Reference: 4718MLR

A well-established company in the FMCG and fruit export industry has a vacancy for a Chief Financial Officer.

Job Description:

* Oversee the development, integration, and execution of business development plans from opportunity identification through proposal/source selection process.
* Provide strategy and leadership to develop long and short-term financial plans for the Group.
* Provide hands-on leadership and coordination of financial strategy, tax strategy, management reporting, forecasting and budgeting, financial risk management, financing, treasury, cash management accounting and investing.
* Participate in the ongoing strategic planning process as an integral member of the senior management team.
* Responsible for overall corporate financial planning, analysis and reporting to assure control of corporate assets as well as to provide managerial accounting and analysis to other departments to ensure the group of optimal return on assets.
* Contributes to the overall effectiveness of the organization by communicating well as part of the Executive Team and leading by example within the Management Team.
* Supports the development of Corporate Policy Deployment process and lead the development of the Finance Policy Deployment process through the finance organization.
* Support and encourage Continuous Improvement activities across the Group through application and participation in lean activities.
* Directs the group’s risk management programs to safeguard corporate assets, assures property and liability risks are appropriately insured and legal/contractual relationships do not leave the group with undue risk.
* Develops financing alternatives and determines most advantageous financing methods.
* Develops and maintains working relationships with banks and financial institutions and leads in the arrangement and negotiation of group financing.
* Analyzes and interprets financial information on the group's performance, including long-term trends.
* Makes recommendations concerning management decisions, resource allocation and business operations to improve group financial performance.
* Determines group requirements for financial and cost analysis planning, control, and reporting systems to support continuous improvement in business operations.
* Responsible for Accounting Department functions of Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Payroll, Cost and General Accounting.
* Develops and maintains appropriate Information Systems department, led Information Systems leaders. Oversees Information Systems strategy, major acquisitions of hardware and software and plays a large role in prioritization of the I.S. department agenda/systems initiatives.
* Ensures the department balances the need for new technologies with the benefits and costs of the potential investment.
* Organizes and presents quarterly financial performance of the corporation to the Board of Directors.
* Coordinates outside financial (e.g. audit and tax) and legal services required by the group in its business activities.
* Lead the development of Strategic Plan, integrated with overall plan, and launch major initiatives to realize results over time
* Oversee long-term budgetary planning and cost management in alignment with the strategic plan.
* Develop and manage annual budget and monitor progress and present operational metrics both internally and externally as needed.
* Manage financial and operational reporting, accounting operations, payroll, purchasing, and cash and inventory control functions.
* Oversee accounting staff and adjust team as business needs dictate.
* Increase income and decrease expenses through strategic planning, operational oversight and stringent financial analysis.
* Development and track departmental budgets and reforecasts.
* Ensure that finance staff maintains record systems in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and monitor the use of all funds.
* Lead annual capital planning budget development and oversees all tracking of capital improvements/expenses and reimbursement.
* Participate as a senior business executive of the Group.
* General administration associated with the position.
* Board Reporting.
* Act as head of the auditing committee.


Requirements:

* Tertiary qualification – CA(SA).
* MBA will be advantageous.
* Significant experience performing the major elements of job accountabilities as a finance leader.
* Ability to participate on senior management team while developing the full potential of team members in their departments.
* Ability to communicate openly and practice a no-surprise approach with the CEO, with personal accountability and high standards.
* Fits culturally within an environment of personal accountability and high integrity.
* Experience and business acumen to advise and oversee a growth strategy.
* Experience in the effective integration of acquired and new businesses, including associated financial processes and systems, so as to ensure a level of harmonization and standardization.
* Exposure to working with private equity investors.
* Ability to guide the organization in big picture financial strategy as well as with accurate, timely and purposeful financial management.
* Structured, organized work style; appreciation for a structured workplace environment.
* Proactive communicator, collaborative and results-oriented.
* Experience with building financial strategy and plans and comfortable being “hands-on” driving execution
* Experience in FP&A, capital structure, stock control, costing and pricing and forex.
* Experience building banking relationships and negotiating financing, structuring debt, and cash management.
* Ability and interest in creating new processes & reporting from scratch.
* International experience – import and export.
* Strong planning and coordination skills.
* Strong time management skills and deadline driven.
* Strong administration skills and attention to detail.
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
* Good interpersonal skills.