Senior Financial Manager

Senior Financial Manager – CFO Succession
Durbanville, Cape Town
Salary: R70 000 CTC pm negotiable, dependent on experience

An established company operating within the fast-paced agricultural export sector is seeking an experienced, commercially minded Senior Financial Manager to join its leadership team. This is a CFO succession role rather than a traditional reporting-focused finance position. The successful candidate will initially assume responsibility for the company’s financial operations and lead a small finance and administration team, and over time progressively take over the full CFO portfolio.

• Qualified CA(SA).
• 4+ years’ post-articles financial management experience.
• Experience with in agriculture, exports, logistics, shipping, FMCG, international trade or a related environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Afrikaans.
• Valid driver’s licence and own reliable transport.
• Advanced Excel and financial systems proficiency.
• Experience in an operational, high-volume or deadline-driven commercial environment.
• Proven responsibility for cash-flow management, management accounts, audit and financial controls.
• Experience supervising or managing a finance or administration team.
• Strong commercial understanding, with the ability to evaluate financial and operational risk.

• Take ownership of the company’s day-to-day financial function.
• Manage daily cash flow across the company’s banking platforms.
• Prepare and present monthly management accounts and financial information for board meetings.
• Oversee debtors, creditors, reconciliations, provisions, VAT and payroll processes.
• Review customer accounts, credit limits, payment arrangements and financial exposure.
• Manage annual budgets, forecasts and financial performance reporting.
• Coordinate the year-end audit and ensure the audited annual financial statements are completed within strict deadlines.
• Maintain accurate financial records, controls and statutory compliance.

• Review service-provider and shipping-related invoices against agreed rates and standard costings.
• Investigate pricing, costing and margin variances that could affect profitability.
• Oversee weekly turnover, gross profit and margin reporting.
• Work closely with the commercial, logistics, operations and sales teams.
• Assist with customer, supplier and shipping-related claims and recoveries.
• Provide financial input into operational and commercial decisions.
• Build relationships with customers and suppliers, including travelling to meet key stakeholders where required.

• Manage forex requirements, foreign currency accounts and forward exchange contract reporting.
• Assist with banking negotiations and South African Reserve Bank applications and approvals.
• Monitor liquidity, customer exposure and credit risk.
• Make commercially sound recommendations regarding customer credit limits and exceptions.
• Ensure incoming funds, payments, transfers and drawdowns are accurately reflected in cash-flow reporting.

• Takes full ownership of their responsibilities without requiring close supervision.
• Works with urgency while maintaining exceptional accuracy.
• Thinks beyond the accounting function and understands the wider business.