Lead Finance Reporting and Data Analyst

Zutari: Co-creating an engineered impact.

Zutari is a multinational buildings infrastructure engineering and advisory firm with over 90 years of experience across Africa and the Middle East. We partner with clients across the full infrastructure lifecycle delivering digitally driven solutions that shape schools stadiums dams bridges and the systems that connect them.

We are enablers of progress transforming ambition into impact and infrastructure into opportunity. Every role in Zutari contributes to building sustainable futures that extend far beyond the projects themselves.

What kind of talent do we pursue

We employ people with the right attitude and a positive mindset who are motivated by doing the right thing getting things done and share a sense of urgency. People who have an impact in our teams and broader community. People who think differently and connect with those around them to co-create new opportunities and leave a meaningful legacy.

The Lead Finance Reporting and Data Analyst is a well-rounded and key within the Finance team delivering reliable financial reporting insights and analytics while progressively taking on greater independence complexity and accountability across the teams broader mandate. Designed with a deliberate succession pathway in mind this position calls for a rare combination of deep technical proficiency sound commercial judgement and the interpersonal influence required to inspire trust across a complex fast-paced organisation. This role sits at an important developmental juncture bridging the foundational execution focus of the analyst and the strategic leadership expectations of the senior role.

At its core the role is accountable for the delivery of accurate timely and insightful financial analysis and reporting spanning comprehensive monthly reporting packs group-wide management insights and assisting with executive-level support for the Board and EXCO. The incumbent will serve as a critical bridge between the Finance and Business Intelligence functions translating nuanced financial requirements into structured data specifications and bringing them to life through impactful decision-ready dashboards and reports built across Power BI SQL SSRS and Vantagepoint.

Beyond reporting the role carries meaningful responsibility for the integrity and governance of financial data leading rigorous validation and testing processes across the data warehouse to ensure accuracy completeness and alignment with business requirements. Custom report development deep-dive data analysis and the delivery of actionable insights to senior stakeholders are central to the day-to-day mandate.

The position further extends into business partnering supporting budgeting and forecasting cycles by preparing robust data foundations and guiding operational teams in interpreting financial information to produce coherent well-reasoned plans. Underpinning everything is a strong commitment to continuous improvement staying ahead of analytics best practices championing innovation and consistently raising the standard of the organisations reporting capability in service of better business outcomes.

Role responsibilities

Strategic Financial Reporting & Analysis:

• Co-Ordinate and lead the end-to-end preparation and perform reviews of all monthly Group management reporting packages ensuring accuracy completeness and assist with insightful commentary that drives executive decision-making.
• Prepare the more complex and technical reporting and develop automations for such niche reporting.
• Support analytical deep dives for the Board and EXCO supporting the team in identifying trends risks and opportunities within financial and operational data and providing meaningful insights from the complex analysis.
• Continuously improve the Groups suite of financial reports helping to establish reporting standards and frameworks for the team to operate within.
• Lead ad hoc strategic analysis and financial modelling assignments translating complex ambiguous business questions into clear actionable insights for senior stakeholders.
• Review and critically evaluate reporting outputs produced by the team before presentation to leadership ensuring a consistently high standard.

Data & Reporting Development Architecture and Governance:

• Take the lead in drafting the finance specification process for BI development projects taking full ownership of translating complex business and financial reporting requirements into detailed structured specifications for the BI warehouse team with minimal oversight from the Data & Reporting Specialist
• Own the specification and development of reports and dashboards in the company ERP system (Vantagepoint) and drive the end to end process from scoping to implementation.
• Oversee and govern the end-to-end UAT (User Acceptance Testing) process for all new data and reporting developments including designing test plans for the finance team reviewing team testing outputs managing defect tracking and making sign-off decisions.
• Conduct and lead deep-dive data validation exercises across information sources identifying root causes of discrepancies and driving resolution with the BI and operational teams.
• Architect and develop advanced visually compelling Power BI dashboards and reports setting the design and usability benchmark for the team with a focus on enterprise-level insightful reporting for a wide range of business users.
• Evaluate and challenge data warehouse architecture and design decisions from a finance logic perspective providing input that ensures solutions are fit for purpose and aligned with business requirements.
• Write and review SQL/DAX queries from the databases and PowerBI and build reports within the accounting package (Vantagepoint) including peer reviewing the work of more junior team members.
• Actively lead elements of the teams continuous improvement agenda identifying opportunities to automate manual processes enhance reporting tools and adopt best practices in Power BI and analytics.
• Support and drive data governance within the finance reporting environment establishing and enforcing standards for data quality consistency and integrity.
• Lead the testing of ERP improvement roll-outs to ensure continued accuracy of reports.
• Lead the drive for efficiency and automation not only in the reporting team and reporting environment but also in the wider finance team and business.

