Finance Operations Manager

Discovery Green

Finance Operations Manager

About Discovery 

Discovery’s core purpose is to make people healthier and to enhance and protect their lives. We seek out and invest in exceptional individuals who understand and support our core purpose, and whose own values align with those of Discovery. Our fast-paced and dynamic environment enables smart, self-driven people to be their best. As global thought leaders, Discovery is passionate about innovating in order to not only achieve financial success, but to ignite positive and meaningful change within our society.

About Discovery Green

Discovery Green is Discovery's renewable energy platform for businesses that makes it simple and affordable for businesses to run on renewable energy. Discovery Green’s ambition is to become a scaled and prolific player in the South Africa’s renewable energy sector. With 60GW of energy required within a decade, there is much to do in South Africa, and as much opportunity associated with it.

Discovery Green procures renewable energy en masse (a single build would be enough to power more than 100 Discovery’s at a time), and then on-sells it using actuarial skills, technical marketing, risk management and business acumen to create energy products that are more fit for business consumption. It represents a new and exciting way to apply Discovery innovation with traditional actuarial skills to a new, fertile industry, assisting South Africa with achieving energy security and appreciably decarbonising businesses.

Key Purpose

Develop and own the end‑to‑end finance operations for a start-up renewal energy business—ensuring operational processes integrate into the entities financial processing accurately, timely, and compliant across billings, procurement, AP/AR, treasury, tax, management accounting and financial reporting.This role will design, establish and implement finance operational processes, policies and internal controls tailored.

Key Responsibilities

1) Finance Processes and Controls

• Design and implement finance processes to integrate from the operating environment
• Lead Billings, Cashbacks, AR, AP, cashbook, and month‑end close; ensure IFRS‑compliant records and reconciliations (GL, GR/IR, subledgers).
• Design and maintain internal controls over P2P, Capex, asset capitalization, and revenue recognition.
• Implement cut-off, accruals, and 3‑way match (PO–GRN–Invoice) discipline.
• Own ERP process integrity (SAGE), master data governance, and approvals matrix.

2) Accounts Payable & Invoice Processing

• Standardize invoice intake (central mailbox/portal), 3‑way match, exception handling, and SLAs.
• Build dispute resolution process and vendor communication cadence.

3) Accounts Receivable & Billing

• Ensure accurate customer invoicing.
• Credit control: customer credit checks, collections cadence, dispute management, and DRO improvement.
• Revenue recognition policies for long‑term contracts; alignment with IFRS 15.

4) Project & Capex Accounting

• Set up WBS/project structures, budgets, and cost codes for EPC and O&M.
• Track committed vs. actual project costs; manage change orders, retention, and WIP reporting.
• Capitalization of assets (IAS 16), componentization, and transfer to fixed asset register with depreciation schedules.
• Inventory control for major equipment; periodic counts and shrinkage analysis.

5) Treasury, Tax & Compliance

• Cash flow forecasting ; manage facilities, guarantees, and FX exposure on imports.
• Support audits (internal & external); prepare audit file and respond to queries.
• Ensure B-BBEE procurement tracking and reporting (where applicable).

6) Data, Systems & Process Improvement

• Own finance systems roadmap; lead automation in P2P/O2C, bank feeds, reconciliations, close tasks.
• Define KPIs dashboards and close calendar; enforce SLA adherence.
• Train business users (projects, procurement) on finance procedures and approvals.

7) Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Partner with Projects/Engineering/Procurement/Legal/Operations to ensure commercial discipline.
• Provide concise, decision‑ready reporting to leadership.

Personal Attributes & Competencies

• Operational Excellence: Process design, simplification, and automation.
• Control Mindset: Risk identification, pragmatic controls, audit readiness.
• Commercial Acumen: Project cost drivers, supplier terms, cash conversion.
• Stakeholder Influence: Clear communicator; comfortable challenging and aligning.
• People Leadership: Coaching, performance management, delegation.
• Analytical Rigor: Variance analysis, KPI tracking, and data storytelling.

Qualifications & Experience

• 5–8+ years total experience, with 3+ years in finance consulting/ operations/controllership
• Strong IFRS, VAT, internal controls. Proven track record setting up P2P/O2C policies and leading month-end close
• Strong technology and AI implementation skills
• Microsoft product suite
• Experience with SAGE &  OneStream is advantageous
• CA(SA) (required).

• Registered with SAICA

EMPLOYMENT EQUITY   
                             
The Company’s approved Employment Equity Plan and Targets will be considered as part of the recruitment process. As an Equal Opportunities employer, we actively encourage and welcome people with various disabilities to apply.