Finance Manager (Operating and Costing)

Our client is seeking a hands-on and commercially astute Financial Manager with strong operational and costing experience within a manufacturing or project-based environment. This role will take full ownership of the finance function, including management accounting, costing, payroll, and team leadership, while partnering closely with operations to drive business performance and efficiency. Key requirements: BCom Accounting (minimum requirement) Minimum 4+ years’ relevant experience Proven experience in a manufacturing or operational environment (ideally with jobbing, site installation, or project-based costing) Strong background in:Costing and pricing Must come from a manufacturing background Management accounting Payroll (wages and salaries) Experience managing and leading finance/admin teams Exposure to ERP systems (Sage 100 / Sage 200 preferred) Practical, hands-on approach with strong attention to detail

Key Responsibilities

Financial Management & Reporting

Oversee the full financial function, including accounting, reporting, and compliance

Prepare and present monthly management accounts

Ensure accurate bookkeeping and transaction capture within Sage

Manage SARS submissions and tax calculations

Costing & Commercial Support

Manage and maintain costing records and price lists

Provide commercial insights to support pricing and strategic decisions

Partner with operations to optimise stock management, dispatch, and efficiency

Payroll & Administration

Oversee the payroll function, including wages and salaries (±60 wage staff and ±5–10 salaried staff)

Supervise and support the wages clerk

Manage and oversee admin staff, including:Debtors

Creditors

Bookkeeper

Sales Administrator

Process Improvement & Systems

Implement and enhance internal controls, systems, and processes

Support the internalisation of outsourced functions (accounting and payroll)

Assist with ERP migration from Sage 100 to Sage 200

Treasury & Debtors Management

Manage the treasury function, including bank payments

Engage proactively with debtors to resolve outstanding queries, including liaising directly with clients where required

Candidate Profile

Hands-on, accountable finance professional with end-to-end ownership experience

Strong operational mindset with the ability to work closely with non-finance teams

Commercially savvy, with sound business judgment

Resilient and solutions-driven, able to operate in a demanding environment

Confident communicator, capable of engaging directly with clients and internal stakeholders

Please send your CV to ***email_hidden***