Head of Finance

Bridgestone


Job Location:

Johannesburg - South Africa

Monthly Salary: Not Disclosed
Posted on: 30+ days ago
Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Job Title- Head of Finance

About Us

Bridgestone Americas Inc. (BSAM) headquartered in Nashville Tennessee and Bridgestone Europe Middle East and Africa (BSEMEA) headquartered in Brussels Belgium operate collectively as a Bridgestone West strategic region. This region services the strategic business needs of teams across the Americas Europe Middle East and Africa. BSAM and BSEMEA are subsidiaries of Bridgestone Corporation globally headquartered in Japan. Bridgestone and its subsidiaries develop manufacture and market a wide range of Bridgestone Firestone and associate brand products and solutions to address the needs of a broad range of customers and industries.

About the Role

Job Purpose

The Head of Finance Wholesale is responsible for leading the full finance function of the wholesale business acting as a strategic partner to the CFO and operational leadership. The role oversees financial performance planning and governance across wholesale operations including consumer OTR (Off-the-Road) and commercial segments as well as logistics supply chain demand planning import management as well as Manufacturing finance.

This position plays a critical role in driving profitability operational efficiency and disciplined financial management across a complex multi-channel distribution and services environment.

Responsibilities:

Financial Leadership & Strategy

  • Partner with the CFO to define and execute financial strategy for the Wholesale Tire business.
  • Provide strategic financial insights to support decision-making across all business units.
  • Lead budgeting forecasting and long-term planning processes.
  • Drive financial performance including revenue growth margin improvement and cost optimization.

Business Partnering

  • Act as a trusted advisor to commercial supply chain and operational leaders.
  • Support pricing strategies customer profitability analysis and commercial decision-making across:
    • Consumer sales
    • OTR sales
    • Commercial sales
  • Evaluate business cases investments and strategic initiatives.

Wholesale & Commercial Finance Oversight

  • Oversee financial management of the wholesale distribution business.
  • Monitor sales performance margins rebates and working capital.
  • Ensure robust financial controls across sales channels and customer segments.

Logistics & Supply Chain Finance

  • Provide financial oversight of logistics and supply chain operations.
  • Drive cost efficiency in warehousing distribution and transportation.
  • Monitor and optimize inventory levels stock turns and obsolescence.
  • Support supply chain transformation and efficiency initiatives.

5. Demand Planning & Inventory Management

  • Partner with demand planning teams to ensure accurate forecasting and alignment with financial plans.
  • Oversee inventory investment strategies to balance availability and working capital efficiency.
  • Analyze demand trends and their financial implications.

6. Import & Procurement Financial Management

  • Manage financial aspects of import operations including FX exposure duties and landed cost calculations.
  • Ensure cost transparency and optimization in procurement and sourcing.
  • Monitor supplier terms pricing structures and cost drivers.

7. Manufacturing Finance

  • Provide financial oversight of manufacturing operations including cost accounting standard costing and variance analysis.
  • Partner with operations to drive production efficiency yield improvement and cost reduction initiatives.
  • Monitor plant performance capacity utilization and capital expenditure.
  • Support make-vs-buy decisions and manufacturing strategy and CAPEX/ROI.

8. Financial Reporting & Controls

  • Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting in line with group standards.
  • Maintain strong internal controls compliance and governance frameworks.
  • Oversee audit processes and ensure adherence to regulatory requirements.

9. Cash Flow & Working Capital Management

  • Drive strong cash flow performance through effective working capital management.
  • Optimize receivables payables and inventory cycles.
  • Monitor liquidity and funding requirements.

10. Team Leadership

  • Lead develop and mentor the finance team.
  • Build a high-performance culture focused on accountability and continuous improvement.
  • Ensure appropriate structure and capability within the finance function.

Qualifications & Experience Required

  • Chartered Accountant (CA) or equivalent qualification.
  • 812 years of progressive finance experience including senior leadership roles.
  • Strong experience in wholesale distribution or supply chain-intensive industries.
  • Proven experience in business partnering with commercial and operational teams.
  • Experience in mining services logistics or industrial sectors is advantageous.
  • Experience in Manufacturing operations and finance
  • MBA from an accredited business school (EQUIS accredited is a benefit)
  • Experience in a fast-paced matrix and multinational environment
  • Expertise in ERP systems (e.g. SAP Oracle) and financial reporting tools (e.g. Power BI Tableau).
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel PowerPoint Word)
  • Ability to translate financial information into actionable business decisions
  • Excellent written and verbal English (essential)

Soft/Behavioral Skills:

  • Strong strategic and analytical thinking
  • Commercial acumen and business insight
  • Leadership and people management capability
  • Advanced financial modelling and data analysis
  • Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
  • High level of integrity and attention to detail
  • Ability to operate in a fast-paced complex environment

What we offer

At Bridgestone what really matter is to foster co-creation opportunities and empowering you to be creative and curious to make mobility safer more efficient and more sustainable for future generations. Whatever role you fill when you represent Bridgestone you are a valued teammate and part of our larger mission to Serve Society with Superior Quality for that we offer you more than just a competitive payment; we will provide you:

  • A supportive and engaging onboarding experience to ensure a smooth transition into our team.
  • The opportunity to develop and grow through training and regular mentorship.
  • Corporate Social Responsibility activities.
  • A truly global dynamic and challenging work environment.
  • Agility and work/life effectiveness and your long-term well-being.
  • A diverse and inclusive team.

Disclaimer

We are committed to create an even more inclusive culture that advances equity embraces individuality and helps our increasingly diverse teammates customers and communities thrive by providing equal opportunities in employment. This means that all job applicants and members of staff will receive equal treatment and that we will not discriminate on grounds of gender marital status race ethnicity color nationality national origin disability sexual orientation religion or age.


Required Experience:

Director

Job Title- Head of Finance About Us Bridgestone Americas Inc. (BSAM) headquartered in Nashville Tennessee and Bridgestone Europe Middle East and Africa (BSEMEA) headquartered in Brussels Belgium operate collectively as a Bridgestone West strategic region. This region services the strategic business ...

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