Distribution Finance Business Partner — Springs or Boksburg

SUMMARY:
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POSITION INFO:

Our client, a well-established accounting firm, is looking to appoint a skilled Distribution Finance Business Partner.

Location: This position will be based either in Springs or Boksburg (at one of their supply chain industry clients). After the on-site engagement, you will continue working from the accounting firm’s head office in Edenvale.
Reporting to: Supply Chain Finance Manager

Key Responsibilities:

• Engage with Operations Managers and 3rd party distribution service providers to understand business needs, manage freight costs, and proactively drive improved business insights and decision-making through robust financial analysis and reporting.

• Monthly reporting to Supply Chain leadership teams, Distribution Director, and Regional Supply Chain teams. Prepare and execute period-end closing tasks to the required standard and deadlines, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.

• Translate Supply Chain strategies into financial plans and monthly financial forecasts.

• Drive annual distribution operational planning with unit managers to build understanding of costs and cost controls. Empower managers to manage their own costs and develop SOPs to assist in effective cost management.

• Lead detailed cost reviews with unit managers to verify and understand charges from 3rd party service providers, ensuring that only accurate and validated costs are booked into the system.

• Monitor and reduce stock losses due to theft, expiry, and damages by proactively identifying expiring stock, analysing damage reports, and addressing root causes.

• Drive stock rotation management and monitoring in distribution centres (DCs); ensure all stock management processes are clearly documented, reviewed annually, and audited for compliance with agreed SOPs.

• Collaborate with 3rd party warehouse management teams to optimise operations and distribution costs. Benchmark contracts internally and externally where possible, to identify and implement industry best practices.

• Track and monitor cost savings with Supply Chain partners, develop gap-closing plans versus actuals, and propose new projects to drive sustainable continuous improvement.

• Perform sourcing studies to evaluate different supply options that help achieve the best cost of goods sold (COGS) for the business.

• Provide insightful interpretation and analysis of trends, fuel cost changes, and lane mix changes that may affect future distribution costs.

• Review all carrier rate cards to ensure competitiveness with market rates and identify cost improvement opportunities, such as fuel rebates and warehouse space discounts.

• Drive consistency across all carrier contracts, including terms and fuel surcharge calculations.

• Build strong business relationships and gain credibility as a trusted financial expert, providing insights that drive improved business performance with an entrepreneurial mindset.

• Deliver ad hoc projects and analyses as required.

• Ensure proper master data maintenance, including cost centre structures, activity rates, delegation of authorities, and headcount reporting.

• Perform costing of new and existing products, standard cost calculation and analysis.

• Load Bills of Materials (BOM), create new materials, and update master data as required.

• Support manufacturing finance activities when and as needed to achieve end-to-end supply chain financial goals.

Additional Requirements:

Education: Must have a relevant accounting or finance degree.
Accounting Expertise: Solid experience in all aspects of accounting, including the preparation of Annual Financial Statements (AFS).
Software: Proficiency in CaseWare is essential.
Industry: Experience within the supply chain or distribution environment will be highly advantageous.
Other: Strong analytical, communication, and business partnering skills; proactive, solutions-driven, and detail-oriented.