Job Description

We are a medium sized swim school based across South London.

We run a personalised service that is focussed on the whole family. We offer a variety of swimming lessons; adult and baby lessons, learn to swim for toddlers as well as school going kids, squads for more advanced swimmers (pre-club) and adult lessons, for both learn to swim as well as advanced training.

We have been lucky to build up a great team of teachers and an amazing admin office, which operates from Cape Town. With recent growth, we find ourselves in need of a self employed contractor to fill the Finance Operations Manager role.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Financial Planning & Analysis

o Develop annual budgets in collaboration with department heads, ensuring alignment with the company's strategic objectives.

o Monitor actual financial performance against budgeted figures, identifying variances and recommending corrective actions.

o Prepare detailed financial forecasts based on current data and trends, providing insights to senior management.

Budgeting & Cost Control

o Implement and monitor cost-saving initiatives across various departments, ensuring adherence to budgetary constraints.

o Conduct regular reviews of operational expenses, identifying areas for potential cost reduction.

o Collaborate with procurement to negotiate favorable terms with suppliers, reducing input costs without compromising quality.

Operational Efficiency

o Work closely with department heads managers to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies processes.

o Develop and implement strategies to optimize resource utilization, improving overall operational performance.

o Facilitate cross-functional teams to streamline workflows and enhance productivity.

o Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to operational efficiency, identifying trends and areas for improvement.

Performance Reporting

o Develop comprehensive performance reporting systems to track key financial and operational metrics.

o Prepare and distribute regular performance reports to senior management, highlighting key insights and trends.

o Analyze financial data to identify patterns and correlations with operational performance.

o Create dashboards and visual aids to present performance data in a clear and actionable format.

Risk Management

o Identify potential financial risks related to operational activities and develop mitigation strategies.

o Conduct regular risk assessments to evaluate the impact of operational changes on financial performance.

o Develop and implement policies and procedures to manage and minimize financial risks.

o Monitor compliance with internal controls and regulatory requirements to prevent financial losses.

Strategic Partnership

o Collaborate with management team to align financial goals with operational strategies and objectives.

o Provide financial guidance and support for operational decision-making, ensuring alignment with overall business goals.

Resource Allocation

o Oversee the allocation of financial resources to operational projects, ensuring optimal utilization.

o Evaluate the financial viability of proposed projects, providing recommendations based on cost-benefit analysis.

o Monitor the financial performance of ongoing projects, ensuring they stay within budget and deliver expected returns.

o Develop resource allocation models to support strategic decision-making and prioritize investments.

Process Improvement and AI automation

o Identify opportunities for process improvements within finance and operations, focusing on efficiency and effectiveness.

o Identify processes that can be automated with AI

o Lead cross-functional teams to implement process improvement initiatives, ensuring stakeholder engagement.

o Develop and document standard operating procedures (SOPs) for finance and operational processes.

o Monitor the impact of process improvements, measuring success against predefined KPIs.

SOPs Adherence

o Ensure best practices and standard operating procedures are followed at all times to maintain efficiency and productivity.

o Encourage and motivate the team to strictly follow standard operating procedures at all times to ensure processes are followed by company standards and expectations.

o Develop and update SOPs as needed to reflect changes in processes or regulations.

Communication & Collaboration

o Act as a liaison between finance and operational teams, ensuring seamless communication and understanding of financial goals and operational needs.

o Organize and lead regular meetings with operational managers and other stakeholders to discuss financial performance, address concerns, and review progress on key initiatives.

o Build and maintain strong working relationships with department heads and team members, promoting a culture of cooperation and mutual support.

Customer Focus

o Develop a deep understanding of customer requirements and expectations, using this knowledge to align financial strategies with customer priorities and ensure satisfaction.

Leadership & Supervision

o Direct and support the finance team, setting goals and conducting regular performance reviews to drive high performance and growth.

o Manage and distribute resources effectively within the team, ensuring optimal workload balance and project progress.

o Track performance metrics, provide feedback, and address issues to enhance team productivity and morale.

o Resolve team conflicts and issues promptly to maintain a collaborative and efficient work environment.

Training & Development

o Train and develop finance team members to enhance their skills and performance.

o Train AI agents to Automate processes

o Provide ongoing mentoring and feedback to team members to improve performance and enhance skills.

o Foster and encourage continuous learning and professional growth.

o Develop and implement training programs to address skill gaps and enhance team capabilities.

Requirements:

?Bachelor's degree in finance or accounting or a related field.

Postgraduate Qualification (Optional)

Minimum 5-7 years of relevant experience is required, with at least a few years in a managerial or supervisory role.

3 year's experience working with Xero

We are all a passionate bunch, who love what we do! We believe in working hard and playing hard, which is reflected in how we manage our swimming team! This is an independent full-time contract role and may involve some weekend hours.

We are also quite a flexible bunch and are happy to accommodate the right person.

If you feel that you would fit in well with us and the above info is up your street, please send your CV through in reply to this post.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: R45000,00 - R55000,00 per month

Application Question(s):

Do you have 3 years' experience working with Xero? Do you have 5 years' Managerial experience? Do you have a degree in finance or a related field? Do you have a strong proficiency in excel including using VLOOKUPfunctions?
Work Location: In person