Financial Controller / Analyst (FMCG)

On Line Personnel

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 ***email_hidden***

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 won't just report on the past; you will build the systems that protect the business's 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 doesn't 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

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