Fractional CFO

Starting at approximately 4 to 5 hours per month, this remote fractional position provides expert financial oversight, model review, and strategic structuring advice for a growing SME. The primary focus is to review and stress-test financial models, diagnose current financial standing, and ensure full compliance across regulatory and tax obligations before key business decisions are executed. Working on an ad-hoc, project-commissioned basis, this role serves as a trusted oversight partner to company directors and works directly with the internal finance contact. The position offers high-level strategic involvement in reviewing loan book performance, refining pricing strategies, and evaluating funding structures without handling day-to-day bookkeeping. Key Responsibilities Review and stress-test new or updated financial models, budgets, forecasts, and business cases prior to submission to prospective partners or management. Check and correct model logic, formulas, and underlying assumptions including growth rates, cost escalation, margins, and tax treatment. Conduct scenario and sensitivity testing (best, base, and worst case) for material decisions such as contract terms, capital purchases, or pricing changes. Provide clear written or verbal opinions detailing risk areas, recommended fixes, and elements to challenge before models are finalised. Perform monthly diagnostics on balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow to monitor liquidity, solvency, working capital, and profitability trends. Track key metrics and ratios—including current ratio, gross margin, debtor days, debt-to-equity, and interest cover—against prior periods to identify early red flags. Identify cost lines to renegotiate or cut, evaluate pricing strategies to improve margins, and optimize working capital collection cycles. Advise on capital allocation, debt-versus-equity funding, facility consolidation, and contract payment terms to optimise tax efficiency and lower interest costs. Review, edit, and finalise bi-annual funder reports covering claims book performance, arrears, book quality, and required credit calculations (including NROC). Reconcile reported metrics against internal tracking systems and flag potential covenant risks early. Oversee compliance and identify gaps across CIPC requirements (Companies Act 71 of 2008), SARS corporate/provisional tax, VAT, PAYE/UIF/SDL, financial reporting frameworks (IFRS for SMEs/full IFRS), B-BBEE, POPIA, COIDA, and relevant statutory obligations. Conduct an initial assessment of the business's regulatory footprint within the first weeks of engagement. Requirements Essential Requirements A recognised professional accounting qualification (CA(SA) preferred, or ACCA / CIMA. Prior experience as a CFO, Financial Manager, or Financial Consultant to SMEs, ideally working in a fractional, portfolio, or part-time capacity. Proven experience in preparing or reviewing funder and covenant reporting for loan or debtor books, including arrears, book performance, charge-off, and recovery metrics. Strong regulatory fluency in South African tax (SARS) and Companies Act/CIPC requirements. Ability to work autonomously on an ad-hoc, project-based model. Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate technical financial details into plain language and clearly articulate risks. Desirable Requirements Experience or familiarity with FSCA/FAIS, FICA, and the Debt Collectors Act. Required Software Skills Sage Microsoft Excel Benefits Part-time Independent contractor