Financial Manager at AVI Limited

• Ensures teams have competent team members with the required technical skill, knowledge and behavioural requirements to fit the culture and contribute to team success.
• Defines clear roles, accountabilities, outputs and performance standards for others to work towards.
• Holds people accountable gives feedback, recognises good performance and manages poor performance.
• Creates and sustains great team spirit by leading by example

Manage and monitor company accounting procedures, policies and internal controls

• Ensure the finance department’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) are documented and implemented so that the team is aware of their tasks and how to perform them.
• Challenges the status quo and traditional ways of service delivery in order to always focus on innovation, improvement and efficiency
• Manage external and internal audits and resolve any issues/findings timeously in order to improve our internal control environment
• A proper internal control environment limits the risk of fraud and financial loss.

Monthly maintenance of General Ledger and the month-end process

• Monthly maintenance of general ledger, and authorise timeous adjustments wherever necessary. The financial records are used to make business decisions, and should, therefore, be accurate.
• Ensure month-end procedures are adhered to according to predetermined deadlines in order to submit accurate and timeous results to AVI.

Ensuring accurate and timeous financial reporting and submissions - Internal & External

• Prepare/Review monthly, interim, ad-hoc and year-end reporting required by AVI. This includes actual, forecast and budget results. The financial records are used to make business decisions, and should, therefore, be accurate.
• Prepare/Review monthly management packs.
• Report on irregular variances that have been investigated in order to limit financial loss.
• Report on Income Statement variances and provide necessary commentary to the business in order to make improvements where necessary. Have monthly discussions with budget holders to analyse variance against budget and resolve queries.
• Manage external and internal audits and resolve any issues/findings timeously in order to meet statutory requirements.
• Completion of the Annual Financial Statements in order to meet statutory requirements.
• Prepare and collate of information for the bi-annual Internal Review Meeting and Board meeting packs.
• Ensure timeous completion and submission of the provisional tax returns, the annual tax return and the monthly VAT return
• Meet statutory tax requirements in order to prevent penalties or fines.

Manage local and foreign cashflow (forecasts and payments) and EXCON approvals

• Review of the accuracy and validity of payments is critical to ensure that payments being processed are being done so into the correct accounts and for correct amounts to avoid unnecessary financial loss.
• Effective management of foreign purchases and Forward Exchange Contracts (FEC’s) can result in limited foreign exchange losses. We need to ensure we have sufficient cover in place to cost goods accurately.
• Effective management of cashflow can result in increased interest earned.
• We require EXCON approval to make foreign payments. Effective management of the process will result in successful payments being made.

Ad hoc requests from Other departments within the business

• Finance team should have a service centric mindset in order to assist the Business with any required information so that the Business isn't held up and can focus on making money.

Effective management of the Italy Office (branch)

• The Italy Office is an integral part of the Spitz business. Effective communication with the Italy staff will ensure improved business.
• Statutory requirements in Italy are different to South Africa, and therefore it is vital to manage contracts and legal requirements. 

Experience and Qualifications: 

• At least 3 years post articles experience in a similar retail environment
• Project management experience
• Qualified as a CA(SA)

Knowledge Required: 

• Financial, analytical and reporting skills (IFRS knowledge)
• Good knowledge of the retail environment
• Proven practical management skills
• A clear understanding of financial controls and the importance of data integrity
• Interpersonal and strong verbal and written communication skills
• Understanding of systems and how these impact on the business
• MS Office proficiency (Advanced Excel)
• SAP
• Ability to work effectively under pressure
• Ability to pay attention to detail, but also see the “bigger picture”
• Good understanding of all local current tax and VAT regulations
• Project management experience