Western Cape: Regional Finance Director EMEA posted by Equate Recruitment

• Full ownership of the P&L across all countries, including revenue, gross margin, operating expenses, and EBITDA delivery
• Drive revenue growth, margin expansion, and cost discipline across the region
• Establish clear accountability for financial performance and ensure delivery against plan
• Lead performance reviews, analyse variances, and drive corrective actions

 
Working Capital & Cash Flow

• Own and improve working capital performance, including accounts receivable, inventory, and cash conversion cycle
• Partner with commercial, operations, and supply chain teams to optimize cash flow and capital efficiency
• Drive discipline in collections, inventory management, and cash forecasting

 
Business Partnership & Commercial Support

• Serve as the primary finance partner to the Commercial Director and leadership team
• Provide strategic financial guidance on pricing, commercial initiatives, and growth opportunities
• Act as a trusted advisor while constructively challenging decisions to ensure value creation and financial rigor
• Support and influence key decisions related to customer profitability, deal structuring, and investment priorities

 
FP&A & Strategic Planning

• Lead the regional planning process, including budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning
• Deliver actionable insights on performance, risks, and opportunities
• Ensure alignment between regional plans and global financial and strategic objectives 

 
Leadership & Strategy

• Bring a strong financial lens to strategic initiatives and operational decisions
• Support M&A Capital Appropriation process by providing sound investment analysis including  NPV, IRR, Payback and ROI.

 
Governance & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with local statutory, tax, and regulatory requirements across all EMEA countries
• Partner with global finance functions (Accounting, Tax, Treasury, FP&A) to ensure accurate reporting and controls
• Maintain strong financial governance and internal controls across the region

 
Requirements:

• Degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field (MBA or CPA/CMA preferred)
• 10+ years of progressive finance experience, with at least 5 years in a senior business partnering role
• Experience supporting a divisional or regional P&L
• Strong commercial finance / FP&A background (not purely reporting-focused)
• Significant experience within FMCG and/or manufacturing environments
• Strong track record in cost accounting, including standard costing, variance analysis, and overhead allocation
• Experience within complex B2B and supply chain-driven organisations
• Exposure to multi-country, multi-entity regional structures (EMEA experience advantageous)
• ERP experience (SAP or similar) preferred

 
Technical Competencies:

• Advanced financial modelling and analytical capability
• Deep understanding of pricing, margins, and customer profitability
• Strong expertise in manufacturing and FMCG cost structures and operational finance
• Ability to interpret complex operational and financial data and translate into business insights