Financial Controller

SUMMARY:
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POSITION INFO:
JOB DESCRIPTION Position: Financial Controller **Location: V & A Waterfront, Cape Town Working Arrangement: Hybrid About the Opportunity K2 Recruit is partnering with a growing South African health and wellness business that develops, markets and distributes nutraceutical and complementary health products across retail, wholesale, e-commerce and international markets. We are looking for an experienced, hands-on Financial Controller to take ownership of the day-to-day operational finance function, manage a small finance team and work closely with the CFO. This is a role for someone who enjoys being in the detail . You will not simply be responsible for producing reports -- you will own the numbers, identify issues, investigate discrepancies and bring practical solutions to the table. A particularly important part of this position is inventory and cost accounting . The successful candidate will have solid experience working in a stock-intensive environment, ideally involving manufactured inventory, and be comfortable with COGS, stock movements, adjustments, write-offs, returns, stock counts and reconciliations. If you are commercially minded, technically strong and enjoy taking ownership, this could be an excellent opportunity to make a meaningful impact within a growing business. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Financial Accounting & Month-End Own the month-end close process and ensure agreed deadlines are consistently achieved. Ensure accurate and timely recording of financial transactions. Review the general ledger, income statement and balance sheet. Prepare and review journals, accruals and provisions. Ensure balance sheet accounts are fully reconciled and supported. Investigate discrepancies, variances and unusual movements. Prepare financial information and analysis to support monthly management reporting. Banking, Cash Flow & Working Capital Review local and foreign-currency bank reconciliations. Review weekly payment schedules for accuracy and completeness. Prepare and maintain rolling monthly cash-flow forecasts. Incorporate debtor receipts, creditor payments, inventory purchases and foreign-currency movements into cash-flow planning. Update forecasts for actuals and known commitments and proactively flag potential cash-flow requirements. Oversee debtors and creditors, including ageing, collections, reconciliations, supplier statements and disputes. Inventory & Cost Accounting This is a critical component of the role. Own the financial side of inventory accounting and reconciliation. Review stock movements, COGS, adjustments, write-offs and returns. Ensure inventory is accurately reflected in the financial records. Investigate and resolve stock discrepancies and variances. Support accurate stock counts and reconciliation processes. VAT, Statutory & External Reporting Prepare and review VAT information and reconciliations for South African and UK entities. Ensure statutory submissions are accurate and completed on time. Liaise with external accountants, tax advisers and auditors. Assist with audit and independent review requirements. Sales Commissions Calculate sales representative commissions. Validate commission calculations against sales reports and approved commission structures. Systems, Controls & Process Improvement Maintain the financial integrity and accuracy of Sage Intacct. Investigate and resolve accounting and system-related issues. Ensure transactions from third-party platforms are accurately recorded. Identify opportunities to improve, streamline and automate finance processes. Strengthen financial controls and operational efficiencies. Finance Team Leadership Manage and support the finance team. Allocate responsibilities and monitor deadlines. Provide guidance, coaching and training. Conduct regular performance check-ins. Ensure accurate and timely processing while remaining hands-on when required. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR Essential Experience Proven experience as a Financial Controller, Financial Accountant or similar operational finance professional . Approximately 4+ years' relevant experience , with depth and relevance more important than years alone. Strong month-end close and balance-sheet control experience. Proven experience with inventory accounting in a stock-intensive or manufacturing environment . Practical understanding of COGS, stock adjustments, write-offs, returns and inventory reconciliations. Experience with cash-flow forecasting and working-capital management. Experience managing or supervising junior finance staff. Strong understanding of debtors, creditors, VAT and banking. Excellent attention to detail with a high level of ownership and accountability. Ability to work independently, meet deadlines and proactively address issues. Advantageous Experience with: Sage Intacct Multi-currency accounting Multi-entity environments FMCG \/ manufacturing Pharmaceutical \/ nutraceutical Food or consumer products Wholesale \/ distribution Retail E-commerce Power BI or similar reporting tools QUALIFICATION A BCom Accounting, BCom Financial Accounting or equivalent qualification would be preferred. However, practical financial-control experience, commercial understanding and operational capability will be highly valued. THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THIS ROLE We are looking for someone who: Takes ownership and can be trusted to deliver without constant follow-up. Doesn't simply accept numbers at face value and is willing to investigate when something doesn't make sense. Brings solutions and recommendations rather than simply highlighting problems. Has strong professional integrity and is comfortable communicating difficult information when necessary. Understands that inventory is a core financial responsibility as well as an operational one. Is commercially curious and wants to understand the wider business, including sales, margins, stock and profitability. Can manage competing priorities and remain effective during month-end, audit and other peak periods. Communicates confidently with both finance and non-finance stakeholders. Can lead and develop a small team while remaining hands-on. Takes an interest in the business and its products rather than viewing finance as an isolated function. WHY JOIN? This is an opportunity to join a growing South African health and wellness business in a role where your contribution will be visible and meaningful. Reporting directly to the CFO, you will have the opportunity to take genuine ownership of the operational finance function, influence processes, support a growing team and contribute commercially to the continued growth of the business.