Finance Manager

MnT People Solutions; Durban; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial management firm in Durban is seeking a seasoned professional to lead financial and operational governance. This role demands strong expertise in risk management, compliance, and financial reporting to ensure audit readiness. The ideal candidate should have at least 3 years of relevant experience, preferably in a manufacturing environment, with a focus on maintaining robust controls and driving profitability.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years in a similar role.
• Experience in a factory or manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of financial governance and controls.

Responsibilities

• Lead financial and operational functions with a focus on compliance.
• Prepare and consolidate month-end reporting packs.
• Own P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow statements.
• Implement ESG initiatives and ensure audit readiness.

Skills

Financial control

Operational reporting

Risk management

Compliance

Education

CIMA or CIPA accreditation

Job description

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