Junior Financial Manager

University of Fort Hare; Somerset West; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading Western Cape fruit exporter is seeking a Financial Manager to collaborate closely with the CEO and operational teams. The ideal candidate, preferably a newly qualified CA(SA), will drive financial discipline and decision-making in a fast-paced environment. Key responsibilities include supporting budgeting, operational reporting, and maintaining governance documentation. Strong analytical skills and Excel proficiency are essential. This role offers an opportunity for operational involvement and requires willingness to travel to the packhouse.

Qualifications

• Newly qualified CA(SA) preferred.
• Strong capability to translate financial data into operational insights.
• Willingness to travel to operational sites.

Responsibilities

• Act as finance partner to operations and management.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and seasonal planning.
• Maintain governance documentation and support operational projects.

Skills

Analytical capability

Excel skills

Stakeholder management

Education

CA(SA) qualification

Tools

ERP/accounting systems

Job description

Somerset West. A leading Western Cape fruit exporter is appointing a Financial Manager to partner closely with the CEO, FD and operational teams to drive financial discipline, visibility and decision-making across the operational value chain. This is an ideal opportunity for a newly qualified CA(SA) who wants to move beyond pure reporting and become commercially and operationally involved in a fast‑paced, seasonal agri environment.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Finance Partnering

• Act as the finance partner to operations and packhouse management, supporting performance and decision-making.
• Travel to the packhouse weekly to engage with operational teams, validate information, and support operational reporting.
• Develop and maintain operational dashboards and management reporting (throughput, yields, labour/packing costs, variances).
• Support budgeting, forecasting and seasonal planning, aligned to operational realities and export requirements.
• Analyse operational costs and variances; identify inefficiencies, risks and improvement opportunities.
• Strengthen financial controls and processes across operational workflows (approvals, cost tracking, documentation, reconciliations).
• Support profitability analysis (product/pack formats, cost‑to‑serve, supplier/service provider impacts) where applicable.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives across finance and operations.

Governance Support (Company Secretarial)

• Maintain company secretarial administration and governance documentation as required (records, meeting packs, minutes/resolutions, statutory filings), in collaboration with the CEO/FD and external advisors where applicable.

General / Ad Hoc

• Support the CEO and FD with operational projects, reporting packs and decision support as required.
• Uphold strong confidentiality, integrity and professionalism.

Minimum Requirements

• CA(SA) qualification – essential (newly qualified / early post‑articles welcome).
• Strong analytical capability and ability to translate financial data into operational insights.
• Comfortable working on‑site and building relationships with operational teams.
• Strong Excel and reporting skills; ERP/accounting system exposure advantageous.
• Valid driver’s licence and willingness to travel to the packhouse.
• Based in the Western Cape or willing to relocate.

Experience Advantageous

• Audit/assurance articles with exposure to operations‑heavy clients (manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, FMCG).
• Exposure to costings, operational reporting, internal controls or process improvement.
• Any experience in agri‑business, exports, packhouses, or seasonal operations.

Personality & Fit

• Hands‑on, practical and curious — enjoys understanding “how the business runs” on the ground.
• Proactive and solutions‑driven; able to work independently and manage priorities in season.
• Strong stakeholder management — comfortable engaging with both executives and shop‑floor/packhouse teams.
• High integrity and strong attention to detail.

Measures of Success

• Improved operational reporting and decision‑making visibility.
• Stronger cost control, clean data flows and effective operational financial controls.
• Insightful analysis and practical recommendations that improve efficiency and margin.
• Governance/secretarial admin handled reliably and on time.