Financial Controller

Craven Cottage Cc; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equal opportunity employer

Reasonable accommodation

Job summary

Abbott in Johannesburg is seeking a Finance Controller for the English-Speaking Africa cluster. You will act as a trusted commercial finance partner to the Country Manager and Leadership Team, guiding planning, forecasting, financial reporting, and performance management across multiple markets.

Lead a high-performing finance team, drive governance, internal controls, and seek profitable growth through strategic insights, automation, and AI-enabled finance solutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance.
• Professional accounting qualification such as CA(SA), CIMA, CPA, ACCA, ACA, CMA, or equivalent preferred.
• Strong understanding of IFRS, governance, treasury, compliance, and internal controls.

Responsibilities

• Act as a trusted commercial finance partner to the Country Manager and Leadership Team.
• Lead business planning, forecasting, financial reporting, and performance management.
• Drive profitable growth through strategic financial insights and decision support.
• Ensure strong governance, compliance, internal controls, and financial stewardship across the cluster.
• Partner with commercial, marketing, supply chain, and support functions to maximize business performance.
• Lead business reviews, investment evaluations, and resource allocation decisions.
• Champion automation, process improvement, and AI-enabled finance solutions.
• Develop and mentor a high-performing finance team while fostering a culture of accountability and collaboration.

Skills

Commercial finance partnering

FP&A

Communication skills

Stakeholder management

Education

BCom

SAICA/SAIPA articles completed

Tools

IFRS knowledge

Job description

Abbott

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 115,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and family, be your true self and live a full life. You will have access to:

• Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of.
• A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries around the world and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune.
• A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as a best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists.

In Abbott's Established Pharmaceuticals Division

We are committed to bringing the benefits of our trusted medicines to more people across the world's fastest-growing countries. Our broad portfolio of high-quality branded generic medicines spans multiple therapeutic areas, helping improve health outcomes and access to care across diverse communities.

The Opportunity

The Finance Controller, EAC role, based in Johannesburg, South Africa, is the most senior finance leadership position within the English-Speaking Africa Cluster. As a strategic Commercial Finance Business Partner to the Country Manager and Leadership Team, you will drive financial performance, governance, business planning, and profitable growth across multiple African markets.

What You'll Work On

• Act as a trusted commercial finance partner to the Country Manager and Leadership Team.
• Lead business planning, forecasting, financial reporting, and performance management.
• Drive profitable growth through strategic financial insights and decision support.
• Ensure strong governance, compliance, internal controls, and financial stewardship across the cluster.
• Partner with commercial, marketing, supply chain, and support functions to maximize business performance.
• Lead business reviews, investment evaluations, and resource allocation decisions.
• Champion automation, process improvement, and AI-enabled finance solutions.
• Develop and mentor a high-performing finance team while fostering a culture of accountability and collaboration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, Finance, or a related is essential.
• Professional accounting qualification such as CA(SA), CIMA, CPA, ACCA, ACA, CMA, or equivalent preferred.
• Strong understanding of IFRS, statutory reporting, governance, treasury, compliance, and internal controls.
• Strong communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.

Experience

• 10-15+ years of progressive finance leadership experience within multinational organizations, with at least 5 year's in a people manager role is essential.
• Experience leading finance activities for a country, cluster, or regional business with full P&L accountability.
• Strong FP&A, commercial finance, and business partnering experience.
• Experience operating within complex matrix organizations and partnering across multiple business functions.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive strategic decision-making.
• Demonstrated success in building, developing, and retaining high-performing teams.
• Pharmaceutical, Healthcare, Medical Device, FMCG, or other highly regulated industry experience preferred.
• Experience leveraging digital, automation, and AI tools to improve finance processes, forecasting, and business insights is advantageous.

Johannesburg R700000 - R1500000 per year help_outline Abbott

An Equal Opportunity Employer

Abbot welcomes and encourages diversity in our workforce.

We provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities.

To request accommodation, please call or email

• Solid knowledge of management accounting, financial controls, and statutory compliance.
• Experience with annual audits, B-BBEE requirements, and SARS-related matters.

Minimum Requirements

• BCom
• Completed SAICA or SAIPA articles.
• 23 years post-articles experience.
• Solid knowledge of management accounting, financial controls, and statutory compliance.
• Experience with annual audits, B-BBEE requirements, and SARS-related matters.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and review monthly management accounts and financial reports.
• Maintain and strengthen internal financial controls and accounting processes.
• Coordinate annual audits and liaise with external auditors.
• Ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards and statutory requirements.
• Manage SARS submissions, queries, and compliance matters.
• Oversee B-BBEE compliance documentation and requirements.
• Identify financial risks, investigate discrepancies, and implement process improvements.

Key Skills & Capabilities

• Strong technical accounting and analytical skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills.
• Effective communication and stakeholder-management abilities.
• High levels of integrity, accountability, and professionalism.
• Ability to work independently and meet deadlines.

Ready to step into a role where your financial expertise makes a difference?