Financial Controller - Southern Africa, Anglo West Africa, Nigeria & Togo

We are SGS – the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company. We are recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. Our 99,250 employees operate a network of 2,700 offices and laboratories, working together to enable a better, safer and more interconnected world.
Responsible for the quality and accuracy of the financial reporting and the preparation of analytical reports and monthly commentary as well as the coordination on business planning, budgeting, accounting and auditing issues for the Sub-Region.
Ensuring business decisions are grounded in sound financial criteria
Taking a commercial view in partnership with the business
Identifying commercial, financial and economic risks from business propositions
Establishing profitability if business propositions
Providing robust but constructive challenge to business stakeholders
Communicating clearly the financial implications of proposals
Providing insight and analysis to support the Regional Managing Director and other senior managers
Communicating financial information effectively
Assessing drivers of profitability
Identifying and communicating areas of risk
Forecasting future performance based on knowledge of past performance
Identifying corrective action where required
Leading key initiatives in finance that support overall strategic goals
Leadership skills to drive through change in finance
Setting and communicating the vision and strategy for finance
Able to engage with business stakeholders to determine the appropriate role for finance
Bringing together disparate stakeholders within finance and the business
Sponsoring delivery of major change in the finance function
Funding, enabling and executing strategy set by the Regional Managing Director
Funding the organization’s operations
Prioritizing investments
Developing strategic plans to achieve corporate goals
Understanding the key value drivers
Turning strategic plans into operations plans and targets (including defining KPI’s)
Designing the implementation program
Monitoring progress against strategy
Coordinating and Implementation of Finance Strategy in line with Groups
Translating corporate goals into a clear strategy
Identifying financial and risk issues in relation to corporate strategy
Delivering a workable strategic plan within known constraints
Creativity / Ability to think “out-of-the-box” / conceptually strong
Analyzing portfolio of opportunities
Visionary / a story teller / ability to build trust and motivate people
Effective communication of financial and risk issues to colleagues
Providing robust financial challenge at c-suite level
Representing the organization’s progress on strategic goals
Clear communication of performance
Perspectives on organization’s performance relative to main competitors
Detailed knowledge about main value drivers / key KPI’s and initiatives to improve them
Positive communication around management of key risks
Taking a forward-looking view
Responding positively to issues raised by industry regulators
Financial Controls
Ensures coordination and accounting control
Draws up balance sheets and income statements of the company, and watches over their compliance with legal requirements
Assists different departments in budgeting process
Defines the Regional Managing Director client’s payment conditions and watches over their implementation
Defines supplier payment conditions and settlement terms
Receives auditors, and prepares all necessary information
Watches over the drawing up of the income tax return required from the company
Watches over the planned payments due date respect and informs the management about any payment risk
Watches over the continuity of financing required for the running of company and optimizes cost
Issues and updates the table of bank conditions
Establishes company monthly, quarterly and yearly financial guidelines
Provides the management with all system information required to negotiate with financial parties
Assists the management in negotiating with financial partners
Submits to the management:Long and short-term financing options
Considering new financing sources
Constitutes loans, subsidy and capital aid requests and ensures their follow up
Carries out Financial analysis
Ensures the accountability about SUN accounting system project implementation
Follows up services profit margins and informs the management about any deviation noticed
Assists the operations management for cost monitoring and throughput computing
Performs yield surveys requested by the management namely those required for investment projects
Carries out all cost analysis for the management
Develops cost computing procedures and company provisions management
Manages and supervises company treasury within the framework of treasury annual plan
Implements finance and accounting activity centralization at headquarters
Draws up Finance Department weekly and monthly activity reports
Manages inventory:Defines procedures
Watches over their implementation and respect
Ensures inventory valuation (costing)
Ensures relations with taxation Department. Negotiates when appropriate fiscal agreements with the administration
Follows up updates regarding fiscal, accounting, commerce legislation and international regulations
Ensures follow up of performance against plans, budgets and targets. Identifies gaps, analyses the causes and alerts the Management about the noticed situations and their status
Identifies company budgeting procedures, ensures their cohesion and implementation
Prepares the plans:Investment
Financing
Treasury
Manages and improves Net Working Capital, ensuring continues improvement and achieve group targets
Ensures compliance to group and local accounting standards
Ensures internal controls function and are improved to protect company assets and ensure adherence to group standard and policy
Acts as business partner to business, advising on improvements including but not limited to profitability and Net Working Capital
Leads the change in back office functions for Southern Africa, improving cost, efficiency and control environment
Leads acquisition process including due diligence, negotiations and implementation
Adhere to all quality and safety requirements of the SGS management system
Perform any other reasonable tasks as assigned by direct line manager
Education
Grade 12
Financial degree, CA will be an advantage but not mandatory
Experience
8 to 10 years’ experience in a similar position
Experience in a multinational in a senior level
Hyperion and HFM experience critical
Oracle Boss and Sun experience advantage
Experience in a matrix organization critical
REQUIRED SKILLS
Ability to analyze and interpret financial data and to prepare financial reports, statements and/or forecasts
Must have knowledge of computerized financial information systems
Ability to analyze financial systems requirements and provide recommendations to operational management
Must have a strong knowledge of financial accounting, budgeting, control, and reporting principles, methods, techniques, and standards
Ability to identify issues and implement the appropriate solutions
Fluent English on top of the local language
Must be able to understand the business
Experience with acquisitions and takeovers
Experience with formulating relevant business plans for acquisition
Leading local financial team
Leading the complete financial function
Organization skills
Good communication skills
Quality of performance and lead time
Performance statement against fixed targets
SPECIFIC AUTHORITIES
Cease the use of any equipment that may be deemed to constitute a safety hazard or entry to hazardous environments without the necessary knowledge and protection and take action to address the hazard.
Cease to carry on with work that may affect the quality (integrity) of services and take action to address the issue.
Initiate a formal improvement request when a deviation of the system occurs, possible improvements are identified or when nonconformity is identified.