Senior Finance Manager

Job description

Who will you be working with? Wabtec is a leading global provider of equipment, systems, digital solutions, and value-added services. Whether it's freight rail, transit, mining, industrial, or marine, our expertise, technologies, and people - together - are accelerating the future of transportation.

Role

Senior Finance Manager Location: Johannesburg How will you make a difference? As a Senior Finance Manager, you will oversee the entire finance function for a manufacturing operation within the rail sector. This includes budgeting, financial forecasting, operational finance, reporting, controllership, and statutory compliance. You will act as a key business partner to the Site Director and leadership team, driving execution, cost management, and working capital optimisation.

A strong focus on process improvement and simplification will be essential. What will your typical day look like?

Financial leadership & planning

Lead annual budgeting, rolling forecasts, and pacing (orders, sales, costs, margins, cash), partnering closely with commercial, operational, and divisional stakeholders.

Commercial & operational partnership

Support sales and tendering activities by evaluating deal economics and assumptions, while partnering with site leadership to drive operational execution and on‑time customer delivery across the end‑to‑end value chain.

Risk, performance & insight

Provide financial insight, thought leadership, and visibility of risks and opportunities, ensuring actions and mitigations are clearly defined, tracked, and delivered.

Reporting, governance & team leadership

Own monthly and quarterly close and reporting, supervise site finance operations, manage working capital and cash governance, and ensure compliance with corporate reporting and control requirements.

Strategic enablement & stakeholder engagement

Drive simplification and efficiency initiatives, partner with regional and global support functions, and prepare Board materials while presenting business performance, risks, and opportunities. What do we want to know about you?

Education & experience

Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance, with experience across FP&A, operational/manufacturing finance, and controllership or statutory compliance.

Industrial & project finance expertise

Strong experience supporting industrial projects and programmes, including long‑term contract accounting, financial management, and reporting.

Analytical & technical capability

Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills, with a solid understanding of GAAP and data‑driven decision‑making.

Communication & presentation

Fluent in English with strong written and verbal communication skills, including advanced PowerPoint and stakeholder‑level presentation experience. If you don’t have all the above criteria don’t worry, we would still like to hear from you as we live our values and always put people first, and strive to expand what is possible. Apply today! #LI-PROMOTEDJOBS Legal authorisation to work in South Africa is required. We will not sponsor individuals for employment visas, now or in the future, for this job opening. *Please note that we do not accept agency candidate submissions without a formalised agreement with Wabtec Talent Acquisition.

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