Financial Controller (JB6226)

Kontak Recruitment; Gqeberha; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 720,000; Full time

Job summary

Kontak Recruitment in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) seeks a seasoned Financial Controller to own the financial administration function, overseeing debtors, cash-flow discipline, and internal controls while guiding the finance team and collaborating with Sales, Marketing and Operations to drive sustainable growth.

The role requires hands-on experience with high-volume ledgers, Sage Evolution and Pastel, ERP projects, and a track record of automating processes and improving reporting.

Qualifications

• BCom in Accounting or Finance with at least five years’ financial management experience.
• Hands-on accounts receivable, debtors and credit-control experience with high-volume ledger.
• Proven debt-collection procedures and improving debtor days; DSO < 45 days advantageous.
• Experience preparing weekly debtor-ageing and cash-flow reports for senior management.
• Experience managing credit limits, applications, approvals, and month-end close.
• At least three years’ Sage Evolution experience; advanced Excel; Pastel advantageous.
• Experience automating debtor reminders, dashboards, and internal controls.
• Experience mentoring finance staff; oversight of two+ employees.

Responsibilities

• Manage accounts receivable, enforce debt-collection policies, monitor aging and DSO.
• Collaborate with Sales to resolve payment delays and credit issues.
• Prepare weekly debtor reports and cash-flow forecasts for management.
• Automate financial processes, including reminders and dashboards.
• Lead ERP implementations, improvements and system enhancements.
• Oversee month-end closing, reconciliations and internal controls.
• Maintain financial governance and ensure process compliance.
• Mentor junior finance staff and support team performance.
• Partner with Sales/Marketing/Operations to improve payment practices.
• Assist with inventory reconciliation and stock reporting.

Skills

Debt collection

Accounts receivable

Cash flow forecasting

Financial reporting

Internal controls

Team leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

ERP systems

Excel proficiency

Sage Evolution

Pastel experience

Automation mindset

Education

BCom in Accounting

National Diploma in Financial Management

Tools

Sage Evolution

Pastel

Excel

Job description

Financial Controller (JB6226)

Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), Eastern Cape

Salary: R700 000 to R720 000 Annually CTC

Contract: Permanent

A growing South African consumer products business operating within the fast-paced FMCG and distribution sector is seeking an experienced Financial Controller to take ownership of its financial administration function. Reporting to the Managing Director, the successful candidate will play a key role within the management team, with particular responsibility for debtors management, cash-flow discipline, financial controls, reporting and process automation. This is a hands-on operational position requiring a commercially minded professional who can manage the numbers, improve systems and processes, guide the finance and administration team, and work closely with Sales, Marketing and Operations to support sustainable business growth.

Minimum Requirements:

• Relevant BCom in Accounting or Finance, National Diploma in Financial Management, or equivalent qualification, with at least five years’ financial management, financial control or senior financial administration experience.
• Hands-on accounts receivable, debtors and credit-control experience, including managing a substantial, high-volume ledger; exposure to a monthly debtor book of R2 million or more and 100+ active accounts is advantageous.
• Proven experience implementing formal debt-collection procedures and reducing debtor days through process or system improvements; maintaining DSO below 45 days is advantageous.
• Experience preparing weekly debtor-ageing and cash-flow reports or forecasts for senior management.
• Experience managing customer credit limits, applications and approvals, as well as month-end closing and debtor and cash-account reconciliations.
• At least three years’ Sage Evolution experience, with advanced Microsoft Excel and financial-systems proficiency; Pastel experience is advantageous.
• Experience implementing automated debtor-reminder and collection workflows, financial dashboards, reporting tools, internal controls and improved financial-administration processes.
• Experience managing or mentoring finance or administration employees; oversight of two or more employees and experience managing underperformance and disciplinary processes are advantageous.
• Proven ability to work with Sales, Marketing and Operations leadership and influence non-finance teams regarding payments, credit control and financial compliance.
• Strong attention to detail, accuracy, commercial awareness and operational discipline, with the ability to operate where finance and operations overlap.
• FMCG, distribution or high-transaction-volume experience is advantageous.
• ERP implementation or system-improvement experience, use of AI or automation tools, and exposure to inventory reconciliation and stock reporting are advantageous.
• Must be based in Gqeberha or willing to relocate and assume the position within 30 days of appointment.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage the complete accounts receivable function, enforce debt-collection policies, monitor debtor ageing and DSO, and reduce overdue debt within the 60- and 90-day categories.
• Work with Sales to resolve payment delays, disputes and credit issues, while managing customer credit limits, applications and approvals.
• Prepare weekly debtor reports and cash-flow forecasts for management.
• Automate financial and administrative processes, including debtor reminders, collections workflows, dashboards and reporting tools.
• Ensure financial systems provide accurate, efficient and auditable data, and lead or support ERP implementations, improvements and system enhancements.
• Oversee financial administration, internal controls, debtor and cash-account reconciliations, and month-end closing processes.
• Maintain financial governance and ensure compliance with approved business processes.
• Manage or mentor junior finance and administration employees and support improved team performance.
• Partner with Sales, Marketing and Operations to embed financial discipline and improve payment practices and compliance among non-finance teams.
• Assist with inventory reconciliation and stock reporting as required.
• Provide broader operational support in line with changing business priorities.
• Achieve agreed targets for debtor days, collection efficiency, reporting accuracy, process automation, overdue-debt reduction and timely cross-functional delivery.

All backgrounds are welcomed, with no bias. All are considered based on requirements.

Fair assessment, only shortlisted candidates contacted due to volume.