Financial Controller

The primary responsibilities of the Financial Controller:

Managerial Responsibilities:

• Participate actively in the development of the department’s strategy and goals, as well as establish and drive the execution of initiatives and plans to meet them.
• Determine the financial and staff requirements during the annual budgeting exercise, advocating for optimal resource allocation based on priorities.
• Monitor the operational performance of the department, compare them to the established objectives and goals, whilst establishing periodic reports and reporting on them to superiors.
• Manage day-to-day activities and operations.
• Refine and ensure proper documentation and implementation of all policies and procedures for the concerned department.
• Monitor subordinates’ performance and provide formal and informal feedback and counseling in order to maximize efficiency.

Functional Responsibilities:

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the Finance Operations department, ensuring the accurate and timely processing of financial transactions, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, fixed assets, bank and general ledger activities.
• Develop and implement financial policies, procedures and controls to maintain compliance with regulatory requirements and internal audit standards. Track company compliance with Finance policies and procedures.
• Manage and optimize financial systems and tools, such as ERP software, to enhance efficiency, accuracy and data integrity in financial operations.
• Coordinate month-end and year-end closing activities, including financial statement preparation, reconciliations, and accruals, to meet reporting deadlines. Audit lead.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, such as treasury, tax and financial planning and analysis, to ensure seamless integration and alignment of financial operations with broader finance functions.
• Monitor and analyze financial data and key performance indicators (KPIs), identifying trends, anomalies and areas for process improvement, working capital improvements etc.
• Owner of Finance ERP.
• Owner of Balance Sheet. Ensure Balance Sheet reconciliations are performed per policy and Balance Sheet is complete.
• Manage the Financial modules of the reporting system and oversee the system control of all modules (i.e., GL, AP, AR, FA, PO, INV and CE).
• Owner of Accounts Receivable/Collections. Credit Committee lead. Delivering Board set KPI’s on debtor and creditor days.
• Develop and maintain systems of internal controls to safeguard financial assets of the organization and oversee the coordination and activities of independent auditors ensuring all audit issues are resolved, and all compliance issues are met, and the preparation of the annual financial statements is in accordance with the regulatory body.
• Ensure compliance with IFRS, notably IFRS 9, 15 and 16.
• Lead and develop a team of accounting professionals, providing guidance, training, and performance feedback to ensure a high level of accuracy and efficiency in financial operations.
• Establish and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders, such as auditors, vendors, and financial institutions, to facilitate effective communication, resolution of issues, and adherence to financial policies and guidelines.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

Academic & Professional Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or equivalent.
• Accounting certifications (e.g., CA, CPA, ACCA, etc.).

Experience:

• 12-16 years of experience in accounting, finance, or a similar field.
• Listed company experience
• 7+ years in a managerial role

Skills and Requirements:

• Strong people management skills, with a focus on collaborating with and developing others.
• Expert knowledge of accounting principles and practices, including experience with general ledger maintenance, account reconciliations, and financial reporting.
• Proficiency in using accounting software and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.
• Expert proficiency is MS Excel and other applications.