Treasury Manager: SSA at COFCO International

Job Purpose:

• The Treasury Manager SSA role is based in Stellenbosch and oversees the overall Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region. Today, the region principally consists of South African businesses but may extend further. Primary responsibilities will include overseeing the daily treasury operation. This involves payment processes and approval, cash management, cash flow planning, investment management, set-up of trade finance and off-balance sheet structures, managing the foreign exchange hedging strategy for intercompany loans to align with repayment dates and optimal cost of carry, as well as managing the overall banking relationships and related documentary issues in the region. The Treasury Manager will work in close collaboration with the Treasury and trade finance teams in the Geneva/Portugal Headquarters. Collaborate and work closely with the regional CFO and finance team, Legal and compliance as well as the traders to understand the business and drive/help find ways to reduce the working capital of the region.

Responsibilities:

Treasury processes:

• In charge of implementing the global Group Treasury processes in the three South African entities as well as any new SSA country, including but not limited to:
• Ensuring that the Delegation of Authority and Signing Patterns are in place with all banks.
• Ensuring that the proper internal approvals are in place and aligned with the Delegation of Authority and Signing Patterns and that the approval processes are strictly adhered to.

Banking Relationships:

• In charge of the banking relationships for the SSA Region to ensure proper funding for the local entities
• Maintain the bank relationship with our existing banks as well as develop new relationships with potential banks. This includes preparing documentation, doing KYC, coordinating required signatures, setting up internet banking, bank accounts etc.
• Have a full overview of our bank balances, inflows and outflows, and bank account structure with the existing banks.
• Negotiation of lines in close collaboration with the Global Financing Team, Legal and Tax to ensure compliance with COFCO requirements in relations with facility structures and covenants
• Coordination with the Head office for the issuance of the Parent Company guarantees.
• Preparation of reporting to banks and central banks (wherever needed)
• Management of the accounts and the signers ensuring that the signers are in line with the global group delegation of Authority.
• Set-up of off-balance sheet structures to reduce the working capital of the entities
• Finding banks for special projects or sensitive destinations

Cash Management:

• Manage the payment process for the different entities ensuring that the proper payment approvals are followed.
• Review and approve payments.
• Analyse forecasts to be able to make the appropriate decisions for the Group's Funding
• Manage the intercompany loans.
• Manage local debt and borrowings and enter the loan information in the global systems of the group.
   

Reporting:

• Timely daily debt and cash reporting in the group treasury systems
• Ensure proper reporting of the debt, interest, and cash by the accounting team.
• In charge of monthly and ad-hoc reporting to the head-office treasury

Other:

• Work in close contact with the traders to better understand the region's working capital requirements and explore ways to decrease and optimize them.
• Primary contact for central bank requirements
• Liaise with the FX traders for Treasury-related hedging.
• Provide any information requested by the external auditors.
• Grow the role to new countries and entities if required.
• Address any additional reporting or requirements that may arise for the region.
• Address any manage any additional financing requirements that may arise for the region.
• Work in close contact with Global Treasury and IT to maintain and improve the treasury related systems to optimise security and efficiencies.

Key Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Accounting or a related field
• 5 years experience in a similar role/Treasury management or finance.
• High level of IT skills, especially in database understanding (Access, SharePoint, advanced Excel).
• Proficient in Treasury management systems and Financial modelling.
• Strong Knowledge of financial instruments.
• Keen on automating systems and driving efficiencies.
• Fluent in English (written and oral)
• Ability to work in a semi-manual environment that requires enhancements.