An opportunity has become available for a Factory Finance Manager to join our Snackworks Isando Biscuits team. This role requires a commercially astute and hands-on leader who can effectively challenge and influence technical and operational teams, develop a deep understanding of the business, and act as a strategic partner to the Operations Executive and Site Leadership Team. The successful candidate will play a key role in driving financial performance, operational excellence, productivity initiatives, and long-term business growth.
Duties and responsibilities:
- Manage and monitor company accounting procedures and policies, and internal controls, according to internal standards.
- Implement and communicate Corporate Governance charter / sound accounting practices to management on site.
- Consolidate budgets, plans and forecasts for site with adherence to strict deadlines.
- Proactively manage expenditure in relation to approved budgets.
- Analyse and report to local management and head office all operational variances from budget on expenditure items.
- Monthly maintenance of general ledger and authorise timeous adjustments wherever necessary.
- Address any queries with accounts payable on request.
- Ensure month end procedures are adhered to according to predetermined deadlines.
- Working capital management and reporting.
- Review of IT authorisation / access controls and release strategies.
- Assist with completion of annual insurance declaration.
- Prepare monthly management accounts required by management.
- Report on Income Statement variances and provide necessary commentary.
- Review General Ledger transactions and report on budget vs. actual.
- Report on irregular variances that have been investigated.
- Report on site performance measurements.
Business Partnering, Site Leadership and Continuous Improvement
- Act as a key member of the Site Leadership team, contributing to the development and execution of the site’s strategic objectives
- Partner closely with the Operations Executive to drive operational excellence, cost optimisation, productivity improvements, and sustainable business growth.
- Identify, evaluate, initiate and support continuous improvement and productivity enhancement initiatives across all functional areas of the business.
- Provide financial, commercial and analytical support to Heads of Department, enabling informed decision-making and improved operational performance.
- Challenge, support and influence departmental leaders through the use of financial and operational insights to drive accountability and business results.
- Facilitate and support site performance reviews, ensuring alignment between operational activities, financial targets and strategic priorities
- Lead and support cross-functional projects aimed at improving efficiency, reducing waste, enhancing profitability and delivering operational excellence.
- Develop business cases, investment evaluations and improvement proposals to support strategic decision-making and value creation.
- Drive a culture of continuous improvement, performance management and fact-based decision-making throughout the site.
- Build strong relationships across all functions to ensure effective collaboration, communication and execution of site priorities.
Asset Management
- Monthly maintenance, verification and reporting on fixed asset register.
- Prepare, submit and track Capex workflows for the acquisition, transfer or disposal of fixed assets.
- Conduct regular audits on fixed assets to ensure accuracy of fixed assets register.
Capital Expenditure
- Assist with compilation of the annual Capital Budget.
- Oversee the authorisation and financial aspects of the acquisition of fixed assets.
- Account for any over expenditure on acquisitions.
- Process workflows for the updating of fixed assets register.
- Preparation, assistance and review of EVA (Economic Value Added) Capital Expenditure Proposals.
- Post Capex Evaluations.
Audits
- Handle internal & external audits.
- Recommend and implement corrective action.
Activity-based and Product Costing
- Review accuracy of the bill of material on SAP.
- Ensure all BOM’s are current.
- Financial integrity of the bill of material.
- Maintain & update monthly standard cost sets.
- Generate budget and forecast cost sets.
- Generate ABC models on SAP for budgets & forecasts.
- Active participation in NPD forums,
- Formulate SCE’s in full based on NPD requirements
People / Quality Management
- Recruit and retain appropriate quality staff.
- Create an environment which is conducive to learning and development (on-the-job learning)
- Manage performance feedback process in accordance with set goals.
- Create a team culture of commitment and delivery against predetermined objectives, values and business requirements.
- Create and maintain a culture of accountability and responsibility.
- Participate in maintaining the QMS programme (ISO9001, HACCP, Environmental management)
Knowledge:
- Experience in costing and administration, financial management and accounting in a manufacturing environment.
- Excellent understanding of standard costing principles.
- Advanced computer literacy and knowledge of MSWord, Excel, PowerPoint and an integrated accounting system.
- SAP experience not negotiable.
- A good understanding of the ABC costing methodology.
- Highly effective communicator with proven ability to influence and collaborate with stakeholders across all levels of the organisation, including factory employees, senior management, and executive directors.
- Systematic, precise and positive approach to performing duties;
- Strong analytical, investigative and reporting skills;
- Able to engage robustly and constructively on issues;
- Able to deal with large volumes of work under pressure;
- Proactive and has the ability to take initiative;
- Honest, trustworthy and reliable;
- Able to work in both detailed and conceptual modes;
- Able to quickly assimilate new information and understand business issues.
Qualifications:
Experience:
- 6-8 years Accounting or Financial Management experience gained within a FMCG or Manufacturing environment.
- 2-3 years business partnering and site financial leadership gained within a FMCG or Manufacturing environment.