Financial Manager | Ford Kroonstad at Motus Holdings Limited

Position Overview    

• The Financial Manager will manage the financial department and maintain internal control measures to ensure that the dealership is compliant to sound financial practices and good corporate governance.
• Supporting the Dealer Principal and Financial Director in the achievement of financial objectives, identifying areas of risk and improvement, and ensuring timely and accurate reporting.
• The Financial Manager furthermore supports the Human Resources function with personnel and payroll matters at dealership level.

Specific Role Responsibilities    
Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Prepare and report financial statements to Division, H.O. and auditors (internal and external).

• Prepare and complete various weekly, monthly and annual financial statements.
•  Complete monthly management reports.
•  Compile management accounts, including budgets, cash flows, variance analysis and commentaries.
• Produce financial and management information.
• Maintain the integrity and reliability of the financial data.

Ensure that month-end cut-offs are compliant in terms of company policies.

• Manage the effective and timely provision of financial, statutory and sustainability reporting including cash flows, variance analysis and commentaries.
• Oversee accurate reconciliation of all financial records to enable verification of the validity of transactions and to take appropriate action where required.
• Prepare and complete financial budgets for the dealership in conjunction with departmental managers and other stakeholders.
• Ensure effective and efficient administration of operational costs within budget, identify areas of financial and operational risk and escalate appropriately.
• Supervise cash management activities.
• Responsible for co-signatory of payments with Dealer Principal in accordance with approved policies and procedures.
• Manage and report on progress against operational budget in liaison with Dealer Principal.

Analyse and interpret financial information:

• Complete analysis of financial data to understand and compare business results; interpret and analyse financial data to draw conclusions and trends from the financial analysis.
•  Complete profit and loss analysis.
• Complete and update daily cash flow statement to establish working capital requirements.
•  Assist in the preparation and timely filing of all internal accounting and financial reports for governmental and regulatory bodies.
• Accurately calculate and process VAT, provisional tax etc.
•  Establish and monitor internal controls.

Implement corporate governance and compliance policies and processes to identify and manage risks and expose liabilities.

• Manage and control the administration and financial processes within the dealership.
• Conduct reconciliation of vehicles, parts, service assets, verify against accounting records and address all anomalies with senior line management.
• Manage supplier and customer relationships; ensuring effective debtors and creditors processes are in place and adhered to.
• Identify opportunities to minimize cost and increase revenue.
• Manage the security of all assets within direct control, i.e. cash, fixed assets, in line with approved policies, processes and procedures.
• Attract, retain, appraise and train, coach and develop finance and administration team members.

Important to Note: Financial Managers within Motus Ford Mazda Division assume the Human Resources function in the dealership, working closely with the Human Resources Manager on employee-related matters and practices. This includes, but is not limited to: -

• Implementation and management of personnel and payroll policies, processes and procedures at dealership level, responsible for all payroll input for the dealership;
• Administration and onboarding of new engagements, employee movements and management of terminations;
• Workforce planning and management of the headcount budget and dealership structure;
• Coordination of recruitment, training/ learning and development, performance management, reward and recognition activities for the dealership;
• Independently handling employee relations matters to ensure an optimal working environment, obtaining assistance from HR as and when necessary.
• Management of employee personnel records for dealership staff.

Qualifications and Experience    
Experience Required:

• 5+ years' accounting/ financial management experience in a similar environment, of which at least 2-3 years' in a team lead/ management role.
• Relevant experience in the automotive industry.

Minimum Qualification/s Required:

• BComm degree with Accounting NQF7+.
• Recognised Management/ Leadership Diploma or Certificate – desired.

Other Requirements:

• Valid, unendorsed driver’s license and the ability to competently and legitimately drive.
• Computer literate; highly proficient in Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint and Word.
• A working knowledge of the NCA, CPA, FICA and other legislation and frameworks relevant to the retail motor industry.
• Knowledge and ability to use relevant DMS functions (Automate).

Skills and Personal Attributes    
Skills and Expertise Required:

• Communication: Able to communicate professionally at multiple levels in a professional, diplomatic, polite and rational manner even when under pressure.
• Interpersonal competence; effective at working with people.
• Financial Management and Performance Reporting
• Financial and commercial acumen/ thinking.
• Financial and Accounting Control
• Sound knowledge and understanding of financial, accounting and tax concepts, financial statements, trial balance, financial record keeping process etc.
• Analysing and reconciling financial information and data, identifying auditing discrepancies and reporting on such, ensuring root cause analysis is carried out and corrective and preventive measures are implemented.
• Planning and organising
• Problem-solving and judgement skills.
• Decision making and action orientated.
• Conflict resolution
• Impact and Influencing
• People Management and Development skills, including effective delegation ability.
• Time management, including the ability to respond to and resolve queries and issues in the minimum amount of time.
• Able to work independently and under pressure.
• Improvement Orientation

Personal Attributes:

• Professional
• High level of detail and accuracy
• Energetic and self-motivated
• Resilient
• Hard working
• Deadline driven
• Systematic and methodical.
• Someone who upholds professional ethics and values.
• An independent thinker; comfortable taking a stand in the interest of good governance and isn’t easily pressured.
• Must be assertive and mature in outlook.