Senior Finance Generalist

Louis Dreyfus Company; Johannesburg; Hybrid; ZAR 700 000 - 900 000; Full time

Job summary

A global agricultural firm is seeking a Senior Finance Generalist in Johannesburg to support finance operations and serve as a key financial partner. You will manage financial controlling, lead the monthly close process, and provide essential insights to enhance decision-making. Ideal candidates will have at least 7 years of experience, a degree in finance or accounting, and mastery of IFRS. The company offers competitive salary, hybrid work options, and career development opportunities.

Benefits

Competitive salary and benefits

Hybrid work options

Pension contributions

Access to Training and Development

Access to Concierge Partnerships

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years working experience.
• Experience in audit, preferably in a multinational.
• Deep, practical knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
• High attention to detail in financial tasks.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive support across all finance activities.
• Act as primary back-up for the Chief Accountant.
• Lead the monthly close process ensuring accuracy and compliance.
• Analyze financial results and provide actionable insights.

Skills

Financial Reporting Mastery

Analytical Rigor

Advanced Excel Skills

Communication Skills

Stakeholder Management

Education

Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, or related field

Tools

SAP

Power BI

OneStream

Job description

Senior Finance Generalist

Job Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng (Deadline: January 02)

Company Description

Louis Dreyfus Company is a leading merchant and processor of agricultural goods.

Our activities span the entire value chain from farm to fork, across a broad range of business lines, we leverage our global reach and extensive asset network to serve our customers and consumers around the world.

Structured as a matrix organization of six geographical regions and ten platforms, Louis Dreyfus Company is active in over countries and employs approximately 18, people globally.

Job Description

Role overview

As Senior Finance Generalist, you will play a dual role: acting as a versatile finance partner supporting the Chief Accountant and serving as the back-up for all finance operations, while also being the lead expert on controlling.

This position requires a broad understanding of all finance functions—accounting, reporting, tax, treasury, and business analysis—combined with deep expertise in financial controlling to ensure robust governance, accurate reporting, and effective business partnering.

Key Responsibilities

Generalist Finance Support

• Provide comprehensive support across all finance activities, including accounting, tax, treasury, and business analysis.
• Act as the primary back-up for the Chief Accountant, ensuring business continuity during absences or peak periods.
• Collaborate with various teams to ensure smooth day-to-day finance operations and compliance with group and local requirements.

Lead Controlling Expert

• Take ownership of financial controlling for South Africa, including P&L, balance sheet, cash flow, and overheads.
• Lead the monthly close process, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with IFRS and local GAAP.
• Analyze financial results, bridge statutory and managerial numbers, and provide actionable insights to management and trading teams.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis, supporting strategic decision-making.

Business Partnering & Stakeholder Management

• Serve as a key finance partner to trading, operations, and commercial teams, providing financial insights and supporting business initiatives.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Process Improvement & Systems

• Drive continuous improvement in finance processes, leveraging best practices and digital tools (SAP, Excel, Power BI).
• Support system upgrades and process automation to enhance efficiency and data quality.

Business Analysis & Support

• Provide ad hoc financial analysis to support decision-making.
• Evaluate operational financial impacts with the business units.
• Act as primary contact for balance sheet reviews, vessel P&L recalculations.
• Oversee fixed asset reporting and physical verification.

Qualifications

Experience

• Min. 7 years working experience.
• Experience in audit, and preferably in a multinational is an added advantage.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, or a related field.

Core Technical and Regulatory Expertise

• Financial Reporting Mastery: Deep, practical knowledge of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
• Core accounting principles.
• Local regulatory compliance requirements.

System Proficiency and Analytical Acumen

Accounting Systems

• Experience with major accounting systems is required, with proficiency in platforms such as SAP, OneStream strongly preferred.

Data Tools

• Expertise in MS Office systems (particularly advanced Excel skills) and demonstrated capability with data visualization tools like Power BI for enhanced reporting.

Analytical Rigor

• Exhibits high attention to detail and maintains a demanding level of analytical rigor in all financial tasks and reporting.

Interpersonal and Communication Skills

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills (necessary for engaging effectively with internal departments, external auditors, and regulatory authorities).

Additional Information

Languages

• Fluent in business English (written and verbal).

What We Offer

We provide a dynamic and stimulating international environment, which will stretch and develop your abilities and channel your skills and expertise with outstanding career development opportunities in one of the largest and most solid private companies in the world.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and benefits.
• Hybrid work available (not applicable to all roles).
• Pension contributions.
• Access to Training and Development.
• Access to Concierge Partnerships.