Job Summary:
We are looking for a Finance Director to manage, plan, and coordinate financial operations. This role involves managing financial risks, reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and ensuring alignment with both the regional goals and the overall strategic objectives on the Group. The ideal candidate will need to be strong on systems, have a hands-on approach with a business improvement mindset, previous manufacturing experience, and an aptitude for managing business.

Key Responsibilities:

Financial Leadership and Strategy:

1. Develop and execute the regional financial strategy to support business goals.
2. Provide leadership and oversight on financial planning, analysis, and reporting.
3. Act as a strategic advisor to the Regional MD on financial matters, including profitability, business expansion, and investment decisions.
4. Support the MD in key business negotiations, pricing strategies, and contract discussions

Financial Reporting & Analysis:

1. Oversee accurate and timely preparation of regional financial reports, including income statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, and management reports, including departmental details and other requirements
2. Ensure compliance with local regulatory financial reporting requirements as well as group financial standards.
3. Analyse financial performance and provide actionable insights and recommendations to management.

Budgeting and Forecasting:

1. Lead the annual budgeting process for the region, ensuring alignment with the company's strategic objectives.
2. Develop and maintain rolling forecasts, analysing deviations from budget and taking corrective action as necessary.
3. Ensure accurate forecasting to manage working capital, cash flow, and capital expenditures.

Risk Management & Internal Controls:

1. Assess financial risks across the region and implement effective measures to mitigate these risks.
2. Oversee internal controls to safeguard company assets, ensuring compliance with corporate governance policies.
3. Ensure that the region adheres to global and local financial policies, procedures, and regulations.

Cash Flow & Capital Management:

1. Manage regional cash flow and working capital effectively to optimise liquidity.
2. Monitor and optimise capital allocation to ensure efficient use of company resources across the region.
3. Oversee banking relationships, financing, and any required debt arrangements for regional needs.

Collaboration with Group Finance:

1. Maintain a close working relationship with the Group CFO and the global finance team.
2. Align regional financial practices with the group's overall strategy and reporting requirements.
3. Ensure that regional processes are aligned with the group’s financial policies, systems, and standards.
4. Collaborate on global financial initiatives, including reporting automation, internal controls, and shared services.

Leadership & Team Development:

1. Build, develop, and mentor the regional finance team, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.
2. Oversee recruitment and talent development within the finance function to ensure the team has the capabilities to meet regional business needs.
3. Lead by example and promote a high-performance culture within the finance team and across the region.

Group Services and Administration:

1. Coordinate the receipt of group services, including administrative and shared services, ensuring value is delivered in line with agreed SLAs (service level agreements).
2. Review group services for efficiency and suggest improvements where necessary.
3. Ensure timely communication and coordination between the regional finance function and shared services teams.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field (Honours)
• Professional accounting qualification CA(SA) preferred
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in financial management, with at least 2 years in a leadership role, preferably within a regional or divisional context.
• Experience in the manufacturing sector.
• Strong experience in managing a finance team and influencing senior management.
• Experience in a self-contained business environment, with an understanding of the challenges and opportunities in managing financial operations with partial reliance on group services.
• Experience in preparing and presenting financial reports to regional and group management teams.
• Proficiency in financial software and tools.

Skills:

• Strong business acumen with the ability to translate financial data into strategic business insights
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate with key stakeholders
• Highly analytical with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities
• Proficient in financial management systems and software (SAGE, Oracle, etc.)
• Solid understanding of local regulatory financial requirements and international accounting standards