CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (OR FINANCIAL CONTROLLER)

SUMMARY:
SUBSIDIARY OF MULTINATIONAL - WHOLESALE SECTOR & SMALL MANUFACTURING PLANT

POSITION INFO:

Join a smallish but very successful and profitable Subsidiary of a large multinational that is in the top 5 Groups in its niche sector in the world.  This truly global business is based in 45 countries and works across more than 110.  It has multiple R&D centres and production sites.  The local business services not only South Africa but the entire African continent and is one of the most respected Subsidiaries in the Group due to its entrepreneurial, innovative and customer centric approach.  The current CFO is being transferred to the UK in a more senior role resulting in this vacancy.    The local business employs very specialised and senior personnel for their niche business and has in-depth interaction with their customers whether it be in SA or Africa.  The Company imports most of its products from various fellow Subsidiaries overseas where the main manufacturing plants are stationed but also has a small manufacturing facility locally as well.  The CFO will have a dual reporting line to both to the local Country Manager (who is a South African) as well as to the EMEA Functional (Financial) Manager.  

Key performance areas, inter alia, include:         

• Manage, motivate & mentor a small & efficient Finance Department – Financial Accountant, Cost & Inventory Accountant, Accounts Receivable Clerk, Accounts Payable Clerk.  It should be noted that the current CFO also oversees the small production plant and its 6 staff but this experience is not a prerequisite for the position.
• Take full end-to-end financial ownership of the Company which will involve working very closely with the Country Manager who requires the CFO to be involved in all aspects of the business, not only the financial management.  This means that the candidate will participate in broad based commercial & business decisions and advise Management generally in these areas. 
• Further to the previous point, the candidate will advise the Country Manager, inter alia, in costing (both import & production), profitability & margins, pricing, analysis of financial information including business trends and other trend analyses, business direction & strategy.
• Being part of a multinational, there are very strict reporting deadliness for the monthly management pack and the other financial management requirements throughout the year including annual budget, year-end audit, forecasting, working capital, a variety of other reports like sales reports, expenditure reports and analysis, financial ratios & analysis, capex, costs of production etc.
• There are the usual on-line meetings and as the Holding Company is based in Europe, the time difference is not an issue for South Africa.  Special emphasis will be placed on working capital management, operating income, optimising profit, budgets & forecasting as well as business planning.
• Risk & Opportunity management in terms of analysing the business as well as managing foreign currency exposure and local tax especially tax planning.  In addition, ensure data integrity & security of information and drive internal controls compliance in line with local & international policy guidelines.  It must be mentioned that there are strict Internal Audits carried out locally by the Holding Company’s Internal Audit Department which are very thorough and in-depth. 
• Oversee the ERP system and ensure the required compliance and use a number of tailor made packages in addition thereto as well as MS Suite.

Requirements:

•  Must be a CA (SA) from a product related background (and not service industry).  The Client is flexible in that if the candidate has only 3 to 5 years relevant commercial experience but with the necessary attributes & abilities, then the position will initially be a Financial Controller which will eventually become CFO.  Alternatively, if the candidate has 15 years plus commercial experience then the entry level position will be CFO immediately.
• Due to the smallness of the Company which employs 58 staff locally, the candidate will be able to partricipate in all aspects of the business as outlined above and contribute to this very open culture.  He/she will need to display business & commercial acumen, be assertive and proactive, foreward thinking and ‘add value’ to the Company which includes making commercial decisions, developing partnerships with customers and changing business direction.
•  Being hands-on and not office bound, displaying strong leadership skills, having excellent verbal & written communication, a problem solver and being decisive as well as reults orientated.

Apply on-line or alternatively phone Gerald Lilian on (011)-----.

Be advised that if you do not receive a response within two weeks from date of submission of your CV, then please deem your application as unsuccessful.

NB! This job is now closed. You can apply for other jobs by uploading your CV.