Job: Pension Administration Internship

Company : Eppf; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Eppf is seeking a Supply Chain Finance professional to lead financial planning, governance and performance across manufacturing operations in South Africa. You will partner with Supply Chain, Procurement and Category Finance to drive profitability, capital investment decisions and robust controls in a dynamic production environment.

The role requires strong leadership, SAP experience, advanced Excel skills and a track record of delivering cost savings and efficiency improvements.

Qualifications

• Professional qualification in accountancy (CA/CIMA) preferably.
• Minimum 5 years' experience in Factory Supply Chain Finance.
• Minimum 5 years' people leadership experience.
• Minimum 5 years' SAP experience.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Experience with SOX controls and audit processes is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Partner with factory leadership to steer business performance through financial analysis and decision support.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting and long-range planning across manufacturing sites.
• Provide insights via variance analysis, risks, opportunities and corrective actions.
• Support capital investment decisions through robust business cases (CEPs).
• Drive governance, cost optimisation, and waste reduction programmes across production.

Skills

CA/CIMA

Factory SCM Finance

SAP

Excel

Leadership

Forecasting

Education

CA or CIMA

Tools

SAP

Job description

Pension Administration Internship: Launch Your Finance Career

Company : Eppf

Posted today

Job Description

Supply Chain Finance Production Manager Function: Finance Reports to: Supply Chain Finance Director Scope: South Africa Location: Johannesburg/ Durban Terms & Conditions: Full time, Onsite

The Supply Chain Finance Production Manager is responsible for partnering with Supply Chain, Procurement, and Category Finance teams to drive financial performance, governance, cost optimisation, and strategic decision-making across Unilever South Africa's manufacturing network. This role provides financial leadership across Unilever factories and collaborative manufacturing partners supporting the Nutrition, Home Care, Beauty & Wellbeing, and Personal Care categories. The role plays a critical part in improving profitability, enhancing operational efficiency, strengthening governance, and delivering sustainable cost savings across the production landscape. You will lead a high‑performing finance team while partnering with cross‑functional stakeholders to unlock value through productivity initiatives, capital investment management, robust financial controls, and waste reduction programmes. You'll be part of a team that believes in doing work that matters - for people and the planet. Because here, we don't just hire for jobs. We invite you to be part of something bigger.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with factory leadership teams to steer business performance through insightful financial analysis and decision support.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and long‑range planning processes across manufacturing and collaborative production sites.
• Provide actionable insights through variance analysis, identifying key performance drivers, risks, opportunities, and corrective actions.
• Support capital investment decisions through robust business cases and evaluation of Capital Expenditure Proposals (CEPs).
• Partner with Supply Chain and Category teams to maximise government incentives and support delivery of key strategic projects.
• Monitor stock losses, material usage variances, and operational performance metrics to support effective decision‑making.

Cost Optimisation & Productivity Delivery

• Drive the Cost per Ton agenda through delivery of productivity, efficiency, and cost reduction initiatives across manufacturing operations.
• Challenge and influence factory teams to achieve productivity targets while maintaining quality, service, and safety standards.
• Lead financial governance of waste reduction programmes and identify opportunities to improve manufacturing efficiencies.
• Monitor and evaluate capital expenditure commitments against budgets and expected returns.
• Drive alignment of manufacturing cost benchmarks and productivity improvements across sourcing units and production facilities.
• Partner with Operations teams to reduce production indirect costs and improve overall supply chain competitiveness.

Financial Governance & Controls

• Ensure robust financial controls, governance practices, and compliance standards are implemented and maintained across Supply Chain operations.
• Lead audit engagements and coordinate financial reviews to ensure control effectiveness and compliance with company policies and SOX requirements.
• Maintain the integrity of balance sheet and income statement reporting through strong financial discipline and governance processes.
• Ensure compliance with Unilever's Standard Chart of Accounts and financial reporting requirements.
• Manage journals, provisions, write‑offs, and financial adjustments in line with Schedule of Authority requirements.
• Drive timely, accurate, and transparent financial reporting to support operational and strategic decision‑making.

Budget Management, Inventory & Working Capital

• Lead annual budgeting processes and standard product costing activities in line with global costing guidelines.
• Ensure accurate financial management of manufacturing and third‑party production operations.
• Monitor budget performance and conduct monthly analysis of forecast variances, overspends, and savings opportunities.
• Drive stock governance and inventory management processes, including stock counts, variance reporting, and stock reconciliations.
• Partner with Operations and Planning teams to optimise inventory levels and reduce stock days on hand.
• Support sourcing strategy decisions through financial modelling and development of business cases for alternative sourcing options.
• Drive analysis and reporting of material usage variances and inventory performance across production sites.

UMS & Operational Excellence

• Lead Finance's contribution to the Unilever Manufacturing System (UMS) agenda and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Partner with site leadership teams to drive operational excellence and delivery of key manufacturing performance indicators.
• Support improvements in output reliability, stock record accuracy, customer service levels, and production performance.
• Use operational and financial data to identify opportunities for efficiency improvements and sustainable value creation.

Performance Analytics & Financial Insights

• Develop meaningful performance reporting and dashboards to improve visibility of operational and financial performance.
• Leverage financial and operational data to identify trends, risks, and improvement opportunities across manufacturing sites.
• Drive data‑based decision‑making through insightful analysis of productivity, costs, inventory, waste, and capital investments.
• Support business planning and scenario modelling to improve financial outcomes and operational resilience.

People Leadership & Capability Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a diverse team of 4‑8 finance professionals.
• Drive capability building, succession planning, and leadership development across the team.
• Foster a high‑performance culture focused on accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and inclusion.
• Build strong engagement and support career progression through structured development and coaching plans.
• Partner with broader Finance and Supply Chain teams to strengthen organisational capability and talent pipelines.

Experience & Qualifications

• Professional qualification in accountancy - CA or CIMA (or other finance professional qualification) preferably or nearing completion of professional qualification.
• Minimum 5 years' experience in Factory Supply Chain Finance within a manufacturing environment.
• Minimum 5 years' people leadership and team management experience.
• Experience across both factory and head office finance environments is advantageous.
• Strong knowledge of financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, costing, and financial analysis.
• Minimum 5 years' SAP experience.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Experience with SOX controls, financial governance, and audit processes is advantageous.
• Proven track record of driving business performance within complex operational environments.
• Strong communication, stakeholder management, and influencing skills.
• Ability to navigate complexity, challenge constructively, and build strong cross‑functional partnerships.
• Strong understanding of end‑to‑end Supply Chain Finance principles and value creation opportunities.
• Demonstrated experience leading change initiatives and continuous improvement programmes.

Unilever Behaviours

• + Focus on what counts: We ruthlessly prioritise what really, really matters and so do fewer things brilliantly. We set clear and stretching goals and recognise maximum performance impacts. It is not about reducing ambition and effort or running the 'new and shiny'
• + Care deeply: We care deeply about how consumers experience our brands every day, everywhere; about our people's growth and development, and our impact on the planet. We care about our performance, to a point where it hurts when we don't win. It is not just about being nice or avoiding honest conversations about performance and opportunity.
• + Stay 3 steps ahead: We think boldly and creatively to make breakthroughs in performance. We are always curious and confident - anticipating and staying ahead of consumer needs and external trends to be the competition. It is not taking our eye off the 'here and now'.
• + Deliver with excellence: We deliver everything we do with excellence and pace. We take personal ownership and hold each other to