Associate Finance Partner at Damco

Job description

The Associate Finance Partner will help drive financial performance within the East & South Africa (ESAF) area by assisting with guidance and support on financial information, business performance and implementation of strategies. This entails ensuring clear and proper performance of financial and administrative tasks, including providing regular and timely information to the Customer Service Office (CSO), Commercial and Global Service Centre (GSC) teams on all area finance matters

We Offer

At DAMCO, we believe that a long-term successful career happens when there is a match between what you are passionate about, what you are good at and what is needed by our business. A successful career will include a variety of experiences that stretch you, bring you out of your comfort zone and offer you an opportunity to learn and grow in ways that also build our business.

Key Responsibilities

• To deliver accurate, timely, aligned information for all financial reporting for the area as per global/regional guideline
• Assist in checking all mandatory reports and bringing exceptions to the attention of management thus ensuring adherence to internal control procedures
• Fixed cost management; controls on all fixed costs and continuously drive cost saving initiatives, managing and maintaining lease and other contractual agreements
• Assists with information for business decisions by leaders and internal and external partners including SARS and Citibank.
• Statutory requirements administration, i.e. tax/financial submissions as directed by Finance Business, liaison with banks for information when required, support for any tax queries, resolution of audit queries, drafting resolutions, liaising with company secretary for statutory information
• Assist finance business partner with management reporting at area level, variance explanations and related proposed actions
• Assists in assessing best alternative strategies. E.g. Job costing analysis: assess Low margin jobs and non-profitable jobs, “book of Business” improvement – most profitable business pursued as continuous nature
• Helps automate and bring in efficiencies, i.e. Drive continuous Improvement/optimization for finance and operation functions (including further consolidation, centralization, migration of tasks as needed
• Assist in coordination of all internal and external audits.
• Manage and ensure that all of the necessary processes and controls are in process to ensure RICC compliance
• Maintain credible controls in reporting in line with regional/centre control guideline E.g. Regional Exposure report and area score card
• Fraud prevention; co-operate with Global Service Centre & Regional Control Assurance teams to minimize risk. Including validation and interrogation of recharges as well as FTE allocation monthly
• Improve cross functional links to eliminate challenges in financial control dashboards
• Maintain close and strong relationship with all stakeholders

Who we are looking for

Competencies Required

• Must have a Degree with Accounting / Tax as majors (candidate with articles is favourable)
• Operational Financial management and Accounting – particularly job costing and risk management
• Two to three years’ experience within logistics / freight forwarding industry
• Local laws and procedures on corporate finance
• In-depth knowledge of Damco’s systems MODS, Kewill and FACT will be advantageous

The Suitable Candidate

• Is self-confident with drive
• Analytical thinker
• Have a high sense of urgency and ability to prioritise
• Strong communication and persuasive skills.
• Strong planning and organizing skills are required.
• Ability to work with details quickly and accurately with minimum mistakes.
• Sensitivity to other departments’ and branch offices’ requirements and needs.
• Sensitivity to customer’s/Supplier requirements and needs.
• Energetic and challenge status quo
• Able to obtain results through influence