Financial Manager

About Sayari Earth 

Sayari Earth is a technology- and impact-driven nature-based carbon removals project developer working globally. Our mission is simple yet urgent: we partner with people to sustain life on planet Earth. Through innovative science, community collaboration, and carbon finance, we support land stewards in restoring ecosystems, improving livelihoods, and mitigating climate change.

Role Summary

We are seeking an experienced, execution-focused Financial Manager (CA(SA)) to build and run a robust, scalable financial management, control, and reporting environment that supports carbon project development, grant-funded activities, carbon credit issuance, inventory/revenue recognition, and impact-linked benefit-sharing.

This role evolves from the foundational Finance Controller design but adds leadership in:

• Strategic financial modelling (runway, issuance scenarios, cash/liquidity)
• Carbon credit inventory valuation policy stewardship
• Cross-functional enablement (Science, Project Development, Community, Impact, MRV)
• Governance readiness for investors, buyers, and assurance providers

You will report to the COO (and work closely with the CEO) and will be a core enabler of Sayari Earth’s credibility, capital efficiency, and growth.

Key Accountability Domains

1. Period Close, Compliance & Assurance
2. Project & Grant Cost Management (Lifecycle Economics)
3. Carbon Credit Inventory, Valuation & Revenue Recognition
4. Cash Flow, Runway, Funding & Scenario Modelling
5. Landholder / Community Benefit-Sharing Financial Governance
6. Risk, Controls & Policy Framework (Financial, Carbon, ESG Linkages)
7. Integrated Financial + Impact Reporting (Investor & Buyer Grade)
8. Systems, Data Architecture & Process Automation (Xero + Time & Project Registers)

Core Responsibilities

1. Period Close & Compliance

• Own disciplined month-end and quarter-end close (target: Day 5–7).
• Maintain reconciliations: WIP (project phases), deferred revenue (forward offtakes), grant/restricted funds, carbon credit inventory (pipeline vs. issued).
• Ensure full IFRS compliance (including capitalization policy for pre-issuance costs and inventory/intangible treatment).
• Support statutory, tax, and assurance engagements (financial and carbon standard support).

2. Project Lifecycle & Cost Management

• Maintain a dynamic Project Register (status, hectares, methodology, expected issuance schedule, credit volume forecasts by vintage).
• Standardize cost taxonomy: origination, feasibility, restoration, MRV (remote sensing & field), verification, community engagement, legal/permitting, permanence/risk buffers.
• Track unit economics: cost per forecast issuable credit; cost per issued credit; margin bridges.
• Implement defensible allocation drivers for shared science / MRV / central costs.
• Flag >10% cost or phase variance with root-cause and corrective actions.

3. Carbon Credit Inventory & Revenue

• Maintain credit lifecycle ledger: pipeline (probability-weighted), validated, issued, sold/retired.
• Steward policy on inventory vs. intangible treatment; monitor lower of cost vs. NRV.
• Govern revenue recognition: spot vs. forward delivery milestones.
• Provide monthly Credit Movement Bridge + realized price analytics vs. contract floors/ceilings.
• Model attrition / buffer and reflect provisions or disclosures.

4. Cash, Funding & Liquidity

• Build and maintain an 18–24 month integrated cash runway model (projects, grants, issuance timing, offtake flows).
• Scenario modelling: issuance delays, price sensitivity, under-delivery risk, grant timing shifts.
• Track restricted vs. unrestricted funds with eligibility tagging and compliance evidence.

5. Community & Benefit-Sharing Governance

• Calculate and schedule landholder/community disbursements (fixed, revenue-share, performance-based).
• Maintain a transparent obligations ledger (committed vs. accrued vs. paid).
• Link community investment spend to contractual & ESG commitments; ensure audit-ready documentation.

