Head of IT Operations

The Bank and Cash Controller – Business is responsible for overseeing the firm's banking, cash management, and reconciliation functions to ensure the accurate, timely, and compliant processing of financial transactions. Working closely with internal stakeholders, banks, and regulatory bodies, this role drives effective cash flow management, strengthens financial controls, and supports operational excellence across the business.

In addition to managing banking operations, payments, reconciliations, and cash reporting, the successful candidate will lead and develop a high-performing team, fostering a culture of accountability, accuracy, and continuous improvement. This is an exciting opportunity for a finance professional who enjoys balancing strategic oversight with hands-on operational leadership in a fast-paced environment.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Check and sign off reconciliation of all business cashbooks, local and foreign, ensure reconciling items are current (i.e. not outstanding for more than 15 days). Follow up on all queries arising from the reconciliations and posting relevant corrections. Ensure that no EFTs are unmatched on bank recons at any time.
• Oversee the matching of all bank accounts and ensure that all unreconciled items are circulated to relevant departments and actioned accordingly.
• Download statements for all bank accounts and check that the balances are correct. Send all balances to the receipting team.
• Ensure that bank statements are imported on CMS daily.
• Prepare and report daily cash flow and bank balances schedules. Update bank balances with exchange rates changes, as advised by the reserve bank.
• Check and release trust transfers and ensure that trust accounting i.e. receipts and payments are processed on the same day.
• Monitor bank charges and interest accounts in the income statements and ensure that costs are correctly accounted for and minimized, where possible.
• Monitor bank balances to maximise the facility repayments.
• Monitor bank balances to ensure that sufficient funds are available to service all daily payment requirements.
• Ensure deadlines are met for financial reporting.
• Prepare and check general ledger journals as required.
• Supervise the transfers of credit balances on client accounts as requested by the debtor’s department i.e., in and out of the correct bank account.
• Ensure bank signatories and electronic authorization profiles are kept up to date. To include starter/leaver management.
• Check and release new and updated beneficiaries on all banking platforms.
• Resolve account queries relating to all banks and liaise with the banks on all outstanding issues.
• Ensure that when paying monies to a foreign client, permission is obtained from SARB via a SARB payment authority. Ensure that the charge for such transaction is processed to the client's matter.
• Ensure accuracy and correct allocation of all payments before authorising.
• Ensure that all instructions to pay are carried out in line with defined processes and that the movements are correctly accounted for.
• Ensure that all regular ad hoc payments are identified and reported so that we can determine whether they should be on AP module. (i.e., monthly, or weekly payments)
• Check and authorize reimbursement of branches petty cash, ensure that all costs are correctly processed, and vat correctly accounted for.
• Review all petty cash floats and ensure that the cash count agrees to the general ledger. Follow up on differences.
• Order Pretoria petty cash on a weekly basis to ensure that cash is readily available.
• Validation and cancellation of receipts and payment requests on CMS.
• Review and post requests on CMS.
• Ad hoc duties as required.

Human Resources

• Ensure that necessary training and support is given to the team and that all team members know their responsibilities and what is expected from them. Develop an action plan from identified performance weaknesses.
• Leave management.
• Take responsibility for team members performance and provide guidance, where necessary.
• Ensure compliance with HR policies and procedures.
• Conduct performance reviews as required.
• Act as stand-in for the Trust Controller and Bank and Cash Clerks, where applicable.

Skills and Knowledge

• Attention to detail.
• Ability to prioritise.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet set deadlines.
• Has tremendous drive, energy, and determination to complete tasks.
• A hardworking, dedicated and reliable person.
• Ability to use initiative and to work independently.
• Interpersonal skills.
• Excellent ability to communicate both writing and verbally.
• Supervisory/Leadership skills

Qualifications and Experience

• Matric
• Relevant Tertiary Qualification ( Diploma/Degree)
• 3 – 5 years relevant experience in a bank approval role as well as minimum of 3 years supervisory experience.
• Attorney's Trust accounting advantageous

***NB: A clear credit (ITC) and criminal record is required for this role.***