Financial Controller Analyst (FMCG)

Job Position: Financial Controller / Analyst (FMCG)
Ref: 5190
Location: PE/Gqeberha
Salary: R30 000 to R45 000 per month commensurate with qualification and experience

Email your CV to

Overview
We are not looking for someone to just do the books. We need a financial architect and tech-forward accountant who views a Trial Balance not just as a report but as a roadmap for efficiency and a dataset waiting to be optimized.
As our Capital Discipline Specialist you will sit at the high-stakes intersection of Accounting FP&A and Systems Engineering. Acting as the guardian of our margins in a fast-moving FMCG environment you will own the Cash Conversion Cycle hunt down cost leakage and leverage AI-driven automation to transform our financial operations. You wont just report on the past; you will build the systems that protect the businesss future.

Qualifications skills and experience:
A solid background in Accounting or Finance with a Degree or Diploma preferred
Proven experience in a fast-paced retail or manufacturing environment with the ability to handle the pressure of month-end deadlines with ease
A Pastel/Sage power user with mastery of advanced Excel. Must speak data and have experience with (or have implemented) AI automation tools ERP systems or advanced Power BI/Excel modelling
Highly detail-oriented professional who doesnt just find errors but builds the workflows and processes to ensure they never happen again
Ability to liaise confidently across departments and work effectively within a high-performing finance team

Key Performance Areas and Responsibilities:
1. Financial Forensics Margin and Price Engineering
Trial Balance Mastery: Deep-dive into Trial Balance (TB) data to identify hidden cost leakages and margin erosion at the SKU and campaign level
Strategic ROI Modelling: Drive ROI modelling per campaign and transform raw TB data into a strategic roadmap for ROI and high-level costing spreadsheets
Margin Protection: Conduct deep-dive margin analyses per SKU to fuel pricing strategies and ensure every cent works for the business
2. AI and Systems Transformation
Tech Integration: Lead the integration of AI tools and automation to streamline repetitive finance workflows
Data Visibility: Move the department from manual processing to real-time data visibility ensuring all accuracy fuels the ROI models in FP&A
3. Core Accounting and The Engine Room
Full-Function Bookkeeping: Oversee the full accounting cycle including managing the cashbook processing AP/AR (debtors and creditors) capturing invoices and ensuring precise payment allocation
Clean Data Scaling: Focus on maintaining high-quality clean data that scales effectively with the business
Management Support: Assist the Financial Manager and National Bookkeeper with monthly management accounts budgeting and statutory compliance
4. Working Capital Management and Capital Stewardship
Cash Conversion Cycle: Monitor and own the cash conversion cycle implementing strict controls to plug cost leakage
Operational Excellence: Resolve complex financial queries with suppliers and clients follow up on outstanding accounts and optimize working capital with a commercial mindset
5. Audit and Compliance
Audit Trail Maintenance: Maintain a bulletproof audit trail ensuring all records fully meet company policies and relevant financial regulations
Collaborative Support: Provide administrative muscle to the finance team and act as a key point of contact for External Auditors

Email your CV to

Overview
We are not looking for someone to just do the books. We need a financial architect and tech-forward accountant who views a Trial Balance not just as a report but as a roadmap for efficiency and a dataset waiting to be optimized.
As our Capital Discipline Specialist you will sit at the high-stakes intersection of Accounting FP&A and Systems Engineering. Acting as the guardian of our margins in a fast-moving FMCG environment you will own the Cash Conversion Cycle hunt down cost leakage and leverage AI-driven automation to transform our financial operations. You wont just report on the past; you will build the systems that protect the businesss future.

Qualifications skills and experience:
A solid background in Accounting or Finance with a Degree or Diploma preferred
Proven experience in a fast-paced retail or manufacturing environment with the ability to handle the pressure of month-end deadlines with ease
A Pastel/Sage power user with mastery of advanced Excel. Must speak data and have experience with (or have implemented) AI automation tools ERP systems or advanced Power BI/Excel modelling
Highly detail-oriented professional who doesnt just find errors but builds the workflows and processes to ensure they never happen again
Ability to liaise confidently across departments and work effectively within a high-performing finance team

Key Performance Areas and Responsibilities:
1. Financial Forensics Margin and Price Engineering
Trial Balance Mastery: Deep-dive into Trial Balance (TB) data to identify hidden cost leakages and margin erosion at the SKU and campaign level
Strategic ROI Modelling: Drive ROI modelling per campaign and transform raw TB data into a strategic roadmap for ROI and high-level costing spreadsheets
Margin Protection: Conduct deep-dive margin analyses per SKU to fuel pricing strategies and ensure every cent works for the business
2. AI and Systems Transformation
Tech Integration: Lead the integration of AI tools and automation to streamline repetitive finance workflows
Data Visibility: Move the department from manual processing to real-time data visibility ensuring all accuracy fuels the ROI models in FP&A
3. Core Accounting and The Engine Room
Full-Function Bookkeeping: Oversee the full accounting cycle including managing the cashbook processing AP/AR (debtors and creditors) capturing invoices and ensuring precise payment allocation
Clean Data Scaling: Focus on maintaining high-quality clean data that scales effectively with the business
Management Support: Assist the Financial Manager and National Bookkeeper with monthly management accounts budgeting and statutory compliance
4. Working Capital Management and Capital Stewardship
Cash Conversion Cycle: Monitor and own the cash conversion cycle implementing strict controls to plug cost leakage
Operational Excellence: Resolve complex financial queries with suppliers and clients follow up on outstanding accounts and optimize working capital with a commercial mindset
5. Audit and Compliance
Audit Trail Maintenance: Maintain a bulletproof audit trail ensuring all records fully meet company policies and relevant financial regulations
Collaborative Support: Provide administrative muscle to the finance team and act as a key point of contact for External Auditors

Salary: R30 000 to R45 000 per month commensurate with qualification and experience