Finance & Operations Leader - Drive Growth & Efficiency

Dante Personnel; Centurion; On-site; ZAR 1,800,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Job summary

Dante Personnel seeks an experienced Senior Operations leader to drive strategic execution across Retail, FMCG, Distribution, and related sectors. You will lead cross-functional teams with a focus on efficiency, growth, and financial performance.

Responsibilities include overseeing supply chain, inventory, budgets, and cash flow while building a high-performing team and ensuring governance and regulatory compliance. Travel as required.

Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary qualification in Business Administration, Operations Management or Supply Chain.
• Management or a related discipline; postgraduate qualification advantageous.
• Extensive senior management experience in operations leadership within Retail, FMCG, Distribution, Direct Selling or similar environments.
• Proven ability to scale operations and deliver measurable efficiency improvements.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Demonstrated financial acumen and budget management experience.
• Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Results-driven with strong organisational and execution capability.
• High integrity, resilience and professional maturity.
• Ability to operate under pressure and manage competing priorities.
• Valid driver's licence and willingness to travel as required.
• Strong understanding of cash flow management, working capital optimisation and treasury principles.
• Experience managing balance sheet performance and investments.
• Knowledge of inventory optimisation principles and supply chain economics.
• Commercially astute with understanding of profitability analysis.
• Experience managing large operational budgets and ROI responsibilities.
• Ability to translate operational strategies into measurable financial outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership to execute the Company's business strategy.
• Oversee day-to-day operations across all functional areas with target performance.
• Develop scalable operating models to support growth of the direct selling network.
• Ensure optimal performance of supply chain, procurement, distribution and service delivery.
• Drive process optimisation, cost management, automation and continuous improvement.
• Monitor and manage operational budgets, resources and productivity metrics.
• Establish performance management systems, KPIs, reporting frameworks and dashboards.
• Ensure compliance with policies, governance and regulatory obligations.
• Identify operational risks and implement mitigation strategies.
• Support the MD in strategic initiatives and organisational change.
• Build and lead high-performing operational teams with accountability.
• Lead organisational change and execution of strategic priorities.
• Drive sustainable growth through disciplined capital allocation and cash flow management.
• Maintain liquidity through cash forecasting and working capital optimisation.
• Lead initiatives to improve cash conversion and supplier payment strategies.
• Oversee balance sheet performance and ROI of capital expenditure.
• Develop inventory management strategies balancing service and stock investment.

Skills

Senior leadership

Operations management

Strategic planning

Financial acumen

Budget management

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Cash flow management

Inventory optimisation

Change management

Leadership

Travel readiness

Strategic execution

Education

Postgraduate qualification advantageous in Management or related discipline

Relevant tertiary qualification in Business Administration, Operations Management or Supply Chain

Job description

Dante Personnel seeks an experienced Senior Operations leader to drive strategic execution across Retail, FMCG, Distribution, and related sectors. You will lead cross-functional teams with a focus on efficiency, growth, and financial performance.

Responsibilities include overseeing supply chain, inventory, budgets, and cash flow while building a high-performing team and ensuring governance and regulatory compliance. Travel as required.