Head of Finance - Retail at Bridgestone South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Position Description
Job Purpose

• We are looking for a Head of Finance to manage all financial tasks of our Retail Business and ensure we use capital and resources optimally. This role will ultimately be responsible for maintaining the business ‘s financial health and increasing profitability in the long run.
• The Head of Finance will support the Retail MD in achieving our Company’s targets, always ensuring that all relevant financial requirements are fulfilled in a timely manner and in compliance with Southern Africa legal/tax regulations, as well as Bridgestone Group guidelines and regulations..

Reporting Line

• Managing Director Retail Business
• CFO Southern Africa

Responsibilities

• Act as key partner of the Retail Managing Director in the achievement of the Company’s mid term plan target, strategy and policy.
• Identify sources of financial risks, cost and profit opportunities and closely cooperate with other non-financial directors / managers to develop and implement appropriate business priorities and actions.
• Responsible for the coordination, production and reporting of the Actual, Budget and Mid Term Plan financial results to the Managing Director and the Executive Team
• Perform analysis, provide explanation of variances and make relevant recommendations supporting Top Management for effective decision making, always aiming to achieve Company’s objectives.
• OPEX, monitor and actively working with the different functions to manage spending in line with the company performance
• Ensure that the Company’s level of risk exposure taken towards the customer’s portfolio, managed by the Credit Dept., remains well balanced and under control in order to achieve targets.
• Ensure credit reviews are performed and payment plans are in place and executed.
• Supervise and ensure that all activities performed in the Finance department are done in compliance with legal & tax requirements in all the countries in Southern Africa within Retail as well as Group requirements procedures.
• Establish internal control procedures and ensure that administrative, accounting, credit and financial procedures and policy standards are respected and maintained over time.
• Full ownership and management of the indirect procurement process including the team
• Support internal-external Audit and JSOX activities.
• Ensure that all regulations and requirement for the Retail legal entity is met with regards to financial and tax laws.
• Organizational design, responsible for the implementation of the most effective finance organization, optimizing use of resources in line with overall company strategy.
• People management, responsible for the management of the finance team which includes but is not limited to talent development, coaching, as well as teambuilding and motivation.
• Statutory responsibilities and Corporate governance: Board member of Retail SA. Manage Audit Risk committee commitments. Balance Sheet Integrity, Solvency and local country compliance is key.
• A finance professional who is a reliable professional with broad knowledge to all accounting, financial and business principles and concepts.
• Support senior stakeholders on all business reviews, manage budgets across multiple departments/divisions and forecast future needs using a long-term planning process to make informed decisions that improve company performance.

Qualifications And Experience

• CA (SA)
• Majors in Finance, Economics and Accounting
• Degree Level Expected – University Degree
• Team management, experience in a matrix organization is preferred
• Level: Top Management
• Length: > 10 years
• Industry: Retail, as a Finance Business Partner
• Function: Finance

Specific Behaviours

• Strong Positive Leadership, Entrepreneurship
• Strong communication skills - Ability to think strategically, while also being practical and hands-on;
• Open minded; flexible with good customer focus and commercial acumen
• Analytical skills, precise, rigorous
• Ability to plan, organize and meet deadlines;
• Act as Business Partner
• Cross Functional Team (CFT) approach
• Strong IT skills and deep knowledge of ERP system, Reporting tools and Office – Excel-Access-Powerpoint advanced level