Financial Controller / Manager Full Time Job

Financial Controller / Manager required in Port Elizabeth.

We are not looking for someone to just “do the books.” We need a hands-on, operational Financial Manager, a tech-forward accountant who views a Trial Balance as a dataset waiting to be optimized.

As our Financial and Automation Manager, you will sit at the high-stakes intersection of Accounting, Financial Administration, and Systems Engineering. Acting as a key member of the management team in a fast-moving, high-transaction FMCG and distribution environment, you will take full ownership of our financial administration function. Your primary focus will be strict debtors’ management, cash flow discipline, and the deployment of AI-driven automation.

This is an operational role. You will not only manage the numbers but also actively drive improvements in systems, processes, and team performance, working closely with Sales, Operations, and Marketing to support the business’s growth trajectory. The role suits a commercially minded leader who is equally comfortable producing a cash flow forecast, building an automated debtor reminder workflow, and holding a constructive conversation with a sales team about an overdue customer account.

Salary: R40 000 to R60 000 CTC, commensurate with qualification and experience.

Minimum Requirements:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in financial management, financial control, or senior financial administration
• Relevant financial qualification—BCom (Accounting / Finance), National Diploma in Financial Management, or equivalent
• Direct, hands-on accounts receivable and credit control experience—not just high-level oversight
• Tech Stack: Pastel/Sage Power User (specifically Sage Evolution and/or Pastel Partner) alongside advanced Excel proficiency
• Demonstrable experience implementing process automation, ERP enhancements, or significant system improvement projects in a finance environment
• Proven ability to work cross-functionally, lead/mentor junior admin staff, and constructively influence non-finance teams.
• Preferred Differentiators:
  • Experience in FMCG, wholesale distribution, retail, or a high-transaction-volume environment
  • Experience building financial dashboards and automated reporting tools (e.g., Power BI)
  • Experience building automated debtor reminder or collections workflows

Key Performance Areas:

• Debtors, Cash Flow and Capital Stewardship
  • Manage the full accounts receivable function, maintaining and enforcing strict debt collection procedures
  • Monitor and report debtor ageing and Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) to continuously optimize the Cash Conversion Cycle
  • Partner closely with the Sales team to resolve payment delays, invoice disputes, and credit issues
  • Produce weekly debtor reports, high-level costing spreadsheets, and cash flow forecasts for management
  • Oversee customer credit limits, credit applications, and risk approvals
• AI and Systems Automation
  • Identify and implement opportunities to automate repetitive financial and administrative processes
  • Build, deploy, and maintain automated debtor reminder and collections workflows to reduce manual follow-ups
  • Build automated dashboards and reporting tools to move the department from manual reporting to real-time data visibility
  • Lead or heavily participate in ERP improvements and system implementation projects to ensure accurate, efficient, and auditable data capture
• Financial Forensics, Margin and Pricing Engineering
  • Deep dive into Trial Balance (TB) data to identify hidden cost leakages and margin erosion at the SKU and campaign level
  • Drive ROI modelling per campaign and transform raw TB data into a strategic roadmap for business growth
  • Conduct margin analyses per SKU to fuel commercial pricing strategies and ensure cost discipline.
• Financial Administration, Engine Room and Controls
  • Oversee all financial administration, internal controls, and financial governance to ensure process compliance across the business
  • Focus on maintaining high-quality, “clean data” that scales effectively as the business grows
  • Ensure accurate and timely reconciliations across debtors, creditors, and cash accounts, leading the month-end close process
  • Manage, mentor, and upskill junior finance or administrative staff
  • Maintain a bulletproof audit trail and act as the key point of contact for External Auditors.
• Operational and Cross-Functional Support
  • Partner with Sales, Marketing, and Operations to embed financial discipline into everyday business activities
  • Assist with inventory reconciliation and stock reporting where required
  • Step into broader operational support when business priorities and growth trajectories require it