Creditors and Costing Team Leader

SUMMARY:
My client is a well established Fruit Exporter based in Stellenbosch. They are seeking to employ a Creditors and Costing Team Leader to join their team.

The successful candidate will have a Diploma in Management Accounting or equivalent and minimum 3 years’ experience in an export industry / or a high-volume creditors environment.

POSITION INFO:
Education Required

• Diploma in Management Accounting or equivalent
• Training in supply chain processes and cost structures
• Advanced Excel proficiency (lookups, data mapping, reporting tools)

• Minimum 3 years’ experience in the export industry/or a high-volume creditors environment
• Previous QX system experience advantageous
• Advanced Excel skills (essential)
• Strong financial acumen, including ability to reconcile accounts and analyse variances

• Ensure correct allocation of all costs to the appropriate cost codes and cost centres.
• Monitor and compare estimated vs actual costs, ensuring variances are justified and supported by incident logs where applicable
• 100% accuracy in cost allocation and coding.
• Minimal variance between estimated and actual costs, with all exceptions documented.

• Manage consumable stock control processes to minimise waste, shrinkage, and financial loss.
• Review and process creditor invoices for consumables with detailed line-item accountability.
• Execute accurate and timely year-end reconciliation processes in line with SOP requirements.
• Identify and resolve un-recovered costs and implement corrective actions.
• Facilitate all credit applications
• Effective stock control with measurable reduction in losses/waste

• Manage end-to-end creditors function across high-volume and complex supplier base.
• Validate supplier rates against agreed service level agreements before processing.
• Ensure accurate and timely capturing of invoices, including correct VAT treatment.
• Generate and review cost capture reports and prepare remittance documentation.
• Prepare and execute weekly payment runs
• Ensure monthly payment runs are completed by the 25th of each month.
• Perform detailed month-end reconciliations for all creditor accounts prior to payment release.
• Manage and resolve creditor queries and disputes efficiently and professionally.
• High accuracy in invoice processing (rates vs agreements).
• All reconciliations completed accurately before payments.
• Queries resolved within agreed turnaround times.
• Positive supplier relationship feedback and reduced dispute volumes

• Identify opportunities to automate manual processes within the creditors function.
• Drive efficiency through optimal use of EDI integrations and mappings.
• Develop and maintain Excel-based tools (including advanced formulas such as VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, pivot tables).
• Continuously improve workflows to increase processing speed and reduce errors.
• Increased automation of repetitive tasks.
• Improved turnaround times for invoice processing and payments.
• Reduction in manual errors and rework.
• Efficient and scalable processes supporting business growth.

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of creditors clerks.
• Ensure adherence to internal controls, SOP's, and deadlines.
• Conduct regular performance check-ins and provide feedback.
• Foster a culture of accountability, accuracy, and continuous improvement.
• High-performing, self-sufficient team.
• Low error rates and strong adherence to processes.
• Improved team engagement and retention.