Financial Manager

An established international manufacturer of specialised agrochemicals is seeking a Finance Manager to be responsible for financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting, cost and inventory management, management accounting, treasury and cash management, governance and risk, cost control, finance systems and process optimisation. Minimum requirements for the role: Must have a National Senior Certificate; Chartered Accountant - CA(SA) is preferred, alternatively CIMA, SAIPA or SAICA-designated professional with strong technical grounding Minimum 1-5 years' post articles experience in finance, management accounting, auditing, or commercial finance Experience in cost and management accounting, preferably with CIMA qualification or exposure, together with strong business partnering experience across Supply Chain functions, including Production, Distribution and Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) Exposure to manufacturing, agriculture, chemicals, FMCG, or industrial sectors is preferred Understanding of MRP and demand planning would be an advantage Strong IFRS knowledge is essential Must have solid management accounting and costing experience Strong financial modelling, analytical and problem-solving skills High attention to detail and accuracy Ability to work in fast paced, regulated environments High levels of integrity and professional judgement Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities, with strong written and verbal communication abilities Proficiency in MS Office Suite and digital collaboration tools, with advanced Excel skills; BI/reporting tools being an advantage Experience with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, Syspro, Sage, etc.) is advantageous Prior Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power BI experience would be advantageous Ability to work under pressure and adapt to changing priorities Must have a valid driver's license with own vehicle or reliable transport The successful candidate will be responsible for: Preparing and reviewing monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements in line with IFRS. Overseeing statutory reporting, tax submissions, and liaising with auditors. Ensuring compliance with relevant industry regulations, environmental levies, VAT, and corporate tax. Maintaining robust internal controls and ensuring adherence to governance frameworks. Leading annual budgeting and quarterly forecasting processes. Providing detailed variance analysis and actionable insights to management. Supporting long-term financial planning, scenario modelling, and cash flow forecasting. Overseeing product costing, absorption costing, and bill of materials accuracy. Monitoring raw material, consumable, and finished goods inventory in high-volume production environments. Supporting supply chain and production teams with cost optimisation initiatives. Driving month-end close processes and delivering accurate management accounts. Analysing profitability by product line, region, customer segment, and channel. Supporting margin improvement and operational efficiency projects. Partnering with sales, operations, and procurement teams on pricing, tenders, and contracts. Evaluating commercial deals, distributor agreements, and credit arrangements. Supporting working capital optimisation (AR/AP, credit control, supplier terms). Managing daily cash flow, banking relationships, and funding requirements. Overseeing foreign exchange exposure, hedging, and currency-related financial risks where applicable (common in chemical imports/exports). Strengthening financial controls in line with audit recommendations. Maintaining risk registers and ensuring compliance with financial, environmental, and safety-related reporting requirements. Championing ethical financial practices and regulatory adherence. Preparing the budget within area of control. Managing the approved budget for area. Preparing cost tracking and variation reports. Making recommendations for budget-affecting change requests. Informing FD timeously of potential over-spends. Driving finance process optimisation and system improvements (ERP, BI tools). Supporting digitalisation initiatives, automation of reconciliations, and improved reporting dashboards.