Financial Director

Indigo Brands, based in Cape Town, is a subsidiary of AVI Limited (AVI). Leaders in personal care and beauty products including female and male perfumed body sprays, roll-on deodorants, body care, face care, colour cosmetics and liquid fragrances. Well-known brands include Yardley- Bond Street, Gorgeous, Lace, English Blazer and Lenthric -Hoity Toity, Solo and Masculin. Indigos brand portfolio is strengthened via the Coty distributor agreement that includes world-renowned brands such as Rimmel, Exclamation, Adidas and Sally Hansen.

An exciting opportunity exists for a Financial Director at Indigo Brands, Cape Town. As the successful incumbent you will be responsible for leading and directing the entire finance function of the operation to facilitate delivery of the companys objectives. This includes without limitation working closely with the Executive team to optimize the commerciality of the decisions made to deliver excellence in the area of capital deployment, cost efficiency, risk management and people development. Your commercial thinking will be an imperative to deliver business intelligence, ensuring compliance, managing risk, effective reporting and management of service delivery from our Support Services

Line Manager: Managing Director

Number of Direct Reports: 3

Job Specification:
Key Performance Areas:

The effective financial management of the business unit, encompassing management of margins, operating cost and efficiency, profitability, return on assets, capital expenditure and procurement
Partnering with the Indigo and AVI executive to co-create and deliver the units objectives and strategy
Lead the reporting, forecasting, budgeting and analysis of the business unit for use by business unit management and other AVI staff
It is envisaged that the incumbent will co-ordinate and control the preparation of detailed and meaningful information on the performance of the business unit, and ensure that this information is used effectively and creates accountability for business unit employees
The interim results and year-end results processes, including the external audit process and the preparation of IFRS compliant accounting packs and annual financial statements
Financial risk management of the business unit, encompassing forex and commodity hedging, insurance, internal audit programs, credit management and inventories, including the maintenance, oversight and implementation of the companys internal control systems and GRC
Managing service delivery from AVI shared and support services including information technology, treasury, payroll, debtors and creditors
Supporting the achievement of business objectives as a key member of the executive team. This will require material contribution to the development and maintenance of a robust and dynamic finance team focused on delivering Indigos business objectives
Provide legal and secretarial oversight for all legal and corporate matters associated with Indigo

Minimum Requirements:
Experience:

Articles at one of the Top Four Audit firms will secure
At least 10 years post article experience
At least 8 years of management experience
At least 8 years proven track record running the full finance function within an FMCG environment
Minimum of 5 years commercial and operational experience outside of an audit environment
3 years in-depth experience at senior financial management level covering the core financial functions

Qualifications:

Completed CA(SA)
Other qualifications such as MBL, MBA, advantageous

Additional Requirements:

Very good knowledge of management accounting philosophies and practices
In-depth knowledge of financial accounting standards (IFRS) and best practices
SAP experience advantageous
Advanced Excel Skills
Good knowledge of procurement processes and practices
Able to integrate/coordinate financial and operational issues
Able to quickly assimilate new information and understand business issues
Effective financial management evidenced by cost efficiency, optimisation of profit and return on assets, and rigorous management of working capital and capital expenditure
Detailed and meaningful information on the performance of the business unit
Effective use of information resulting in individual accountability
AVI information requirements monthly reports, interim and annual results packs, budgets, forecasts
It is expected that the incumbent will have an affinity for commercial and operational issues and be able to interact effectively with a diverse range of people across the company

Competencies: