Financial Controller - Africa

The successful candidate will be responsible for managing multiple financial aspects across Africa, covering six countries, and providing business partnering support to the Regional Vice President. Key responsibilities include but are not limited to, maintaining and expanding banking relationships, ensuring compliance with local statutory audits and tax regulations, and indirectly managing department heads within the shared service center. Additionally, you will analyse business and market risks to support the Regional Vice President in making informed business decisions.

The Financial Controller will also oversee the preparation of monthly financials and will be responsible for developing, interpreting, and implementing financial planning, reporting, budgeting, and control processes for the business unit. This role will focus on enhancing governance, improving cost control, and conducting financial performance analysis against budget and quarterly forecasts.

• Develop a trustworthy relationship with the Regional Vice President to drive financial management and continuously improve finance processes.
• Responsibility for annual budgets and quarterly forecasts ensuring all inputs are complete to the group timetable.
• Organise local statutory accounts production by the Management Accounts team, ensuring local audits are completed within associated reporting deadlines incorporating management of tax deadlines.
• Manage the Management Accounts team’s month-end reporting to ensure all key financial metrics are reviewed, reported and amended within working deadlines and ensure the Regional Vice President has approved final numbers. This includes frequent review of trial balances, general ledger activity and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Prepare variance analysis and recommendations on monthly financial figures from Country P&Ls compared to budget and last year and issue reports as required by the management.
• Analyse financial information to produce forecasts of business, industry and economic conditions to enable strategic and key business decisions.
• Evaluate new business proposals with a complete analysis of economic impact on business, including cash flow requirements.
• Coordinate with Regional Treasury manager to ensure short-term cashflows are reviewed and tie in with P&L forecasts and front-end business expectations.
• Complete ownership of the region’s 10 legal entities, ensuring full control of the P&L, managing balance sheet risks and opportunities, intercompany trade reconciliations and actioning changes to ensuring a continuous state of audit-ready management accounts.
• Provide Internal Control and ensure compliance with all Group Policies and Procedures.
• Instigate and participate in all process improvement initiatives related to the Region.
• Participate in relevant projects and Group activities (such as coordinating Group Audit requirements) as and when needed.
• Other project work that may arise as part of Regional Finance Director’s process improvement initiatives.

• ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CPA or CFA and be a minimum 5 years post-qualified.
• At least 3 years experience in recruitment/similar role/industry.
• Working knowledge of IFRS and ability to handle decision-making regarding audit and tax queries.
• Ability to work autonomously and show initiative and proactiveness to ensure all legal entities are always fully compliant.
• Experience with regional laws and regulations about financial matters.
• Experience in co-ordinating remote teams and managing large teams.
• Experience in Group reporting and working to tight deadlines.
• Ability to work in a time-sensitive, pressured environment with non-flexible Group deadlines.
• Ability to be flexible and able to multitask with day-to-day workflow.

• Must be located in Manchester, United Kingdom and meet hybrid work requirements.
• Qualified accountant as specified above.
• Minimum 5+ years post qualification.
• Work experience in a Management Accounts role (or similar) of 5+ years.
• Ability to prioritise workload and work to strict deadlines. Must be able to manage own time efficiently.
• Previous experience working with either one or more accounting systems, ideally Microsoft Dynamics 365.
• Knowledge of the OneStream finance system is preferred but not pivotal.
• Effective communicator who is articulate, professional and confident at all times, both with finance and non-finance colleagues.
• Confident in challenging existing processes and holding colleagues to standards set out by Senior Management.

• Attractive monthly base salary + competitive commission/performance bonus.
• Genuine career progression opportunities, either locally or globally!
• World-class training programmes and development opportunities
• Virtual Onboarding Events exclusively for new hires.
• Team driven environment, supportive culture with a focus on work-life balance.
• Career breaks available after one year.
• Real time recognition through our employee reward platform.
• Mental Health First Aiders to signpost you to support when you need it.
• Yearly destination trips as part of our High Flyers program (Dubai, Buenos Aires, etc…)
• Charity days for various importance causes such as Relay for Life and Earth Day.

• Growth - In life and business, one must grow to flourish and achieve high ambitions. Growth requires change, challenge, risk and sacrifice - we will always choose growth.
• Life – Above all else, we value life. The quality of life, both in and outside of work, profoundly influences our well-being and our impact on the world.
• Excellence - We deliver, holding ourselves accountable for results. Our customers see excellence in everything we do.
• Integrity - We are ethical, open, honest and authentic. People trust us to do the right thing for the right reason.

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