Field Finance and Risk Manager

Objective of Role:

Support company’s scaling objectives by unlocking additional value through specialising and compartmentalization responsibilities, improving field budget management, managing risk and logistics.  

Finance – Manage the entire field budget for project related expenses, acquiring new assets, internal budget etc. Monthly dashboard of overall project budgets indicating costs saved, cost saving opportunities going forward, piggybacking applied, reduction in costs due to negotiations, overlapping of projects and car hire forecasts. Costing projects and approving costs on Acumatica or similar system.

Risk – Ensure company is covered by updated SLAs and NDAs with suppliers, project contracts, assets are protected and tracked. No labour issues, minimal car damages, car insurance and tracking tools monitored and reported monthly. Suppliers health report (risk to AA, financial agreements etc.). Manage the supplier vetting process.

Logistics – Utilize tools to track car hires, optimal usage of cars and assets, best routes  for time and cost efficiencies. Forecasting of required cars and assets per month. Identify cost saving opportunities in accommodation, travel, labour and other cost items.

 Key Outputs

Main Job outcomes for which this position is held accountable (not activities)

5.1

Drive a 10% reduction in COS (with Field Excellence & Productivity Manager)

5.2

Strengthen relationships and loyalty with suppliers (90% retention of preferred suppliers)

5.3

Automate field finance / risk reports and reduce time spent on manual reporting by 50%

5.4

Instil a sense of trust, comfort and accuracy in Field Finance

5.5

Optimize field travel, long term rentals, accommodation, subsistence and assets.

 Areas of responsibility and key outcomes

Main Job Outcomes for which this position is held accountable (not activities)

 Finance

COS

• Track project budgets weekly
• Flag managers and line manager on predicted risks and losses
• Submit upfront predicted COS saving per project and track budgets against predictions as well as actual budget

 Tracking Finance

• Create an automated COS report that track current COS as well as previous project budgets (tracker projects)
• Send suppliers a monthly breakdown of projects worked on, funds agreed, funds already available for payment in 2 weeks’ time as well as upcoming projects and likely budgets and allocations

 Accumatica

• Ensure Acumatica & Workbook is up to date and COS is loaded and tracked correctly
• When projects are completed to update Accumatica and close off open POs
• POs to be loaded and approved prior to project briefings with suppliers
• Suppliers to obtain funds prior to going in field on a % basis aligned with project length

 Attending Industry Workshops, Conferences & Online Training courses

• The role requires that the incumbent is always in a constant learning process, as it is mandatory to be up to date with the latest finance products and quality measures, conditions of the market, and emerging trends / methodologies.

 Managing supporting staff

• Train and manage supporting staff as well as other managers in field on various methodologies, create training material and have regular training sessions.
• Update supporting staff’s KPIs annually to align with what the business requires
• Ensure supporting staff are managed and career planning completed, regular performance discussions and one-on-ones.

 Risk

 Agreements and contracts

• No supplier may carry out any type of work if no signed SLAs, NDAs and project contracts in place
• Track assets (tablets, Vodacom sim cards, asset rentals) on a monthly basis
• Track car damages
• Be the custodian of managing car insurance for long-term car rentals

 Risk / Supplier Health

• Report on risks and supplier health per month
• Put in place measures to monitor and cushion risks

 Implement systems / protocol

• Make use of technology and innovative tracking / reporting tools to enable automating
• Systems to enable monthly report to be supplied to line manager

 Logistics

 Utilize tools to track car hires, optimal usage of cars and assets to reduce error and mismanagement of car hires

• Semi automate calculation of best routes / piggybacking opportunities for time and cost efficiencies.
• Forecasting of required cars and assets per month in logistics report
• Identify cost saving opportunities in accommodation, travel, labour and other cost items. 

 Eligibility

Qualifications

Minimum

Degree or higher

Recommended

A bachelor’s degree in a related area such as business or economics, psychology, logistics, supply chain management or marketing

Research Experience (years)

Minimum

5

Recommended

8

8. Job requirements

(list those requirements deemed necessary to effectively perform in this position)

Driver’s license:

Code 8 and own transport

Travel:

Yes

Working conditions:

Office bound 80% of the time and the other 20% spent with suppliers.

Overtime:

As and when required

Attributes:

Able to work under pressure

Driven and solution orientated

Strong problem solving and reporting skills

Gregarious & tenacious

Strong cost control and budget protecting

Strong relationships with suppliers

Delivery focused and attention to detail