Finance Manager

SUMMARY:
To lead the full financial, operational, and governance functions of the region, with a strong focus on controls, compliance, and risk management.

POSITION INFO:

To lead the full financial, operational, and governance functions of the region, with a strong focus on controls, compliance, and risk management. The role integrates management accounting, procurement, inventory, fixed asset control, ESG compliance, sales tracking, operational reporting and people leadership – all underpinned by robust financial controls and governance standards. Acts as a strategic business partner to the Regional General Manager to drive profitability, operational discipline, and sustainable growth, while ensuring the region is always audit-ready.

Key Responsibilities

Month end Reporting

• Prepare and consolidate month-end packs for the Region.
• Review pack for completeness, accuracy, and policy compliance before submitting to Group Financial Manager.Provide variance analysis and commentary on month-to-month reporting.

Financial & Operational Performance with Control Discipline

• Full ownership of P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and integrity of all data.
• Deliver monthly management accounts with variance analysis and enforce corrective actions.
• Partner with operations to track cost efficiency (cost/kg, cost/garment, labour productivity, machine uptime) within approved tolerance.
• Ensure daily production and operational reports are validated and reconciled to financial records.

Payroll & People Costs

• Review and approve monthly payroll reconciliations.
• Implement and monitor controls for new hires, terminations, and salary adjustments.
• Reconcile payroll with HR records to prevent overpayment, ghost employees, or misstatements.
• Conduct monthly audits of payroll journals to detect errors or unusual transactions.

Procurement with Governance

• Enforce procurement controls, ensuring compliance with group policies and approval limits.
• Reduce non-compliance spend on B-BBEE procurement by 10% year-on-year.
• Maintain supplier vetting records and monitor adherence to contractual terms.

Inventory & Fixed Asset Control

• Enforce strict inventory controls with segregation of duties, documented reconciliations, and variance approvals.
• Maintain a fully reconciled Fixed Asset Register and track asset condition, usage, and maintenance records.
• Ensure asset acquisitions, transfers, and disposals comply with group capital policies.

ESG, Compliance & Risk

• Implement ESG initiatives in line with group reporting and control standards.
• Maintain compliance with SHEQ, statutory, and financial regulations.
• Identify financial and operational risks early and implement mitigation plans.

Sales & Commercial Oversight

• Track and review sales performance against budget, focusing on margin and customer profitability.
• Verify that commercial decisions follow approval and governance protocols.
• Support GMs in commercial negotiations within delegated authority.

Sales Invoice & Data Capture Oversight

• Ensure sales invoice clerks process all customer invoices accurately and daily in line with control checks.
• Review daily invoicing and dispatch reconciliations to prevent revenue leakage.
• Escalate any discrepancies or control breaches immediately.

Financial Planning & Forecasting with Governance

• Prepare budgets and rolling forecasts with documented assumptions and sign-off.
• Apply scenario planning with documented risk assessments.

Working Capital & Cash Flow Control

• Actively manage cash flow to group policy requirements.
• Maintain AR risk at below 10% and ensure debtor collection actions are documented.
• Approve and monitor creditor payments in line with approval matrices.

People Leadership with Accountability

• Manage, coach, and evaluate the regional finance team with clear control responsibilities assignTrain staff on governance, compliance, and financial policies.
• Hold regular control review meetings with the finance team and operations.

Governance & Audit

• Maintain continuous audit readiness through monthly control self-assessments.
• Lead closure of audit findings within agreed timelines.
• Champion governance culture across finance, operations, and procurement.

EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

• 3 years in a similar role
• Preferably, CIMA, CIPA accredited 
• Must have experience working in a factory or manufacturing environment
• Business acumen