Commercial Manager: Operations

Hire Resolve; Durban; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Hire Resolve is seeking a highly analytical and strategic Commercial Manager: Operations based in Westville, KwaZulu-Natal. This vital role supports all operational aspects of the business, including product costing accuracy and margin analysis.

The ideal candidate will manage a multidisciplinary finance team and ensure robust internal financial controls while driving corporate governance. A BCom degree and strong SAP exposure are highly desired, along with 4 to 5 years of relevant experience.

Qualifications

• 4 to 5 years of Management Accounting experience in a processing or manufacturing environment.
• Proven experience in commercial costing, margin analysis, and people management.
• Strong IT proficiency and systems literacy.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and audit the standard cost of products on the system.
• Perform monthly reviews of actual vs. standard cost variance reports.
• Drive the regional management accounting function, ensuring financial controls.
• Evaluate capital expenditure proposals and track ROI.
• Manage and develop a high-performance finance team.

Skills

Management Accounting

Commercial Costing

Margin Analysis

People Management

Strong Analytical Capabilities

Communication Skills

SAP

Education

BCom degree in Accounting, Finance, or Management Accounting

CA(SA) or CIMA qualification

Tools

SAP

Job description

Commercial Manager: Operations | Westville, KwaZulu-Natal

A market-leading processing and manufacturing enterprise is seeking a highly analytical and strategic Commercial Manager: Operations to join their team in Westville. This vital role provides comprehensive commercial and management accounting support across all operational aspects of the business. Acting as a key bridge between mill-based accounting, procurement, and technical teams, the successful candidate will drive product costing accuracy, margin analysis, and high-level corporate governance.

Key Performance Areas

• Product Costing & Audit: Maintain and continuously audit the standard cost of products on the system to ensure they accurately reflect the production processes. Take complete ownership of the quarterly standard costing process.
• Variance & Margin Analysis: Perform deep-dive monthly reviews of actual vs. standard cost variance reports. Highlight deviations to mill management and regional sales teams to correct operational inefficiencies and optimize margins.
• Commercial & Management Accounting: Drive the regional management accounting function, overseeing working capital, processing monthly raw material reconciliations, and ensuring robust internal financial controls.
• Capex & Asset Management: Evaluate capital expenditure proposals, track post-implementation returns on investment, and oversee regular physical asset verifications.
• Team Leadership & EE: Manage, coach, and develop a high-performance, multidisciplinary regional finance team while driving Employment Equity targets and performance appraisals.

Minimum Requirements

• Education: A completed BCom degree in Accounting, Finance, or Management Accounting is required. A CA(SA) or CIMA qualification is highly preferred.
• Professional Experience: 4 to 5 years of Management Accounting experience.
  • Proven experience including commercial costing, margin analysis, and people management.
  • Mandatory exposure to a processing or manufacturing environment.
• Technical Skills: Strong IT proficiency and systems literacy are essential. Strong working exposure to SAP is a distinct advantage.
• Attributes: High energy, exceptional analytical capability, a commitment to corporate governance, and strong communication skills to manage internal customer service requirements.