About the Job

INSPIRE is seeking a Head of Finance to lead and strengthen its finance function during a period of organisational growth. As the most senior finance role, the Head of Finance will be responsible for both strategic financial leadership and day-to-day financial management, ensuring strong financial controls, compliance, reporting, and oversight across the organisation and its donor-funded projects. The role requires a balance of high-level engagement with the Board and leadership team, alongside hands-on involvement in budgeting, reconciliations, audits, and financial reporting.

Reporting to the Managing Director and working closely with the Operations Manager, project leads, external finance providers, and the Board, the Head of Finance will play a key role in shaping INSPIRE’s financial systems and future capacity. As part of the core leadership team, they will oversee the full spectrum of organisational financial management, including statutory compliance, management accounts, financial policy, and audit processes, while also determining the most effective mix of internal, external, and subcontracted finance support as the organisation continues to evolve.

Key Responsibilities

Organisational Financial Management: Take overall ownership of INSPIRE’s financial health; maintain accurate and current management accounts; oversee cash flow management including forecasting and liquidity monitoring; manage the annual budgeting process; and oversee treasury functions across company and project bank accounts.

Financial Reporting and Governance:Prepare and present monthly management accounts and financial reports to the Operations Manager and Managing Director; lead quarterly Board financial reporting; oversee the annual audit process and preparation of annual financial statements; and further develop and maintain INSPIRE’s financial policies and procedures.

Statutory Compliance: Ensure full compliance with South African statutory financial obligations including SARS returns, PAYE, NPC reporting requirements, payroll compliance; oversee payroll inputs, payroll reconciliations, statutory deductions, employee cost allocations and related reporting; provide direction to the external financial administrator on all compliance-related tasks.

Donor and Project Financial Management: Provide strategic oversight of restricted/ringfenced donor funding, project budgets and cash flows; review and approve project budgets; oversee development of funder budgets; ensure timely and accurate monthly project financial reporting; develop donor financial reports; and maintain direct working knowledge of GIZ compliance requirements.

Team Coordination and Leadership: Work as an active member of INSPIRE’s core leadership team alongside the Managing Director and Operations Manager; provide day-to-day direction to other finance roles; serve as the primary internal point of contact for external financial service providers and consultants; and align financial management with operational planning, procurement, and contract compliance.

Procurement and Contract Finance Controls:Ensure appropriate financial controls over procurement, supplier payments, consultant contracts, project expenditure approvals and supporting documentation.

Systems and Process Improvement: Own and continuously improve INSPIRE’s financial systems and processes, including SAGE; drive improvements to reporting templates and internal controls to support organisational growth and audit-readiness.

Finance Function Development: Lead the design and implementation of a new finance function structure for INSPIRE, including embedding decentralised/integrated grant budget management practices across project teams; providing capacity building and support to non-finance staff taking on budget management responsibilities; and overseeing any recruitment or subcontracting required to build out the function. This is a significant change management responsibility and requires strong stakeholder engagement skills alongside technical finance expertise.

Requirements

Essential requirements

A B.Com (Accounting) or equivalent; CA(SA), CIMA, or equivalent professional qualification strongly preferred.

Minimum 10 years of progressive financial management experience, with at least 5 years in a senior finance role.

Demonstrated experience managing the full financial function of an organisation - including management accounts, statutory compliance, and audit.

Solid working knowledge of South African statutory requirements: SARS, PAYE, tax returns, and NPC regulatory obligations.

Proven experience in the non-profit, NGO, or development sector, with specific experience managing grant-funded projects and donor compliance.

Strongly preferred

Experience working with GIZ or similar bilateral/international funders (e.g. DG Murray Trust or equivalent philanthropic donors) is strongly preferred. Candidates must have demonstrable experience managing donor-funded budgets, restricted funding, funder reporting and compliance requirements.

Experience preparing and presenting financial reports for boards and senior leadership.

Proficiency in SAGE, or equivalent accounting software; advanced Excel.

Personal Competencies

Change management and organisational building:Demonstrated ability to design and implement new structures, processes, and ways of working in a growing or transitioning organisation — not just maintain existing systems.

Coaching and capacity building: Ability to build financial literacy and budget management capability in non-finance colleagues and project teams; comfortable translating complex financial requirements into accessible guidance for others.

Autonomy and self-direction: Able to operate with a high degree of independence in a lean, remote team; takes initiative, follows through, and does not require close supervision to deliver.

Stakeholder engagement and influence:Comfortable engaging at Board level and with senior funders, while also building trusted working relationships with project staff and community-facing teams.

Mission alignment: A genuine commitment to INSPIRE’s mission of equitable and transformative socio-economic outcomes in South Africa’s energy transition; able to hold the values of the organisation alongside the rigour of sound financial management.

Please send your resume/CV