Overview
Financial Business Partner – South Africa Jobs in City of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa at Anta
Title: Financial Business Partner – South Africa
Company: Anta
Location: City of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Role Purpose
Act as the strategic finance partner to business leadership in South Africa and Southern Africa, ensuring financial integrity, profitability, compliance, and value creation across operations, projects, and investments. Bridge HQ strategy with local execution while safeguarding Chinese shareholder interests in JV/subsidiary structures.
Key Responsibilities
1. Business Partnership & Performance Management
- Partner with Country Manager, Sales, Operations, and Project Leads to drive profitability, cash flow, and ROI
- Lead monthly/quarterly business reviews: analyze P&L, revenue trends, cost structure, margin leakage, and KPI performance
- Develop rolling forecasts (12–18 months) and annual budgets aligned with group targets
- Build and maintain dynamic financial models for pricing, product mix, channel economics, and customer profitability
2. Project & Investment Finance (Critical for Mining/Tech/Infrastructure)
- Own full-cycle financial management of large-scale projects (CAPEX > $50M)
- Pre-investment: support feasibility studies, NPV/IRR modeling, risk assessment
- Execution: track budget vs. actuals, manage change orders, monitor milestone billing
- Close-out: conduct post-project reviews and lessons learned
- For mining/energy clients: model commodity price sensitivity, capex phasing, FX impact, and tax regimes (e.g., VAT, royalties, withholding tax)
3. Subsidiary & JV Financial Governance
- Serve as de facto Finance Controller for one or more legal entities (subsidiary/JV)
- Ensure statutory compliance: IFRS/local GAAP reporting, tax filings (CIT, VAT, PAYE), transfer pricing documentation
- Manage statutory audits, coordinate with external auditors and tax advisors
- Monitor intercompany transactions, ensure arm’s-length pricing and timely settlements
- Represent Chinese shareholder interests in JV board meetings; prepare investment committee packs
4. Risk, Compliance & Controls
- Identify financial, operational, and compliance risks (e.g., B-BBEE, anti-bribery, sanctions)
- Implement internal controls over procurement, payments, inventory, and revenue recognition
- Lead FX risk mitigation strategies (natural hedging, forward contracts where possible)
- Ensure adherence to China SOE/state-owned asset regulations (if applicable)
5. Cross-Functional Leadership
- Collaborate with HR on headcount planning, bonus schemes, and expat cost management
- Work with Legal & Tax on contract structuring, entity setup, and dispute resolution
- Support Treasury on cash pooling, working capital optimization, and banking relationships
- Liaise with China HQ Finance on consolidation, reporting deadlines, and policy alignment
Qualifications & Requirements
Education & Credentials
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or Economics (Master’s/MBA preferred)
- Professional certification required: ACCA, CPA (China or international), or CFA
- Graduates from 985/211 or top global universities strongly preferred (e.g., CUFE, Nanjing University, Wits, UCT)
Experience
- 5+ years in corporate finance, FP&A, or project finance, preferably in: Mining, energy, telecom, infrastructure, or heavy equipment sectors
- Chinese MNCs, SOEs, or multinationals with Africa exposure
- Proven experience in South Africa or SADC region—understanding of local tax, labor, B-BBEE, and business culture is essential
- Experience working in JV or multi-shareholder environments
Technical Skills
- Advanced Excel modeling (scenario analysis, Monte Carlo optional)
- Proficiency in ERP systems (SAP FI/CO, Oracle)
- Familiarity with Power BI/Tableau for dashboards
- Strong grasp of IFRS, Chinese Accounting Standards (CAS), and local SA GAAP
Soft Skills & Attributes
- Bilingual: Fluent in Mandarin and English (written and spoken)—must present confidently to Chinese executives and SA stakeholders
- High integrity, able to uphold compliance in complex environments
- Adaptable, resilient, and culturally intelligent—comfortable navigating China-SA corporate duality
- Willing to live in South Africa long-term (3–5 years), with occasional travel across Africa.