6. Risk, Controls & Policies

• Design and maintain an internal control matrix (segregation, approvals, journals, contract reviews).
• Oversee policy suite: revenue recognition, capitalization, cost allocation, benefit-sharing, grant eligibility, carbon inventory valuation.
• Integrate carbon performance risk signals (reversal, disturbance, biomass variance) into financial implications.
• Coordinate external audit, carbon verifier interactions, ESG assurance support.

7. Integrated Reporting & Stakeholder Enablement

• Produce Monthly/Quarterly Financial & Impact Pack:
  • Probability-weighted credit forecast vs. prior
  • Cost per issued credit trajectory
  • Realized vs. contracted average selling price
  • Community benefit % of net proceeds (where applicable)
  • Link financial outflows to impact outputs (hectares restored, survival rates)
• Support investor, buyer, and grantor diligence (data room structuring & responsiveness).

8. Systems, Data & Automation

• Optimize Xero tracking categories (Project / Region, Cost Center).
• Leverage time-tracking (e.g., Clockify) for capitalization or allocation evidence.
• Build structured data layers: project register, credit inventory, offtake ledger, benefit-sharing tracker.
• Progress automation: GL ingestion scripts, issuance & variance dashboards, carbon credit cost roll-forward.

Minimum Requirements

• Chartered Accountant (CA(SA)) – active and in good standing.
• 5+ years post-articles experience in a Financial Management / Finance Lead / Controller / Senior Finance Business Partner role.
• Proven ownership of month-end close, financial modelling, and policy implementation.
• Strong IFRS grounding (inventory vs. intangible, revenue recognition, capitalization, provisions).
• Demonstrated experience with project-based or multi-entity cost allocation and grant/restricted fund tracking.
• Advanced Excel / Google Sheets financial modelling (scenario & sensitivity).
• Xero (or similar cloud GL) proficiency.
• Resides in the Garden Route, Western Cape (Mossel Bay proximity required).

Preferred / Advantageous

• Exposure to carbon markets, environmental commodities, or natural capital accounting.
• Experience with cost-to-serve or unit economics in an emerging industry.
• Familiarity with impact measurement, ESG reporting, or assurance processes.
• Data/automation exposure (basic SQL, scripting, or BI dashboarding).
• Experience in early-stage, mission-driven, or blended capital environments (grant + commercial).

Mindset & Attributes

• Systems thinker who can move from detail (journal integrity) to strategy (funding runway).
• High integrity, stewardship mindset—guardian of both financial and impact credibility.
• Collaborative partner to science, project, and impact teams; educator not gatekeeper.
• Bias for documentation, repeatability, and control maturity in a scaling environment.
• Values inclusion, transparency, and long-term planetary impact.

What We Offer

• Purpose-driven work in a global growth sector (carbon removals).
• Exposure to multi-stakeholder ecosystems (buyers, landholders, scientists, investors).
• Opportunity to shape foundational financial architecture from an early stage.
• Competitive, market-aligned compensation (discussed with shortlisted candidates).
• 20 days annual leave + South African public holidays.
• Professional development support (skills, accreditation, tooling).
• Company-provided laptop; business travel costs covered.
• Future benefits enhancement as funding portfolio expands.

How to Apply

Please email the following to Aloha@sayari.earth with subject line: Application – Financial Manager – [Your Name]

1. CV (max 3 pages)
2. Brief cover note (≤300 words): Describe one situation where you built or transformed a finance process that improved decision quality
3. Confirmation you reside in the Garden Route (town/suburb)
4. Current / most recent CTC and notice period
5. (Optional) Example of a financial model artifact (redact sensitive data)

Applications reviewed on a rolling basis. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Confidentiality & Compliance

Shortlisted candidates may be required to provide:

• Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)
• Proof of CA(SA) status
• References (at least one prior line manager)
• Willingness to sign an NDA and comply with internal policies

Diversity & Inclusion

We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds. We believe diverse perspectives strengthen the integrity and scalability of climate solutions. If you meet most requirements, we still encourage you to apply.