Operational Finance Manager

I&J Limited; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 800,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading seafood company is seeking a qualified Operational Finance Manager at their Aquaculture unit. This role involves driving profitability, ensuring financial governance, and operational involvement across the abalone value chain. Ideal candidates should have experience in financial management within the FMGC industry and be CA qualified. Join us to shape the future of South African seafood while making a meaningful impact.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years' post article relevant experience within a commercial environment.
• 3 to 5 years' experience in a similar role in the FMGC industry.

Responsibilities

• Lead financial strategy, budgeting, and reporting.
• Identify and maximize profit opportunities.
• Manage and increase effectiveness of support services.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Knowledge of IFRS

Knowledge of Income Tax and VAT Acts

Education

Qualified CA (SA)

Tools

SAP FI / CO Module

Job description

At I&J, part of AVI, we combine close to 115 years of excellence with a forward-thinking approach to the fishing industry. As a leader in premium seafood, including Cape Hake and farmed Cape Abalone, we are committed to sustainability, innovation, and empowering local communities. Our latest innovation, Air-Fri’kn Amazing, brings bold flavours and crispy perfection to your air fryer, showcasing our passion for quality and customer-centric excellence.

Why Join I&J?

• Industry Leader: Work with a renowned brand known for premium Cape Hake and farmed Abalone.
• Sustainability Focused: Contribute to responsible fishing practices with MSC accreditation.
• Community Impact: Be part of a company that empowers and invests in local communities.

An exciting opportunity exists for a qualified Chartered Accountant to take on the role of OPERATIONAL FINANCE MANAGER at our I&J AQUACULTURE unit in Danger Point, Gansbaai. This is located 50km outside of Hermanus.

The purpose of this critical leadership role is to work closely with the Aquaculture General Manager with a dotted line to the I&J Group Finance Director. This vacancy is focused on driving profitability and to provide insights into improving the financial governance of the business unit. This is a hands-on position with strong operational and commercial involvement across the abalone value chain, from farming and harvesting to stock management and market readiness. You’ll develop a deep understanding of product cost structures, growth cycles, and risk factors, all within a unique 5-year production cycle. This role offers a rare opportunity to make a lasting impact in a growing sector by combining financial expertise with strategic operations.

Reporting Structure:

• Reports to: General Manager
• Direct Reports: 4

Key Areas of Impact:

• Lead financial strategy, budgeting, and reporting.
• Identify and maximize profit opportunities.
• Collaborate with the production, marketing, and operations teams.
• Act as the key link between the business unit and Head Office based in Cape Town.
• Support the General Manager in shaping and executing long-term business strategy.
• Improve the operational systems, processes and policies specifically, management reporting, production information flow, end-to-end business processes and organizational planning.
• Financial governance and compliance, IT equipment and systems, manual and automated controls over stock systems and reporting as well as asset management.
• Manage and increase the effectiveness and efficiency of Support Services, IT and Head Office Finance, through improvements in coordination and communication between support and business functions and the business unit.
• Play a significant role in long-term planning, including initiatives geared towards operational excellence.
• Management of procurement processes from quotes to purchasing of goods and services and entering into contracts with critical third-party suppliers ensuring sustainable supply at competitive pricing.
• Coordinate and manage the compliance to all required legislation and maintaining accreditations.
• Evaluate product profitability for optimum strategic returns on all products
• Short and long-term forecasts for all production costs and ensure strict controls are adopted for the management thereof.
• Presentation of monthly Operational Reviews and other regular meetings with I&J Executives.
• Supervise and coach direct and indirect reports.

Financial Management

• Direct the annual budgeting and planning process for the organization. Revenue, Costs - Direct and Indirect production costs and capital expenditure.
• Oversee monthly and quarterly reporting and forecasts of organization's financial performance against budget, financial and operational goals and clearly identifying trends and explanations for deviations, and action plans to correct.
• Propose cost models - Standard cost, activity-based costs for the complex harvest cycles, time to grow versus finished product cost.
• Critical understanding of raw materials to finished goods process in a factory environment for example yield loss.
• Negotiating and managing long term contracts for critical services like transport, feed, fuel, security and other.
• Prepare capital motivations, secure appropriate quotes and question the service offering.
• Compute the fair value of the farm’s biological assets in terms of IAS 41, based on factual datasets.
• Assist in the development of long-range forecasts that is the primary input into the long-range financial plans with the marketing and harvest teams.
• Prepare and coordinate the information requirements for the annual external audits and internal audits.

Organizational Effectiveness

• Finance management and reporting, IT Infrastructure and software governance, Legal contracts and Internal and external risk assessments.
• Review harvest models and assess the stock KPI, involvement in the management team that evaluates growth assumptions based on historic information, current information as well as sampling methodology.
• Ensure that the Support Services - Payroll, HR, IT, Finance and Risk are providing an effective and efficient service to the business unit.
• Create initiatives in the management team and organizationally that contribute to long-term operational excellence.

Organizational Leadership

• Contribute to short and long-term organizational planning and strategy as a member of the management team.

Risk Management

• Review and address issues relating to transport, theft, Health and Safety and risks to employees.
• Ensure compliance and insurance audits take place as required.
• Be an active member at the Health and Safety, Risk, Security and IT Meetings.

What It Takes to Succeed:
Experience that set you up for success:

• Minimum 2 years’ post article relevant experience within a commercial environment.
• 3 to 5 years’ experience in a similar role in the FMGC industry is required.

Qualifications & Certifications that will contribute to your success:

• Qualified CA (SA)

Additional Requirements that will enhance your impact for success:

• Advance Excel
• SAP FI / CO Module
• Knowledge of IFRS and financial processes
• Knowledge of Income tax and VAT Acts

Take the Next Step with I&J

Join us to shape the future of South African seafood while making a meaningful impact on communities and the environment and be part of a team committed to excellence and making a positive impact.