This role involves providing consolidated financial management, analysis and operational support to the Finance Executive: Timber across the Timber division and its underlying businesses. Responsibilities include coordinating budgeting and forecasting, managing cash flow, preparing management reports, controlling costs and working capital, providing technical accounting support, ensuring compliance, and continuously improving financial systems and controls. The role requires strong analytical and technical capabilities, with the ability to translate financial information into practical recommendations to support management decision-making.
Responsibilities and Duties
Prepare, maintain and consolidate short-, medium- and long-term cash flow forecasts for the Timber division and its underlying businesses, aligned with operational plans, budgets, known commitments and measurable cost and volume drivers
Monitor actual cash flows against forecast, investigate material variances and provide timely explanations and corrective recommendations to the Finance Executive: Timber
Assess the reliability and accuracy of the assumptions, cost drivers and operational inputs used in cash flow forecasts, and refine the forecast methodology where variances or trends indicate that adjustments are required
Support cash flow improvement through disciplined working capital management, including focused monitoring of inventory, debtors and creditors
Monitor debtor ageing with the finance department, escalate collection risks and support agreed recovery actions
Support the Finance Executive: Timber with liquidity planning, funding requirements and the prioritisation of payments and capital commitments
Support ERP implementation, financial data clean-up, system testing and the improvement of finance processes and reporting functionality
Maintain sound working knowledge of the division's financial systems and assist users in applying consistent controls, data standards and reporting processes
Support the Finance Executive: Timber with the consolidation, review and monitoring of financial plans and budgets for the Timber division
Ensure that key cost, volume and budget drivers are clearly defined, measurable and reported monthly for the consolidated Timber division. Investigate significant deviations and coordinate corrective actions with the relevant Timber Financial Managers
Coordinate the financial evaluation and monitoring of capital expenditure across the Timber division, including business-case review, affordability and cash flow assessment, approval compliance, post-investment review and escalation of material cost or timing variances to the Finance Executive: Timber
Coordinate and consolidate forecasts for review and approval by the Finance Executive: Timber
Monitor and analyses financial performance against budget and forecast, highlighting variances, risks and recommended actions
Support the finance teams across the Timber division and promote consistent financial processes, controls, assumptions and reporting practices across the underlying businesses
Monitor inventory controls and working capital indicators, and recommend actions to reduce stockouts, excess stock, obsolescence and unnecessary carrying costs
Support the Timber finance teams with the implementation and monitoring of cost-control measures that improve efficiency and profitability while maintaining operational and quality requirements
Ensure consistent and accurate inventory costing across the relevant Timber businesses, including the appropriate allocation of direct costs and production overheads
Ensure the consistent and accurate costing of inventory across the relevant Timber businesses
Review the consolidated monthly financial statements, management reports and supporting analyses for the Timber division, and provide clear insight into financial performance, trends, risks and opportunities
Provide support on technical accounting and IFRS requirements, and promote consistent accounting treatment across the Timber finance teams in accordance with IFRS and Group Finance policies and guidance
Coordinate the identification, monitoring and escalation of material financial, control, tax and compliance risks across the Timber division. Support the implementation of agreed remedial actions and provide the Finance Executive: Timber with consolidated visibility of significant exposures, overdue actions and recurring control weaknesses
Continuously improve the integrity, accuracy, relevance and timeliness of financial reporting, and escalate significant matters to the Finance Executive: Timber
Support the Finance Executive: Timber and Group Insurance in maintaining adequate insurance cover for divisional assets and ensuring that relevant asset information is complete and current
Work closely with the Finance Executive: Timber, Timber Financial Managers, Group Finance and other internal departments to streamline financial processes, improve information flow and support consistent reporting requirements
Provide additional financial reporting, analysis and related support as reasonably required by the Finance Executive: Timber or senior management
Coordinate and support the Timber Financial Managers to achieve consistent divisional deadlines, reporting standards and control requirements, without replacing their accountability for the financial management of their respective businesses
Promote knowledge sharing, technical development and standardisation across the Timber finance teams, and identify opportunities to simplify or automate recurring finance processes
Qualifications and Skills
Bachelor's degree in Finance or Accounting
CA(SA)
Master's degree (advantageous)
3-5 years' of proven financial management experience, preferably within the agriculture, forestry, timber or manufacturing sectors
3-5 years' of leadership or team-coordination experience
Previous experience in financial reporting, cash flow management and forecasting, budgeting, working capital, inventory, cost control and capital expenditure management
Advanced knowledge of financial management, IFRS, tax and relevant legislation
Strong verbal and written communication skills
Bilingual (Afrikaans and English)
Advanced Excel and financial modelling skills; experience with ERP and business intelligence reporting tools
Strong consolidation, analytical, problem-solving and review skills
Ability to influence and coordinate across multiple businesses and finance teams in a supportive, non-duplicative role
Ability to manage competing deadlines and deliver accurate information in a time-sensitive environment
Sound understanding of forestry, timber, and manufacturing (advantageous)