Head of Financial Shared Services at Vector Logistics

Overview

• We are a Supply Chain and Sales & Merchandising partner adding value to your business through a fully integrated, temperature-controlled network in Southern Africa.
• But we are also more than that. We are people serving people. While we boast the best in tech and infrastructure, our people are our greatest resource. With our skilled, curious, can-do people at the forefront, our assets become your assets, our service your solutions.
• Vector’s vehicle fleet includes a food industry first in ‘multi-temperature’ vehicles enabling the company to service business across frozen, chilled and ambient temperature zones on a single delivery.

Job Purpose

• Creating a Finance Shared Service strategy together with the Finance Director and the CFO.
• Lead the financial shared services teams to operate effectively, while driving performance aligned with strategy in action and supporting the broader team in meeting business goals.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic and Technical Contribution

• Participate in the formulation and implementation of the Finance strategy, based on a 2 to 5-year view of requirements.
• Provide strategic input to business goals.
• Ensure that assigned and agreed strategic targets are operationalized and achieved.
• Define and agree Service Level Agreements (SLA’s) with all internal customers, including KPI’s and manage performance.
• Ensure that the shared service activities are performed in a robust financial control environment.
• Plan and develop best practices, systems, processes, and procedures to enable continued improvement that meets the needs in times of change.
• Participate in ERP steering committees to ensure alignment and practical achievement of project goals.
• Ensure adherence to Corporate Policy and Internal Control procedures for Accounts Payable, accounts receivables and Fixed Assets and GL.
• Develop and maintain key relationships with key customers – internal and external.
• Focus on customer service and satisfaction, including regularly publishing metrics such as quality, controls, performance improvement insights, and engage with stakeholders regularly.

Financial Accounting

• Oversee and manage IFRS compliance.
• Ensure that the Accounts Payable, accounts receivables and Fixed Assets, and GL. Functions are maintained according to policy and IFRS.
• Ensure that monthly general ledger reconciliations are completed and reconciling items resolved.
• Ensure that the monthly close-off of accounts fairly reflects the monthly results of the organization.
• Perform the functions associated with being a bank signatory.

Creditor Management

• Oversee the management of all creditors including stock and nonstock.
• Ensure all supplier accounts are reconciled and paid according to terms and agreed pricing conditions.
• Drive analytics to improve efficiency, insight, and performance.

Accounts Receivable

• Oversee the credit control process, including setting credit limits and payment terms and management of all claims.
• Conduct risk assessments and evaluate customer credit profiles.
• Manage collections and resolve payment issues efficiently.
• Develop and enforce credit policies and procedures.
• Collaborate with other functional areas / teams to support business objectives.
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation and company policies.
• Prepare regular reports on credit performance and risk exposure.

Asset Management

• Oversee the management of the fixed assets across all sites.
• Ensure the assets are fairly reported in SAP through periodic asset verifications and compliance with IFRS principles.
• Ensure appropriate wear and tear and depreciation rates are applied consistently and in line with IFRS principals and current tax legislation.
• Ensure that Fixed asset movements are recorded accurately and in a timely manner.
• Ensure that the WIP accounts are reviewed and actioned on a monthly basis.
• Review fixed asset reconciliations.

Statutory Compliance

• Participate in the statutory financial close-off.
• Manage and oversee that the required interim and year-end reporting schedules are completed.
• Liaise with internal and external auditors.
• Provide input regarding compliance with company law in conjunction with the legal department thereby ensuring compliance with commercial law and legislation generally.

Internal Control

• Continuously identify and pursue opportunities to improve control procedures throughout the business.
• Follow up on audit queries and ensure that corrective action is taken by the responsible teams.
• Ensure compliance with approved procedures by means of control checks performed by the finance team.

Staff Management

• Manage all teams and collaborate effectively.
• Lead and develop staff within the context of the Labour Relations Act, Employment Equity Act, Basic Conditions of Employment Act and the Skills Development Act.
• Monitor staff performance and provide regular feedback.
• Manage staff activities, ensuring service levels are met and protocols are adhered to.
• Coach and support staff, where necessary, to achieve objectives.
• Manage staff leave and general time management issues in line with organizational deliverables and standards.
• Manage and deliver on succession plans to enable the development of a future generation of leaders and specialists and ensure optimal turnover and retention levels are maintained.
• Conduct regular performance appraisals with subordinates.
• Establish sound staff and labor organizing and communication structures and systems.
• Develop and manage high performance multidisciplinary teams in order to solve problems within the commercial arena.
• Conduct regular meetings and ensure that records are kept and shared across the team and that action plans agreed to within team meetings are delivered upon.

Key Relationships

Internal

• Divisional Finance Executives.
• Extended Management Teams.
• Operations Managers and Financial Managers.

External

• Legal representatives.
• Auditors.
• Suppliers.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience Required for the Job

Qualifications and Experience

• Matric (Grade 12).
• Must be a registered CA(SA).
• 10 years’ experience, 5 of which a senior level, managing large teams.
• SAP experience would be advantageous.
• Experience in leading large teams and effectively collaborating.

Competencies:

 Strategic Vision and Leadership

• Develop and communicate a compelling vision, aligning teams and driving business goals.
• Proactively adapt strategies to evolving business needs and industry trends.

Financial Acumen

• Demonstrate deep expertise in financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, and IFRS compliance.
• Apply sound financial principles to drive profitability and ensure financial integrity.

Decision-Making and Problem-Solving

• Make strategic, data-driven decisions to achieve business objectives.
• Solve complex, multi-dimensional challenges with a focus on long-term impact.

Stakeholder Management and Influence

• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Effectively influence across all levels to drive collaboration and alignment.

Operational Excellence and Continuous Improvement

• Lead initiatives to streamline processes and enhance service delivery.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, leveraging best practices.

People Leadership and Development

• Provide coaching and mentorship to build high-performance teams.
• Drive culture of accountability, performance, and talent development.

Skills

• Feasibility and appraisal methods.
• Verbal and written communication.
• Computer literacy (MS Office and especially proficiency in Excel).
• Report writing.
• Interpersonal relations.
• Negotiation.
• Logical thinking.
• Problem solving.
• Decision-making.
• Analytical thinking.
• Presentation.
• Numeracy.
• Strategic influencing.
• Lateral and innovative thinking.
• Organisational awareness.
• Ability to leverage technology.