Commercial & Business Partnering:

• Review of business proposals and costings submitted across the Group providing rigorous commercial acumen assessment and written recommendations to management on financial viability and risk. Reviews will be for projects based across the company regardless of geography taking into account the complexity of tax and PE structures.
• Proactively engage with operational teams and business unit leaders as a trusted finance business partner challenging assumptions and providing strategic financial counsel.
• Identify commercial risks and opportunities through data analysis and clearly articulate findings and recommendations to non-financial stakeholders.
• Support the development of business cases and business resources including financial modelling scenario analysis and sensitivity testing.

Budgeting & Forecasting Leadership:

• Take ownership of defined components of the Group budgeting and forecasting processes ensuring data is accurately prepared well-structured and delivered on time.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of budgeting and forecasting templates and reporting tools identifying and implementing enhancements where opportunities arise.
• Engage operational teams confidently and independently guiding them through the interpretation of financial data and supporting the construction of coherent well-reasoned budgets and forecasts.
• Support and maintain rolling forecast models and variance analysis frameworks that provide the business with forward-looking financial visibility.
• Independently perform and present detailed variance analysis between actuals and budgets/forecasts clearly articulating key drivers and implications for management review.

Team Leadership & Succession Development

• Assist the Data & Reporting Specialist to develop junior members of the finance analytics team providing technical guidance reviewing work developing business acumen and building capability across Power BI DAX SQL and financial analysis.
• Act as the deputy to the Data & Reporting Specialist progressively taking on broader ownership of team operations stakeholder relationships and strategic priorities.
• Contribute to the development of team processes standards and documentation ensuring knowledge is structured and transferable.
• Support the department head in resource planning project prioritisation and managing competing demands across the teams workload.
• Take clear ownership of personal technical and professional development actively building toward the Senior Analyst level across all areas of the role.
• Demonstrate a proactive solutions-oriented disposition identifying challenges driving improvements and contributing to the teams performance and culture without waiting to be directed.

Minimum requirements

• 6-8 years post articles in a finance and/or data analytics environment
• CA(SA)/CIMA qualification - essential
• Proficient in data modelling DAX data ingestion transformation & cleansing enterprise dashboard design
• Familiarity in writing SQL queries; experience with SSRS report writing will be advantageous

Skills and competencies

Interpersonal & Behavioural Skills

• Stakeholder Management Confident and credible communicator across all levels of the organisation with demonstrated experience engaging Board EXCO and operational stakeholders in a clear audience-appropriate manner.
• Time Management & Prioritisation Ability to manage multiple high-priority workstreams reporting cycles and deadlines simultaneously within a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
• Collaboration & Cross-functional Engagement Strong ability to work effectively across Finance BI and operational teams translating complex requirements across functional boundaries and influencing without direct authority.
• Attention to Detail An uncompromising standard of accuracy balanced with the ability to assess data at a broader level for reasonableness and strategic coherence.
• Problem-Solving Strong analytical curious and investigative mindset with the ability to identify root causes navigate ambiguity and drive practical well-reasoned solutions.

Commercial Skills

• Commercial Acumen Demonstrated ability to critically assess business proposals costings and financial feasibility studies providing well-reasoned recommendations with confidence and independence.
• Strategic Thinking Ability to operate at both a detailed technical level and a high strategic level identifying broader implications and opportunities within financial and operational data.
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation A proactive mindset toward identifying inefficiencies and driving automation process improvement and the adoption of best practices across the reporting environment and wider finance function.

