Integrated Supply Chain Finance Manager

Overall Responsibility

The Integrated Supply Chain Finance Manager is accountable for the financial performance, control and governance of the end-to-end supply chain across the company's operations, spanning Manufacturing, Procurement, Planning, Logistics, Excise and Supply CAPEX. This includes leading supply chain financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and performance reporting, translating operational plans into financial outcomes. The role ensures compliance with financial, tax and excise regulations, drives cost competitiveness and working capital efficiency, and supports senior management in strategic and investment decisions. As the finance business partner to the CEO, CFO, Technical Director and Supply Chain Director, the role provides strategic direction and recommendations to improve supply chain performance within a well-established risk framework. Ultimately, the role is the custodian of Integrated Supply Chain financial health, ensuring a sound control environment and adherence to the minimum internal controls governance framework.

Key Focus Areas

Focus Area 1: Financial Leadership and Business Partnering

• Be the main financial advisor on short-, medium- and long-term decisions affecting Integrated Supply Chain financial planning. Lead, mentor and develop a high-performing finance team, including performance management and career development
• plans.
• Offer commercial orientation and perspectives to the business leadership to drive value creation throughout the organisation. Coordinate the strategic plan development and support the business leadership to evaluate ideas and options in that endeavour to drive P&L efficiencies and benefits.
• Focus on key strategic imperatives and priorities by creating capability within the team to effectively drive and support initiatives that will enhance those imperatives.
• Define and track Integrated Supply Chain financial KPIs (e.g. cost per unit, conversion cost, inventory days and capex delivery) to monitor performance to targets.
• Drive end-to-end supply chain cost ownership, embedding conversion cost and cost-to-serve accountability with functional leaders.

Focus Area 2: Accounting and Finance

• Design and implement sound accounting processes and systems which ensure operational best practices.
• Ensure the finance team provides timely and accurate information to the business.
• Ensure good record keeping and ensure that IT systems are adequate to support the current and future needs of the business.
• Ensure accurate inventory and cost of sales accounting across raw materials, packaging, WIP and finished goods.
• Ensure efficient working capital practices are entrenched. Manage tax and excise compliance with SARS, minimising financial and reputational exposure to the business.

Focus Area 3: Inventory Governance and Control

• Engage internal and external stakeholders to ensure month-end inventory balances are fully reconciled to the general ledger. Monitor and review inventory provision for slow-moving, expired and obsolete items.
• Review and approve inventory item set-up and stock master data. Lead the team in producing daily, weekly, period and quarterly analysis and variance reports for management review.

Focus Area 4: Integrated Supply Chain Financial Management

• Manufacturing: Own the plant cost model and standard costing, driving conversion cost improvement through variance insight, while ensuring accurate production reporting, WIP and inventory counts, and reconciliation to the general ledger.
• Procurement: Set and control the procurement budget, partner with Procurement to deliver sustainable long-term savings, and ensure purchasing and receipting comply with delegated authority.
• Planning: Partner with Supply Planning in the S&OP process to translate volume and production plans into financial forecasts and drive optimal inventory and working capital levels. Logistics: Provide visibility of warehousing, distribution and freight costs through cost-to-serve analysis, ensuring service provider costs are controlled against contracted rates.
• Excise: Accountable for full compliance with the Customs and Excise Act and SARS requirements, including accurate and timely returns, duty accounting, stock reconciliations and audit readiness. Supply CAPEX: Steward the Supply capital plan by evaluating business cases, monitoring spend against approved mandates, and ensuring timely capitalisation and post-investment reviews.

Focus Area 5: Reporting, Budget, Forecast and Planning

• Lead the annual Integrated Supply Chain budget and rolling forecasts, aligned to S&OP volume and production plans.
• Monitor budget performance and provide variance analysis.
• Collaborate with the leadership team to determine the true cost of process inefficiencies and establish data analysis tools for effective reporting.
• Collaborate with departmental heads to ensure budget adherence.

Focus Area 6: Risk Management and Internal Control

• Establish a culture of integrity and ethical values. Ensure appropriate organisational structure, authority, and responsibility. Identify and evaluate financial risks. Develop strategies to mitigate identified risks.
• Implement policies and procedures to mitigate risks, including segregation of duties, reconciliations, and approval processes.
• Ensure effective communication of financial information across the organisation.
• Continuously monitor and assess the effectiveness of internal controls. Conduct regular internal audits.
• Ensure financial statements are accurate, complete, and prepared in accordance with relevant accounting standards.

Focus Area 7: Cost Management and Month-End Close

• Manufacturing: Maintain accurate standard and actual product costs and drive conversion cost management. At month-end, close production orders, value WIP and inventory, and report manufacturing variances with clear root causes.
• Procurement: Track purchase price variance and validate procurement savings against target. At month-end, ensure complete accruals and reconcile goods-received-not-invoiced and supplier balances.
• Planning: Quantify the cost impact of plan changes, changeovers and stock-holding decisions. At month-end, review inventory levels and provisions for slow-moving, expired and obsolete stock.
• Logistics: Manage warehousing, distribution and freight costs against budget and contracted rates. At month-end, ensure service provider accruals are complete and costs are correctly allocated. Tax (Excise and Customs): Manage excise and customs duty costs, rebates and refunds. At month-end, reconcile duty accounts and in-bond and duty-paid stock to the general ledger, and ensure returns are submitted on time.
• Close and reporting: Own the Integrated Supply Chain month-end close, delivering timely, accurate results, reconciled balance sheet accounts and clear performance commentary.

Minimum Requirements

• A formal tertiary qualification in Accounting, Finance, or a related field. CA(SA) designation is highly advantageous and preferred.
• A minimum of 5–7 years' experience in financial management, inside supply chain, preferably manufacturing finance within an FMCG or excisable-goods environment.
• Demonstrated leadership experience with the ability to effectively manage, coach, and develop high-performing teams.
• Strong financial acumen with excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Proven ability to identify and drive continuous improvement initiatives, process optimisation, and cost-saving opportunities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to build effective relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organisation.
• Highly detail-oriented with strong research and analytical capabilities, ensuring accuracy and sound financial decision-making.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment while effectively managing multiple priorities and competing demands.
• Experience working with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, with the ability to leverage technology to enhance financial reporting and operational efficiency.
• Sound working knowledge of standard costing, inventory and capex accounting, and customs and excise legislation and SARS compliance requirements.
• High levels of integrity, professionalism, and sound business judgement, with the ability to constructively challenge the business and uphold governance standards

Skills And Competencies

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective relationships and engage confidently with stakeholders at all levels of the organisation.
• Strong ability to manage multiple priorities, effectively multitask, and deliver results within tight deadlines.
• Demonstrated resilience and adaptability, with a willingness to embrace challenges and contribute positively within a collaborative team environment.
• Excellent planning, organisational, and time management skills, with the ability to coordinate activities and meet business objectives.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to interpret data, identify trends, solve complex problems, and support informed decision-making.
• Strong commercial and supply chain acumen, with the ability to translate operational drivers into financial outcomes and influence senior operational leaders.

NB: Specific duties/responsibilities will vary from time to time: the above list is intended to indicate the general nature of the post and is not exhaustive. The post holder will be expected to be flexible in supporting the business by undertaking any other responsibilities which are aligned with this job level.