Identify and mitigate financial risks, including credit, currency, liquidity and supplier/principal concentration risks.
• Maintain awareness of regulatory requirements affecting the medical device environment and assess their financial implications.

Finance Systems & Infrastructure

• Support the selection, implementation and optimisation of accounting/ERP systems and reporting tools.
• Build scalable finance processes, costing structures and reporting templates.
• Improve reporting automation and data integrity.
• Consolidate information from quotations, orders, inventory and banking systems into meaningful management information.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance or a related field.
• 5–8 years' relevant experience in financial management and/or finance business partnering.

Strong experience in:

• Management accounting
• Budgeting and forecasting
• Financial modelling and scenario analysis
• Commercial, deal and contract modelling
• Month-end close and management reporting
• Statutory and tax compliance
• Strong knowledge of IFRS.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel and financial modelling skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Experience with accounting/ERP systems; Sage / Sage Intacct or similar would be advantageous.
• Working knowledge of trade finance instruments, including Letters of Credit, bank guarantees and performance bonds.
• Practical understanding of foreign exchange management and South African exchange-control requirements.
• Experience with landed-cost and product costing for imported goods.
• Knowledge of South African tax and statutory compliance requirements.
• A professional qualification such as CA(SA), ACCA, CIMA or equivalent would be advantageous.

Ideal Experience

Experience within medical device distribution, capital equipment, imports or another regulated environment will be highly advantageous.

Experience in a start-up, scale-up or lean finance environment would also be beneficial, particularly where you have had responsibility for building processes and systems while remaining hands-on with the detail.

Exposure to international trade finance, Letters of Credit, bank guarantees and foreign-currency transactions will be an advantage.

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for someone who is:

• Commercially minded and comfortable operating close to the deal.
• Confident challenging assumptions constructively, including at senior management level.
• Highly analytical with strong attention to detail.
• Comfortable taking ownership and accountability for outcomes.
• Able to build processes and systems from the ground up.
• Pragmatic and hands-on, with the ability to work effectively in a lean environment.
• A clear communicator who can explain financial implications to non-financial stakeholders.
• Comfortable making sound decisions where information may be incomplete.
• Committed to strong financial controls, compliance and continuous improvement.

Additional Requirements

• Valid driver's licence and own reliable transport.
• Willingness to travel to various group entities and locations within South Africa as required.
• Advanced Excel and financial modelling capability.
• Strong knowledge of IFRS.

Interested?

Apply here on LinkedIn or email your CV to melanie@maphumancapital.co.za and quote 'Finance Business Partner' in the subject line.