Head of Finance

Job Description

Key Requirements

• Recognised accounting or finance qualification, preferably CA(SA), CIMA, ACCA, or an equivalent professional qualification.

• 7–10 years of relevant financial management experience, including senior-level responsibilities.

• Proven experience in manufacturing finance, preferably within food manufacturing or FMCG.

• Strong knowledge of management accounting, product costing, inventory valuation, and manufacturing cost analysis.

• Experience managing budgets, forecasts, cash flow, working capital, and financial performance.

• Knowledge of financial controls, auditing, tax legislation, statutory compliance, and risk management.

• Experience managing inventory costs, production variances, wastage, and supplier expenditure.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, ERP systems, and financial reporting tools.

• Experience leading finance teams and supporting commercial decision-making.

• Proven ability to improve profitability, reduce costs, and strengthen financial performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the overall financial management of the business, ensuring accurate reporting and financial control.

• Prepare monthly management accounts, financial statements, performance reports, and variance analyses.

• Lead annual budgeting, financial forecasting, cash flow planning, and long-term financial planning.

• Develop and maintain product costing models covering raw materials, packaging, labour, and manufacturing overheads.

• Monitor product profitability, production costs, wastage, stock losses, and manufacturing efficiencies.

• Manage working capital, accounts receivable, accounts payable, inventory levels, and cash flow.

• Oversee stock reconciliations, inventory valuations, obsolete stock provisions, and financial controls.

• Analyse pricing, customer profitability, supplier costs, and commercial opportunities to improve margins.

• Evaluate capital expenditure, investment proposals, and business expansion opportunities.

• Ensure compliance with accounting standards, tax requirements, statutory obligations, and internal financial policies.

• Coordinate external audits, address audit findings, and implement measures to reduce financial risks.

• Lead and develop the finance team while improving financial systems, reporting accuracy, and operational efficiency.

• Work with operational departments to identify cost-saving opportunities and improve business performance.

• Provide financial insights and recommendations to support strategic planning and management decisions.

Key Skills

• Financial management, reporting, and financial controls.

• Manufacturing finance, product costing, and production cost analysis.

• Budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis.

• Cash flow, liquidity, and working capital management.

• Cost control, waste reduction, and profitability improvement.

• Commercial analysis, pricing, and customer profitability.

• Inventory valuation, stock reconciliation, and inventory control.

• Financial risk management, auditing, and regulatory compliance.

• Microsoft Excel, ERP systems, and financial reporting tools.

• Leadership, team development, and stakeholder communication.

• Analytical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making.

• Strategic planning, integrity, and attention to detail.

Qualifications

• CA(SA), CIMA, ACCA, or an equivalent recognised accounting or finance qualification.

• 7–10 years of relevant financial management experience, preferably in a senior position.

• Experience in manufacturing, ideally within food manufacturing or FMCG.

• Strong knowledge of management accounting, product costing, and inventory valuation.

• Experience in financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow, and working capital management.

• Proven experience in financial controls, audit coordination, tax compliance, and statutory reporting.

• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and experience using ERP and financial reporting systems.

• Experience with Syspro or a similar ERP platform is advantageous.

• Experience in high-volume, multi-product manufacturing operations is beneficial.

• Knowledge of food manufacturing costs, including production yields, wastage, packaging, shelf life, and product losses, is advantageous.

• Experience in cost reduction, margin improvement, process optimisation, and capital investment analysis is beneficial.