Supply Chain Finance Accountant Inland Boksburg, Südafrika

Unilever Deutschland Holding Gmbh; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 500 000 - 700 000; Full time

Job summary

A multinational consumer goods company based in Johannesburg is seeking a Supply Chain Finance Accountant. This role involves maintaining accounting controls, managing P&L, and delivering insights for cost-competitive Supply Chain operations. The ideal candidate has 3-5 years of experience in Supply Chain Finance, a Financial Accounting qualification, and strong analytical skills. Alongside ensuring compliance, the role will also involve relationship-building with stakeholders to drive efficiency and cost optimization.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years experience in Supply Chain or Factory Finance.
• Good progress toward CIMA or CA is advantageous.
• Ability to manage and work under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Maintain strong accounting controls aligned with GFCF.
• Manage P&L and balance-sheet aspects relating to the factory.
• Ensure compliance with Unilever Standard Chart of Accounts.

Skills

Advanced Microsoft Excel

SAP PM / FI and PA knowledge

Stakeholder management

Strong analytical capabilities

Agility and proactivity

Education

Financial Accounting qualification

Job description

Job Title

Unilever is currently hiring for

Supply Chain Finance Accountant

Job Details

Function: Finance

Reports to: SC Finance Manager

Scope: South Africa

Location: Boksburg Factory

Terms & Conditions: Full-time

About Unilever

With 3.4 billion people in over countries using our products every day, Unilever is a business that makes a real impact on the world.

Work on brands that are loved and improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us.

We are driven by our purpose : to make sustainable living commonplace, and it is our belief that doing business the right way drives superior performance.

At the heart of what we do is our people – we believe that when our people work with purpose, we will create a better business and a better world.

At Unilever, your career will be a unique journey, grounded in our inclusive, collaborative, and flexible working environment.

We don't believe in the 'one size fits all' approach and instead we will equip you with the tools you need to shape your own future.

Job Purpose

This role is required to maintain strong accounting controls aligned with Unilever's Global Financial Controls Framework (GFCF).

The role manages P&L and balance-sheet aspects relating to Lords View Factory.

As a member of the site Leadership team, it executes both performance management and controls and governance activities such as budgeting / forecasting and tracking progress against forecasts in P&Ls, stock controls, CAPEX and audit management.

The role supports production with financial insights to deliver key projects and business cases aligned to business targets to drive a cost-competitive Supply Chain organisation.

It drives Sourcing Unit cost optimisation, delivers the Net Productivity agenda and drives down waste at the factory and 3P sites.

The role requires the candidate to build and manage relationships with key stakeholders in the Supply Chain organisation, wider Unilever business and third parties.

Main Responsibilities

• Assess adequacy of existing controls in factory and 3P in relation to identified business risk and develop efficient controls, adequate to address identified risk in line with GFCF.
• Ensure adequate and frequent cost controls (at the appropriate level of detail) to ensure accuracy of financial records and drive accountability in financial spend.
• Ensure robust controls over the forecasting process; refreshing inputs in line with business forecasting rhythm, obtaining inputs from accountable cost-centre owners in the relevant level of detail to obtain clarity of spend and association of spend to forecast business activities.
• Drive the control and governance agenda at production sites for operational teams to understand that controls are embedded in all business processes to protect business value and safeguard assets and business performance.
• Highlight that controls are everyone's responsibility and hold team members accountable accordingly.
• Maintain balance-sheet hygiene and integrity of income statement by ensuring accuracy of transactions (value and recognition timing) and correct classification of items given ageing and supporting documentation.
• Drive delivery of timely and accurate reporting requirements.
• Ensure compliance with Unilever Standard Chart of Accounts (SCOA).
• Assist in execution of audit requests; internal and external audits and SOX testing.
• Ensure journals, write-offs and provisions are done in accordance with Schedule of Authority.
• Observe and support in execution of stock counts.

Cost Optimisation Responsibilities

• Deliver net productivity agenda (SC Controllable costs) in line with business targets.
• Evaluate and advise on optimal SKU sourcing options (factory vs 3P vs import).
• Provide insightful analytics on cost drivers to enable fast decision making on levers for cost reduction.
• Deliver the business waste reduction programme for factory and its 3P.
• Review, challenge and monitor all Capital Expenditure proposals (CEP) per the annual budget.
• Assist in benchmarking activities to ensure competitiveness of production costs.
• Lead continuous improvement and automation initiatives in Supply Chain Finance and at production sites to improve efficiency and ensure cost optimisation.

Production Budgeting & Stock Management Responsibilities

• Drive annual budget process in accordance with global product costing guidelines for Unilever factories.
• Drive forecast process in line with S&OP principles for factory and 3P.
• Update master data information for products sourced from 3P / CM.
• Variance analysis of budget / forecast over and under spends performed weekly / monthly.
• Maintain solid understanding of volume movements to ensure accurate forecasting of costs and allocation to P&L line items.
• Manage stock in various locations on site and off site at third parties.
• Report on performance vs business cases.

Business Performance & Decision Support Responsibilities

• Report on performance versus business targets, highlighting gaps to target for fast decision making.
• Drive accurate forecasting to enable decision making across the business on resource allocation to optimise results.
• Guide and support the delivery of key projects in the pipeline, whilst actively ensuring that all appropriate government incentives are maximised.
• Drive accountability for impact and outcome.

Experiences & Qualifications

• 3-5 years experience in Supply Chain or Factory Finance.
• Financial Accounting qualification; good progress toward CIMA or a CA advantageous.
• Strong analytical capabilities with a bias to drive action.
• Good time management skills.
• Agility and proactivity.
• Ability to prioritise effectively and communicate clearly.
• Ability to manage upwards.
• Ability to steer conversations and influence.
• Understanding or ability to quickly grasp financial principles in the end-to-end Supply Chain, identify and drive relevant value-creating choices and decisions.
• Ability to manage and work under pressure, individually and collaboratively to meet tight deadlines.

Skills

• Advanced Microsoft Excel, SAP PM / FI and PA knowledge desirable.
• Digital native.
• Stakeholder management, strong work ethic, great attitude, self-starting & initiative-taking mind‑set, resilience in the face of pressure, strong team player.

Leadership Attributes

• Energetic about delivering fantastic results, an example to others – both results and resilience.
• Constantly on the lookout for better ways to do things, engaging and collaborating with others.
• Responsible for own wellbeing and delivering high standards of work, with a focus on consumers and their needs.
• Humble, alert, and adept at interpreting evidence and data to spot issues and opportunities for improvement.

Unilever is an equal opportunities employer and committed to diversity and inclusivity in the workplace.

We invite applications from all candidates representing diversity of age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief.

When appointing potential candidates, the South African Employment Equity and Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Legislation will be considered.

We are required by law to verify your ability to work lawfully in South Africa.

If you are applying as a foreign national, please note that you may be requested to provide supporting documents.

This is an office-based role in Johannesburg and requires % of time attendance on site.

Unilever is an organisation committed to equity, inclusion and diversity to drive our business results and create a better future, every day, for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners and communities.

We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business.

At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their 'Whole Self' to work, and we encourage you to advise us at the time of your application if you require any support or accessibility assistance to support you through the recruitment journey.