Current Vacancies at Ackermans

Job Description

• An exciting and challenging opportunity is available for a Financial Controller at our Support Centre in Kuilsriver.
• The successful candidate will be tasked with analyzing, reporting, and advising on operational expenditure and sales analytics, adhering to principles of good governance and sound financial practices.
• This role reports directly to our Financial Manager: Operations and is pivotal within the Operations Finance team as you play a key role in providing critical information to support management decisions.
• If you hold a CIMA qualification and have 4-5 years of accounting/finance experience in a retail environment, then this is the opportunity for you.

KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED:

• Knowledge of integration of Financial Management into the Retail discipline
• Knowledge of relevant reporting systems
• Business and commercial knowledge
• Understanding of cost elements within a retail environment
• Strategy measurement techniques (balance scorecard principles)

SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Cross functional integration skills
• Communication skills – written and verbal
• Presentation skills
• Analytical skills
• Forecasting and budgeting skills
• Financial systems management
• The ability to:
  • Problem solve
  • Manage people

EXPERIENCE:

Essential:

• 4 – 5 years accounting/finance experience in a retail environment
• 2 – 3 years management experience in finance/accounting
• Computer literacy – advanced Excel

QUALIFICATIONS:

Essential:

• Minimum BComm/Accounting Honours degree

Preferred:

• CIMA qualification

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Sales Reporting and Analytics

• Sales reporting
• Sales diagnostics

Expenditure Management

• Monthly reporting on all OPEX costs
• Approve all journals/ accruals
• Set up and manage cost reviews across Operations
• Liase with role players with regards to inputs on expenses (Finance/HR)
• Ensure reports are accurate and complete
• Regular expense forecasting and risk flagging

Incentives schemes for Operations

• Approval of payments
• Liase with role players to ensure sufficient processes in place

Budgeting for Operations

• Co-ordination of budget process
• Implement company guidelines on sales/ expenses
• Consolidation and reporting
• Monthly budgeting for stores in place (sales and expenses)

Projects Management

• Managing projects relevant to team
• Involvement in Operation projects:
  • Store visit statistics
  • Customer service statistics
  • Stock loss reporting
• Value added contribution
• Successful completion of projects

Corporate Governance

• Actively monitoring that policies are adhered to
• Assist in policy generation

Management

• Financial Management
  • Year-to-date expense is managed within budget
• Stakeholder Management/ Customer Focus
  • Internal
  • External (Includes sourcing of suppliers)
• Resourcing
  • Vacancy rate
  • Rolling annual turnover
  • Salaries managed within budget
  • Diversity benchmarks and current status is known, and realistic action plans are in place
• Performance management
  • Two discussions per employee per year within required timelines
  • Action plan for poor performance is clear, realistic and appropriately managed
• Talent Review and Succession Planning
  • Action plan for high potential talent is clear, realistic and appropriately managed
  • Action plan for retention risk is clear, realistic and appropriately managed
  • Succession plans are clear, realistic and monitored

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Job Description

We're on the lookout for a Product Promotions Specialist to drive Product Strategy of the Company to the Marketing Team, by strategically coordinating relevant product required for Marketing promotions and ensuring a cohesive look across all departments, within the agreed formats and cycle times.

Key Responsibilities: 

• To ensure cohesive styling across all departments for campaigns and present Product at marketing walk-throughs
• To ensure product strategy is briefed to marketing seasonally 
• Ensure Promo Grid aligns with product strategy 
• To coordinate through the buyers and deliver agreed/ signed-off input for the following processes:
  • Seasonal look
  • Value Messaging
  • Marketing Match Reviews
  • Internal walkthrough
  • All Marketing Assets sign-off in merch
• Merchandise lists and product samples are coordinated with the Buyers Assistants to the VM and/or Marketing teams.
• Manage the Merchandise Marketing Calendar and ensure critical path is maintained. 
•  For Editorial requests to the Marketing teams, ensure they are coordinated across all departments
• Action digital requests to the Digital team.
• To collate, coordinate & obtain sign off for the seasonal look for all departments and Buying Executive.
• To align with VM seasonally on instore product requirements and communicate new in season requirements.

Experience:

• Previous experience (at least 3-5 years) in a fashion product related role within a retail/buying/marketing environment.
• Experience working with advertising and briefing of marketing/agencies in apparel retail

Qualifications:

• A Grade 12 Certificate/Matric
• A tertiary qualification in Retail, Administration, Marketing, or Buying would be beneficial

Skills required:

• Good strategic, conceptual skills and a solid knowledge of the South African retail climate and landscape
• Strong eye for fashion with the ability to create stories of product in line with customer requirements
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to communicate ideas visually, verbally and in writing
• Proficiency in the latest Microsoft applications(Outlook, Word, PowerPoint & Excel)
• Excellent planning, organising & time management skills
• High energy level, is performance-driven and deadline-orientated
• Enthusiastic self-starter
• Strong sense of integrity
• Service-orientation
• Emotional maturity
• Sense of urgency
• Reliable

The ability to:

• be highly assertive
• be resilient and maintain high levels of drive and initiative under pressure
• positively influence others
• be resourceful
• work independently, as well as be a team player
• be proactive
• be flexible, function under pressure and adapt to change
• to keep one’s self motivated and to maintain a positive attitude and work performance in a variety of circumstances

Knowledge required:

• Knowledge of apparel product attributes: fabrics, styles, colours
• Knowledge of the retail merchandise cycle with regards to buying as well as the marketing calendar/ cycle

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JOB PURPOSE

To successfully research and interpret trends and design graphic prints in accordance with Ackermans customer requirements, keeping price and value in mind.

JOB GRADE

REPORTING STRUCTURE

Upward Reporting Relationships:

• Trend & Design Manager

EXPERIENCE & SKILLS REQUIRED

Essential:

• Minimum of 3-5 years’ experience in design: with proven experience in Apparel

SKILLS required:

• To deliver trend and brand relevant placement graphic print designs
• Create new digital designs/ print as all overs, placements or engineered prints
• Good strategic, conceptual skills and a solid knowledge of South African retail and international landscape
• Keep up to date with the latest trends in fashion and textiles, locally and internationally
• Put together trend forecasts and colour pallets for future seasons
• Put together presentation boards for designers
• Approve artwork and match Pantones
• Must have an understanding of different printing processes applicable to the apparel industry
• Ensure projects/ designs are completed on time
• Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite
• Be able to sketch technical drawings for designers will be an advantage
• Strong eye for fashion and detail with the ability to predict, analyse & monetize future retail textile and graphic print trends for local customer
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills
• All communication demonstrated in an in-depth trend knowledge coupled with a business understanding
• Strong relationship building and influencing skills
• Excellent time management, organizational and administrative skills and presentation skills
• High energy level and is performance-driven and deadline-orientated
• Creative with an eye for detail, analytical and systematic, passionate about fashion

The ability to:

• remain flexible, function under pressure and maintain a positive attitude and work performance in a variety of circumstances
• multi-task and to deal with complexities, use initiative to solve problems
• work independently, as well as be a team player, strong interpersonal skills

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

Essential:

• A Grade 12 Certificate/ Matric
• Diploma in Textile Design OR Bachelor degree in Art

JOB RELATED KNOWLEDGE

KNOWLEDGE required:

• Knowledge of the retail merchandise cycle with regards to buying
• Fabric knowledge

EXPERIENCE & SKILLS REQUIRED

Essential:

• Minimum of 3-5 years’ experience in design: with proven experience in Children’s or Baby Apparel