Business Analyst - Manufacturing Operations (Finance)

SUMMARY:
Provide strategic financial leadership and business partnering to the manufacturing operation

POSITION INFO:

Purpose of the Role

Provide strategic financial leadership and business partnering to the manufacturing operation through financial planning, performance management, cash flow optimization, working capital management, manufacturing finance, governance, internal controls, compliance, capital investment analysis and leadership of key finance support functions including Stores and Cane Payments.

Role & Responsibilities

1. Financial Leadership & Business Partnering

Function as the primary finance business partner to Manufacturing, Engineering, Procurement and Supply Chain. Provide commercial advice, challenge operational decisions, prepare business cases, support strategic initiatives, and translate operational performance into financial outcomes.

2. Financial Planning, Budgeting & Performance Management

The incumbent is accountable for financial planning, budgeting & forecasting in support of operational excellence and sustainable financial performance.

Detailed Responsibilities

• Lead annual budgets, quarterly forecasts and 5-year plans.
• Develop financial models, scenario, and sensitivity analyses.
• Prepare monthly management accounts and executive commentary.
• Investigate variances and recommend corrective actions.

3. Cash Flow & Working Capital

The incumbent is accountable for cash flow & working capital in support of operational excellence and sustainable financial performance.

Detailed Responsibilities

• Weekly and monthly cash flow forecasting.
• Monitor UR submissions against approved budgets.
• Management of downpayment process.
• Prepare executive cash flow reports.
• Manage supplier payment prioritization.
• Identify liquidity risks.
• Recommend mitigation strategies.
• Support treasury with ad hoc requirements.

4. Inventory Management

To provide strategic leadership and governance over the Stores function by ensuring the effective management, control and safeguarding of inventory, while optimizing working capital, maintaining stock integrity, supporting operational continuity, and ensuring compliance with inventory policies, internal controls, and corporate governance requirements.

Detailed Responsibilities

• Lead the Stores Control Manager and the Stores function.
• Ensure optimal stock availability to support uninterrupted manufacturing operations while minimizing inventory holding costs and improving inventory turnover.
• Oversee procurement receipting, inventory accuracy, cycle counts, warehouse governance, obsolete stock management, safeguarding of company assets, inventory valuation, stock policies and internal controls.

5. Cane Payment Administration

To lead and govern the Cane Payments function by ensuring accurate, timely and compliant payments to sugar cane growers in accordance with SASA regulations, company policies and contractual obligations, while maintaining effective internal controls, fostering stakeholder confidence, and driving continuous

Detailed Responsibilities

• Lead the Cane Payments team and ensure growers are paid accurately and on time in accordance with SASA requirements.
• Oversee reconciliations, payment controls, stakeholder queries, compliance, and continuous process improvements.
• Maintain strong relationships with growers, SASA representatives and internal stakeholders.

6. Manufacturing Finance & Cost Control Leadership

The incumbent is accountable for manufacturing finance in support of operational excellence and sustainable financial performance.

Detailed Responsibilities

• Lead the development, maintenance and periodic review of standard costing models and Bills of Material (BOM) to ensure the accurate valuation of inventory and manufacturing costs.
• Perform detailed production variance analysis to identify deviations between actual and standard performance, investigate root causes and recommend corrective actions in collaboration with operational management.
• Prepare and present manufacturing performance reports and financial dashboards, including key operational and financial performance indicators, to support management decision-making.
• Monitor and analyze manufacturing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), including cost per ton, production efficiencies, maintenance expenditure, packaging costs, transport costs, chemical consumption, and energy costs, highlighting trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Drive cost reduction and continuous improvement initiatives across the manufacturing operation while ensuring operational reliability and product quality are maintained.
• Monitor departmental expenditure against approved budgets, investigate variances and provide meaningful financial analysis and recommendations to management.
• Lead periodic Bill of Materials (BOM) review meetings to ensure the accuracy and integrity of manufacturing master data and standard costing.

7. Capital Investment (CAPEX) Management

To provide financial governance over the capital investment programme and ensure capital is allocated to projects that maximize shareholder value while remaining affordable and aligned to strategic priorities.

Detailed Responsibilities

• Provide financial