Part-time Financial Controller

Operating at the strategic core of two evolving entities within the biotechnology and regenerative medicine space, this part-time, fully remote contract role requires 10 to 12 hours per week to establish structural order across day-to-day financial operations. Positioned directly alongside the Chief Executive Officer, the successful candidate will assume complete accountability for accounts receivable, payment runs, commission structures, and expense analytics, bridging the gap between internal operations and an external bookkeeper. This foundational role is designed for a self-directed, system-oriented finance professional capable of auditing current workflows, building robust Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and maintaining an impeccable financial function as both companies scale. Key Responsibilities Debtors & Accounts Receivable Management: Direct the end-to-end invoicing architecture, track collections, execute monthly age analyses, and manage necessary payment escalations. Accounts Payable & Banking Portals: Take ownership of the centralised accounts payable inbox, prepare structured weekly payment runs, and process authorised payments directly through banking portals. Commission Architecture & Reconciliation: Systematically calculate, audit, and reconcile monthly sales team commission reports against commercial outcomes. Expense Management & Diagnostics: Oversee the collection, coding, and categorisation of corporate expenses within Xero, producing granular monthly analysis summaries broken down by operational category and individual. Bookkeeper Liaison & Executive Reporting: Act as the primary conduit to the external bookkeeper, compiling weekly cash flow summaries for the CEO and supporting the review of monthly management accounts. Financial Process Engineering: Audit existing administrative workflows, identify procedural gaps, and author the standard operating procedures and functional templates required to secure an institutional-grade finance department. Requirements Proven Track Record: A minimum of 3+ years of dedicated experience within a financial administration, accounts, or bookkeeping-adjacent capacity. Xero Ecosystem Mastery: Advanced, hands-on proficiency in Xero, ensuring full operational capability from day one without training overhead. Ledger Autonomy: Demonstrable history of independently managing debtors and accounts payable lifecycles under minimal supervision. Operational Precision: High personal accountability, meticulous attention to detail, and a process-driven mindset that naturally addresses compliance gaps proactively. Discretion & Integrity: Absolute professional discretion appropriate for accessing highly sensitive financial frameworks and investor information across two distinct firms. Preferred Qualifications Prior experience working inside life sciences, medical device distribution, or venture-capital-backed start-up environments. Practical knowledge of South African payroll frameworks, VAT regulations, and SARS compliance protocols. Foundational familiarity with Unleashed or similar cloud-based inventory/ERP software ecosystems. Required Software Skills Xero (Advanced operational level) Unleashed (Inventory/ERP - Advantageous) Microsoft Excel / Google Sheets (Data analysis and commission modeling) Online Banking Portals (Payment run preparation) Benefits High autonomy with flexible working hours organized around predictable weekly deliverables and deadlines. Direct access to the CEO with uninhibited visibility into the commercial progression of two high-growth organisations. The professional space to build accounting processes from the ground up and take complete structural ownership of them. Long-term potential to expand hours and scope as the scale of both entities increases.