Financial & Analytical Skills

• Financial Reporting Expertise in preparing reviewing and governing accurate timely and comprehensive Group-level management reporting packs and Board/EXCO-facing deliverables.
• Financial Analysis Exceptional ability to interrogate and interpret complex financial data synthesise findings into clear strategic narratives and deliver actionable insights to both financial and non-financial stakeholders.
• Financial Acumen & Modeling Deep understanding of financial principles business drivers and performance metrics with the ability to contextualise data within the broader commercial and operational landscape to support sound decision-making. This acumen will also support financial modelling including scenario analysis and sensitivity testing in support of business cases and commercial assessments.
• Budgeting & Forecasting Advanced ability support Group budgeting and forecasting cycles including the preparation of robust data foundations development of rolling forecast models and guidance of operational teams through the process.

Technical & Reporting Skills

• Advanced Microsoft Office Proficiency Expert-level Excel skills encompassing complex financial modelling scenario analysis and dynamic reporting; complemented by strong proficiency across Word PowerPoint and Outlook for professional stakeholder communication and presentation.
• Power BI/Query/SQL & Data Visualisation Advanced capability in Power BI/Query/SQL including data ingestion modelling transformation and cleansing DAX expression writing and the design of enterprise-level visually compelling dashboards that drive decision-making at Board and EXCO level.
• Data Warehouse Testing & Validation Advanced ability to design lead and oversee rigorous testing and validation processes across data platforms ensuring accuracy completeness and alignment with finance and business specifications.
• ERP Systems (Vantagepoint) Demonstrated experience in developing and managing reports and dashboards within ERPs (i.e. Vantagepoint) including leading the specification and implementation process end-to-end.

Competencies

• Data Governance & Integrity Demonstrates an uncompromising commitment to the accuracy completeness and reliability of financial data across all reporting environments. Takes ownership of data quality standards and holds the broader team accountable to these going beyond individual attention to detail to establish and enforce governance frameworks that protect the integrity of the organisations financial information.
• Cross-functional Collaboration & Influence Operates as a credible and trusted bridge between Finance BI and operational teams translating complex financial requirements into clear actionable specifications and driving alignment across functions. Able to influence outcomes and build consensus without direct authority fostering productive working relationships across all levels of the organisation.
• Executive Stakeholder Engagement Communicates with confidence and authority at Board EXCO and senior leadership level anticipating stakeholder needs and proactively delivering insights that inform strategic decisions. Skilled at adapting communication style to diverse audiences ensuring financial and technical concepts are conveyed in a manner that is clear relevant and impactful.
• Data Communication & Visualisation Translates complex multi-dimensional financial and operational data into compelling user-friendly reports dashboards and narratives that drive understanding and action. Sets the visual and analytical benchmark for the team ensuring all reporting outputs meet an enterprise-level standard of clarity design and insight.
• Advanced Analytical & Strategic Thinking Demonstrates exceptional analytical depth with the ability to interrogate large and complex datasets identify patterns and anomalies and connect findings to broader business strategy. Moves beyond problem identification to deliver well-reasoned commercially sound recommendations that drive meaningful business outcomes.
• Problem-Solving & Root Cause Analysis Approaches complex ambiguous challenges with a structured and methodical mindset systematically investigating root causes and driving resolution across teams and systems. Comfortable navigating uncertainty and taking ownership of outcomes where clear processes or precedents do not yet exist.
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation Leadership Actively champions a culture of continuous improvement within the team and broader finance function staying ahead of industry developments in analytics reporting tools and best practices. Evaluates and drives the adoption of emerging technologies and methodologies that enhance efficiency automation and the overall quality of the organisations reporting capability.
• Attention to Detail at Scale Maintains a high standard of precision and diligence across all outputs while simultaneously retaining the ability to assess information at a macrolevel forstrategic reasonableness and business coherence. Balances thoroughness with efficiency in a high-volume deadline-driven environment.
• Ownership & Accountability Takes full accountability for outcomes rather than tasks demonstrating a natural leadership disposition and a results-driven approach. Consistently holds a high personal standard and inspires the same in others through example guidance and constructive challenge.
  
  We believe that a diverse work force is key to our business success. We seek the best people for our jobs based on their skills qualifications and experience. We embrace the principle of equal opportunity in employment and we work towards eliminating all forms of unlawful discrimination in our employment support of diversity and the equal opportunity principle preference will be given to individuals from designated groups within South Africa