Financial Controller

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

At Genomines, our mission is to pioneer a new era of sustainable metal production by farming plants that hyperaccumulate metal. Through synthetic biology and cutting-edge technology, we harness the power of nature to create plants that can farm for metals while decontaminating soils and creating cleaner lands for agriculture. Our ultimate goal is to become the world's first carbon-negative nickel producer, using sustainable, cost-competitive methods to extract the valuable resources our society needs for the energy transition.

Yellow Flower Agriculture (Pty) Ltd. (YFA), Genomines' South African subsidiary, is responsible for launching Genomines' first production fields (currently in Mpumalanga), advancing agronomic knowledge of our plants and overseeing local operations. YFA is led by the group Head of Operations, a former CEO in the mining industry with 20+ years of experience. 

ROLE OVERVIEW

Genomines is seeking a highly analytical, disciplined, and hands-on Financial Controller to join our Johannesburg office.

As a foundational hire in the company's growing finance department, the Financial Controller is responsible for building the core financial infrastructure and reporting systems across all company entities. The role will ensure Genomines' financial processes evolve into a scalable model that enables management decision making with auditable, transparent financial data.

The Financial Controller will be responsible for building and managing the company's accounting, reporting, and internal control frameworks. This includes ownership of monthly closings, financial consolidation across entities, audit readiness, compliance, and treasury coordination. The Controller will also lead the design and implementation of the systems, policies, and procedures required to support Genomines' rapid international scaling.

The ideal candidate combines an entrepreneurial, hands-on mindset with strong technical accounting expertise. This role reports directly to the Head of Finance, an executive with over 15 years of experience in investment banking, project finance, and M&A within the metals, mining, and renewables sectors.

• FINANCIAL CONTROLLING AND ACCOUNTING
• Establish and manage the company's accounting frameworks and procedures across all entities, ensuring alignment with local and international standards (IFRS/local GAAP)
• Lead monthly, quarterly, and annual closing processes, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and timeliness of all financial data.
• Oversee consolidation of multiple entities and intercompany transactions, maintaining transparent records and reconciliations.
• Develop and maintain the company's chart of accounts, internal control mechanisms, and documentation standards.
• Supervise day-to-day accounting operations in collaboration with the Finance Assistant, including reconciliations, journal entries, and accounts payable/receivable tracking.

• REPORTING AND FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
• Prepare consolidated management accounts, P&L, balance sheet, and cash-flow statements to support internal decision making and board reporting.
• Support cost-tracking and budget-versus-actual analyses across departments and projects.
• Partner with the Head of Finance to produce investor and board-level reporting packages.
• Build and maintain dashboards to derive financial insights from operational activity.
• Ensure compliance with all statutory, tax, and audit requirements in coordination with external accountants and auditors.
• Maintain audit-ready documentation and lead the preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements.

• COMPLIANCE, AUDIT & RISK MANAGEMENT
• Support equity and non-dilutive compliance reporting in collaboration with the Head of Finance and Non-Dilutive Funding Lead

• SYSTEMS AND PROCESS DEVELOPMENT
• Design and implement the financial systems and processes required to scale Genomines' operations.
• Document financial policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure consistency and auditability.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with the Operations, R&D, and Strategy & Corporate Development teams to align financial processes with business needs.

• QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
• Minimum 5-10 years of experience in accounting, financial control, or audit roles, ideally within international organizations
• Demonstrated experience in establishing financial systems, processes, and reporting structures within high growth environments
• Strong technical grounding in IFRS or local GAAP, consolidations, and audit preparation.
• Proven ability to manage month-end closing, intercompany reconciliations, and consolidated financial statements.
• Experience collaborating with external auditors, accountants, and tax authorities.
• Professional accounting qualification (e.g., CA, CPA, CIMA, or equivalent) preferred.
• Professional fluency in English required, proficiency in French is a strong plus.

• TECHNICAL AND OPERATIONAL COMPETENCIES
• Advanced proficiency in accounting systems, financial reporting tools, and Microsoft Excel/Google Sheets.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience implementing or optimizing ERP/accounting systems and financial automation tools.
• Solid understanding of cash-flow forecasting, internal controls, and financial risk management.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Demonstrated capacity to work independently.

• SOFT SKILLS
• Proactive and solution-oriented
• High level of integrity, confidentiality, and accountability
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Adaptable to evolving priorities and capable of driving structure amid ambiguity.
• Culturally aware and respectful.

• PLACE OF WORK: Johannesburg office, 5 days/week
• TRAVEL: Occasional travel to France may be required