Finance Manager: Costing

Network Finance; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Network Finance is seeking a Finance Manager to take full ownership of the cost function and provide strong financial control across the business. This senior, hands-on role reports to the CFO and acts as a key deputy on cost and payables.

You will partner with operational stakeholders, lead the AP/creditors team, and drive cost discipline and performance across multiple cost centres and sites.

Qualifications

• CA(SA), CIMA or BCom Honours with strong costing/payables track record.
• Experience owning the cost base and AP function.
• Proven ability to lead and deliver in cost management and financial control.

Responsibilities

• Take full ownership of cost base across multiple cost centres and units.
• Review GL monthly for cost completeness, accuracy, and cut-off.
• Sign off key cost categories and explain movements.
• Own end-to-end accounts payable from invoices to payments.
• Enforce three-way matching and proper payment controls.
• Manage creditor and supplier statement reconciliations.
• Own month-end accruals and provisions with correct cut-off.
• Monitor spend vs. budgets and challenge variances.
• Enforce cost approvals and delegation-of-authority controls.
• Provide management with clear cost performance insights.
• Support month-end close and audit activities relating to costs.

Skills

Excel proficiency

Cost accounting

Management accounting

Accounts payable

Financial controls

Variance analysis

Accruals & provisions

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Education

CA(SA)

CIMA

BCom Honours

Tools

Excel

ERP systems

Job description

Company and Job Description:

A well-established South African organisation is looking for a Finance Manager to take full ownership of its cost function and provide strong financial control across the business. This is a senior, hands-on position reporting directly into the CFO and acting as a key deputy on the cost and payables side of the finance function. The successful candidate will have the autonomy to manage the cost function independently while partnering closely with operational stakeholders. The role offers an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys cost management, financial control, process discipline and challenging the business on financial performance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Take full ownership of the South African cost base across multiple cost centres and business units
• Review the general ledger monthly to ensure cost completeness, accuracy, correct classification and cut-off
• Review and sign off key cost categories and provide meaningful explanations for movements
• Own the full accounts payable function from invoice capture through to payment
• Enforce three-way matching and appropriate payment controls
• Manage creditor and supplier statement reconciliations and resolve discrepancies
• Own month-end accruals and provisions, ensuring completeness and accurate cut-off
• Monitor spend against budgets and challenge business units on material variances
• Enforce appropriate cost approval and delegation-of-authority controls
• Provide management with a clear view of cost performance and drivers
• Support month-end close and audit activities relating to costs, creditors and accruals
• Lead, manage and develop the accounts payable and creditors team

Job Experience and Skills Required:

Qualifications:

• CA(SA), CIMA or BCom Honours
• Strong costing and payables track record essential

Experience:

• Deep accounts payable and creditors experience
• Strong cost and management accounting experience
• Experience taking ownership of a cost base rather than purely processing transactions
• Strong general ledger and month-end experience
• Proven experience with accruals, cut-off and reconciliations
• Experience managing an AP or creditors team advantageous
• High-volume, multi-site environments advantageous
• Logistics, courier, distribution or similar environments advantageous

Skills:

• Strong Microsoft Excel and systems capability
• Cost accounting
• Management accounting
• Accounts payable
• Financial controls
• Variance analysis
• Accruals and provisions
• Stakeholder management
• Strong analytical and problem-solving ability

Why consider this opportunity?

• Senior finance leadership exposure
• Direct interaction with the CFO and operational stakeholders
• Full ownership of a significant cost function
• Opportunity to influence cost discipline and business performance
• Leadership responsibility across the AP and creditors function
• A role where technical accounting expertise is combined with commercial business partnering