# 74650 – Midrand, Gauteng, South Africa
ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES
The Assistant Finance Controller has overall responsibility to manage the statutory and reporting financial functions for the East West Africa Region. He/She will be responsible for leading a team of 4 finance managers and 12 subsidiaries cross Sub Saharan Africa.
- Key deliverables will be ensuring on time and accurate financial data for the region in line with accounting standards and corporate deadlines.
- Oversight of external audits to ensure smooth process on time and within budget and the management of all accounting processes across the region.
DEPARTMENT’S TOP 3 OBJECTIVES:
1. On time and accurate closure of statutory books in line with internal and external accounting requirements and corporate timelines.
2. Management of accounting processes including balance sheet reconciliations, cash flow forecasting and review, intercompany balancing and working capital management.
3. Coordination and consolidation of various budget and actuals reporting and tracking for the
subsidiaries throughout the region. Proactively look for savings opportunities within the various locally
managed budgets.
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Ensure that the East/West Region finance function conforms to CFP’s, GAAP and Local Accounting standards.
- Improve profitability by proposing timely tax strategies along with VAT/Duty efficiencies.
- Review, simplify and standardize various accounting processes across the region to ensure efficiency and best practice implementation.
- Prepare for Mid Year and Budget Reviews including testing all estimates for reasonability, accuracy, achievable and also they meet company goals and ratios.
- Ensure smooth monthly, quarterly and annual closing and reporting process. Providing answers to corporate questions regarding reported numbers.
- Attend to all ad hoc information as request by the Hub and New York.
- Participate in the negotiation and approve all company contracts together with Division/Hub Legal
- Supervise Finance managers to ensure systems are in place and access is in accordance with Colgate Policies.
- Supervise Financial analysts to ensure accurate and on time reporting as well as adequate controls are in place.
- Oversight of external audits across the region to ensure timely completion within budget.
- Provide leadership and oversight of SOX process and controls for the finance department.
- Coordinate compliance with local tax requirements. Assist in training of hub/local teams to the latest tax requirement.
- Assist the Corporate Audit team in their performance of audits.
- Coordinate the implementation of corrective actions as a result of Corporate audits.
- Coordinate the month-end/quarter-end closing process. Track adherence to the closing schedule and ensure all steps are followed by all involved (locally, in-country, CBS).
- Identify methods of improving the closing process.
- Provide supervision of the corporate card usage and expense report process.
- Coordinate account reconciliations with all countries. Conduct monthly meetings and provide guidance to local teams to improve account reconciliation preparation.
LEADERSHIP/SUPERVISION:
- Management of 4 direct reports within the region and 4 local reports in South Africa
DAY-TO-DAY RESPONSIBILITIES:
PROJECT WORK (IF ANY):
- The candidate will be expected to represent finance on a number of project teams within the region. Project and progress work will make up at least 30% of the candidates time
BUDGETARY RESPONSIBILITY:
- Provide input into budget process particularly on locally managed budgets as well as balance sheets and cash flow across the region.
- Will also be responsible for coordinating and reporting on progress vs forecasts
EDUCATION AND FUNCTIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:
- Required: Master’s Degree – MAJOR: qualified accountant (Cima CA, CPA)
EXPERIENCE:
- 7 Years of Consumer Goods Industry Experience Required
- +7 Years of Functional Experience Preferred (Asset)
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:
- Required: CPA / ACCA
- Preferred (Asset): MBA / Business Administration
SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES REQUIRED
SKILLS:
- Strong communication and collaboration skills particularly will be working with direct reports in other countries
- Highly proficient MS office skills with advanced excel skills a must
- SAP / BI skills are preferred
LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES:
- Strategy/Vision Ability to understand and interpret corporate strategy and effectively deploy tasks to subordinates and cross functional resources to drive implementation.
- Leading Change: Driving efficiency, documentation and standardization across the region. Managing multiple cultural challenges
- Communicate Effectively Clear, concise and regular cross functional communication is essential in the role.
BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS
- Supply Chain
- Marketing
- Customer Development Team
Equal Opportunity Employer
Colgate is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, veteran status (United States positions), or any other characteristic protected by law.
Are you interested in working for Colgate-Palmolive? You can apply online and attach all relevant documents such as a cover letter and resume or CV. Applications received by e-mail are not considered in the selection process. Become part of our team. We look forward to your application.
Colgate-Palmolive is a leading global consumer products company, tightly focused on Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition. Colgate sells its products in over 200 countries and territories around the world under such internationally recognised brand names as Colgate, Palmolive, elmex, Tom’s of Maine, Sorriso, Speed Stick, Lady Speed Stick, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sanex, Elta MD, PCA Skin, Ajax, Axion, Fabuloso, Soupline and Suavitel, as well as Hill’s Science Diet and Hill’s Prescription Diet.
For more information about Colgate’s global business, visit the Company’s web site at http://www.colgatepalmolive.com. To learn more about Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures® oral health education program, please visit http://www.colgatebsbf.com. To learn more about Hill’s and the Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love program please visit http://www.hillspet.com. To learn more about Tom’s of Maine please visit http://www.tomsofmaine.com.
Reasonable accommodation during the application process is available for persons with disabilities. Please contact [email protected] with the subject “Accommodation Request” should you require accommodation.