Finance Manager
Premier FMCG
Total years of experience :25 years, 3 Months
Large FMCG in South Africa
Managing 5 Finance Managers and 2 Depot Accountants
• Compiling consolidated monthly regional management accounts
• Cost management, analyzing expense variances and formulating and implementing action plans to contain cost pressure
• Formulate and implement Standard Operating Processes to mitigate operational risk and standardize processes and procedures across 27 sites in the Baking Division
• Margin enhancement through the drive of operational efficiency to minimize waste through: (successfully reduced waste by 30% in the Region):
o Ensuring accurate and effective maintenance of Bills of Material across all baking units
o Formulate effective Value Chain models to drive operational excellence
o Variance analysis aligned with action plans to reduce operational waste
• Maintain the Financial integrity of the Inland Region by reviewing Balances Sheet Reconciliations to ensure validity, correct cost allocations periods and cost centres
• Play a pivotal role in external financial year end audits and periodic internal audits
• Compilation and presentation of the Regional Budgets and periodic forecasts to the Executive team
• Recruiting, training, mentoring and development of newly appointed Finance Managers
• Coordinated the integration of new business successfully and on time following new acquisition
• Part of the team that formulates and ensures effective implementation of regional strategies as evidenced by the successful consolidation of 3 major business units into one
• Was a key contributor in the systems upgrade ensuring effective training, management of change and used the opportunity to optimize processes to optimize output
Large FMCG in South Africa
Managed 9 staff: Debtors, Creditors, Cost Accountant, Wages Clerk, Cashier and 4 Admin Clerks
• Played a vital role in cost reduction and efficiency improvement of the site by outlining, implementing and reviewing various projects (grew EBITDA by more than 300% in two years)
• Prepared monthly management accounts for 3 business units and maintained full accurate Balance Sheets Accounts
• Liaising with External Auditors for annual financial audits
• Played an integral role in the daily operations of the business units to ensure operational excellence, alignment to Standard Operating Processes, cost containment and reduction of waste through:
o Use of interdepartmental meetings (utilizing the INVOCOM methodology) to enhance accountability and formulate corrective action.
o Interrogation of expenses ensuring alignment to budgets and forecasts and explaining any deviation.
o Review daily waste (production damages & returns)
o Review and verify Bills of Materials
o Effective utilization of the Value Chain Process
o Stock management through robust stock takes and variance analysis
• Prepare weekly Profits statements and analysis of the weekly performance
• Budget preparation by utilization of current run rate, historical trend analysis, potential future growth and market conditions
• Managed debtors’ books for 3 business units ensuring adherence to trading and credit terms
• Responsible for overseeing creditors for 3 business units to ensure use of approved suppliers and enforcement of supplier agreements terms
• Managed Capex projects and maintenance of the Fixed Assets
• Oversee accurate processing of payroll and ensuring alignment to attendance and overtime guidelines
Large Sandwich Manufacturer in the United Kingdom
•Played a major role in the successful restructuring and centralisation of the Finance functions following a merger
•Analysing profitability vs. budgets and forecasts, commenting on any variances and identifying profit improvement initiatives
•Compiling statistical information and providing monthly review on financial performance to enable decision making
•Weekly recording and reporting on site labour, raw materials consumption and providing analytical support to the operations team to assist in decision making and where appropriate make recommendations for profit enhancement
•Preparation of monthly Management accounts by completing numerous schedules including prepayments, provisions, accruals, cost reallocations, reconcile Control Accounts, maintain Fixed Assets Register and overheads analysis
•Undertake stock analysis, comparing book and physical stock values and investigate and comment on variances to ensure the risk of loss is minimized
•Implemented a robust stock control process that ensured an effective stock rotation to mitigate loss due to short shelf life
•Prepare annual budgets with input from heads of departments and present to the Board
Sandwich Manufacturer in the United Kingdom
•Prepare monthly sales by region vs. budget. Present information to non-financial sales teams.
•Creation, maintenance and reconciliation of the fixed asset register, including the calculation of loss or gain relating to disposal of assets and monthly computation of Depreciation
•Evaluation and implementation of cost improvement systems
•Was a key player in the successful implementation of a new accounting system on time and on budget
•Review of systems and procedures within the department to increase efficiency and compliance with guidelines and deadlines
•Produce monthly overhead costs against budget reports for head of departments and address any queries and comment on key variances
•Manage, review and deliver weekly profit and loss accounts within tight deadlines
•Initiated monthly meetings with budget holders to review results & trends and agree on corrective actions
Large Food Manufacturer
•Designed and introduced sophisticated spreadsheet-based models to streamline monthly reporting providing greater analysis of delivery route efficiency
•Involved in the strategic planning and efficient cost management aimed to maximise the benefit of a limited Transport budget
•Providing leadership, mentoring and people development to a team of 30 drivers.
•Developed an optimum vehicle replacement schedule to ensure cost effectiveness by evaluating maintenance costs, fuel consumption, KMs travelled and offset against the benefit of a new replacement
•Ensured effective truck service and maintenance plan ensuring truck availability with the right capacity and fleet reliability
Largest battery manufacturer in the United Kingdom
•Setting up customer accounts and ensuring accurate invoicing
•Ensuring that payments are received according to agreed trading terms
•Actively involved in the development of customer care policies
•Reconciliation of the Debtors control A/C and journal any miscoded items
•Setting credit limits based on credit worthiness
Summary of key Skills
•Adapt to different cultures: having worked in the UK, South Africa and overseeing businesses in Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini
•Ability to analyse and interrogate financial information
•Strategy formulation and implementation
•Cost Management
•New Systems implementation
•Integrate/ merge new business
•Risk mitigation through formulation and implementation of standard processes and procedures
•Internal controls compliance
•Budgeting/ Forecasting
•Stock Management
•Variance Analysis
•Margin enhancement through BOM maintenance, waste management, benchmarking and efficiency optimization
•Willing to relocate
Chartered Institute of Management Accountants-ACMA
Post Graduate Diploma in Money, Banking and Finance
Accounting and Finance