Finance Manager

The Finance Manager is a critical leadership role within our Paarl-based poultry operations. This position is responsible for the end-to-end financial stewardship of the business unit, balancing strategic oversight of Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) and Operational Expenditure (OPEX) with rigorous management accounting. The successful candidate will drive financial discipline, optimise production costs, and provide the executive team with the actionable insights necessary to maintain a competitive edge in the large-scale agricultural sector.

• Lead the annual budgeting process and quarterly forecasting for the Paarl operations, ensuring alignment with the organisation's strategic growth objectives.
• Oversee the full CAPEX lifecycle, from initial feasibility studies and investment appraisals to post-implementation reviews of poultry infrastructure and equipment.
• Manage OPEX budgets with a focus on controlling volatile input costs, such as feed, labour, and energy, to protect profit margins.
• Develop and maintain complex management accounting frameworks to track cost-per-bird and overall production efficiency.
• Analyse variances between actual spend and budgeted figures, implementing corrective actions to mitigate financial leakage.
• Coordinate the month-end closing process, ensuring all financial reporting is accurate, compliant with IFRS, and submitted within corporate deadlines.
• Collaborate with operational managers to optimise working capital and manage cash flow requirements for large-scale agricultural cycles.
• Ensure all financial activities comply with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and relevant South African tax legislation.
• Provide strategic financial mentorship to junior staff, fostering a culture of accountability and professional development.

• Minimum of 5 to 8 years of post-qualification experience in a financial management role, preferably within the agricultural, FMCG, or manufacturing sectors.
• Proven track record of managing multi-million ZAR CAPEX projects and complex OPEX budgets.
• Demonstrated experience in management accounting within a high-volume production environment.
• Advanced proficiency in ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Sage, or Microsoft Dynamics) and expert-level Excel skills.
• Ability to translate complex financial data into strategic insights for non-financial operational stakeholders.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree (NQF Level 7) in Accounting or Financial Management (NQF Level 7).
• Honours degree or postgraduate diploma in Accounting (NQF Level 8).
• Professional registration with SAICA (CA(SA)) or CIMA is highly preferred.

Key Skills: Advanced financial modelling and forecasting., Strategic cost reduction and variance analysis., Agricultural financial reporting and livestock valuation knowledge., Stakeholder management and executive reporting.