Overview
The Group Financial Controller will play a pivotal role in managing the day to day finance functions in support of the Apogee group of companies as a whole. The Group Financial Controller will report directly to the CFO, will work closely with the local finance and legal & risk teams, as well as regional financial controllers, to ensure timeous and accurate financial reporting and financial governance adherence across the Group.
Responsibilities
Ledgers and Financial Reporting
- Ensure absolute accuracy in the preparation and timely presentation of financial results on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis on an individual company and consolidated basis in accordance with IFRS and relevant regulatory requirements, including foreign currency translation as required.
- Work closely with the financial planning & analysis manager to enable the effective communication of financial performance and variances against budget to all stakeholders.
- Spearhead group-wide audit readiness, manage the year-end audit process and liaise with external auditors.
- Work with regional financial controllers to ensure compliance with all tax regulations, including VAT, corporate income tax, and other relevant taxes.
- Oversee intercompany loan status to ensure that records are accurately kept.
Governance
- Maintain and strengthen internal controls, including the adoption and maintenance of a corporate Manual of Financial Policies and Procedures as well as a month-end closing checklist.
- Ensure robustness in online banking approvals and maintain an up-to-date record of all bank mandates and bank accounts.
- Drive the implementation and optimisation of financial systems and processes to improve efficiency and accuracy.
- Identify and implement best practices in financial management.
- Manage the relationships with the companies’ retail banking partners.
- Support international operations by overseeing transfer pricing and intercompany arrangements.
- Manage and continuously improve the payroll process, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with relevant legislation.
Working Capital
- Accounts payable and accounts receivable monitoring and recording across the entire group of companies
- Regular review of corporate-wide debtors and creditors, with recommendations to Regional VPs /Group CFO as to any actions to take.
Team
- Manage the day to day running of the finance function.
- Build, lead and mentor a high-performing back-office finance function, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Manage team performance and development, ensuring the team has the skills and resources to achieve its objectives.
Success Profile
Knowledge
- Qualified Accountant (CA (SA), ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) with significant post-qualification experience
- Strong technical accounting knowledge, including IFRS and local GAAPs (ideally US and UK GAAP)
- Good understanding of the principles of consolidation of entities’ performance across multiple jurisdictions
Experience
- Three years experience in a senior financial management role
- Experience with financial systems implementation and optimisation
- A track record of process improvement and control implementation
- Experience in group consolidations, intercompany processes and transfer pricing
- Proficient in using accounting software packages, ideally SAGE 300, Sage X3 and Datarails
- Liaison with auditors both on a local entity and group basis
- Experience of providing monthly reports on a timely basis to stakeholders, as well as reporting to lenders under debt facility obligations
- Experience operating across international jurisdictions and fast-paced environments
Competencies
Core Competencies:
- Driving customer value
- Fostering collaboration
- Passion for results
Role Competencies:
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Accuracy
- Ensuring efficiency & excellence
- Planning and organising
- Communication
- Decision making
- Initiating action
Personal Attributes
- Excellent attention to detail and organisational skills
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Excellent leadership and communication skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across all levels of the organisation
- Ability to handle sensitive information with confidentiality
- Integrity and trustworthiness
- Proactive and solution-oriented mindset
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Excellent time management skills and ability to meet deadlines with a passion for building a modern, scalable finance function
Other
- Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment, fostering positive relationships with colleagues and service providers
- A flexible and adaptable mindset, open to learning and incorporating new technologies and methodologies
- Alignment with our company values and a commitment to contributing to a positive and inclusive workplace culture
- Respectful Communication: values and practises respectful communication, actively listening to others' ideas and providing constructive feedback, contributing to a supportive and inclusive team culture