Durban: Financial Manager – Agri Commodities Essential posted by Helen Wilson Recruitment

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Financial Manager to join our team in Durban, responsible for overseeing financial reporting, commodity trading finance, inventory management, and more.

Key Responsibilities

• Own monthly, quarterly, and annual close; prepare trial balance, management accounts, variance analyses, cash flow statements, and Board packs by agreed deadlines.
• Ensure compliance with IFRS for SMEs or IFRS (as applicable), Companies Act, group accounting policies, and transfer pricing protocols.
• Daily P&L and position reporting; reconcile front-office (trading) positions to back-office/GL; ensure transparent mark to market and valuation of physicals, futures, and options.
• Oversee SAFEX/JSE hedging back-office: trade capture, confirmations, margin calls/variations, position and limit monitoring, and broker reconciliations.
• Approve average cost/standard cost methodologies; validate shrinkage, moisture, quality claims, and demurrage/dispatch impacts.
• Coordinate daily stock reconciliations, independent confirmations (silo statements), and discrepancy resolution.
• Manage daily cash, overdrafts, trade finance (LCs, documentary collections), and covenant compliance; forecast short-/medium-term cash flows.
• Oversee FX exposure (imports, exports, USD/ZAR, cross-currency) and hedging (forwards/options) aligned to risk policy; ensure back-to-back coverage where applicable.
• VAT: Ensure correct tax codes for complex commodity flows (imports/exports/zero-rating, agency/principal, drop shipments), reconcile VAT 201s, and manage submissions/refunds.
• Customs & Excise: Validate tariff codes, valuation, duties/levies; ensure compliant import/export documentation (commercial invoices, packing lists, BL/AWB, SAD500).
• Age debtors and creditors; drive collections and cash application discipline; resolve pricing and quality disputes quickly with trading/logistics.
• Enhance data quality, automation, and reporting (Power BI); implement process standardization and RPA opportunities where beneficial.
• Own the ERP finance modules and integrations with CTRMs if applicable.

Requirements

• Relevant financial and accounting qualification with three years completed SAIPA/SAICA articles.
• Experience: 35+ years in Agri commodity trading essential.
• Exposure to SAFEX/JSE, FX, and trade finance essential.
• Strong knowledge of IFRS/IFRS for SMEs, VAT (imports/exports/zero-rating), SARB exchange control, customs, and Companies Act.
• Demonstrated ability to drive system enhancements and automation.
• Excellent presentation, communication skills and time management skills.

Qualifications

• Formal education/certifications.