Finance Controller - Sub-Saharan Africa – Deputy General Manager (DGM) - International Finance Department - International Business Unit - Johannesburg

Job Description Job Title Deputy General Manager – Finance Controller, Sub-Saharan Africa Location: Johannesburg, South Africa Company: Kirloskar Trading SA (Pty) Ltd. (Regional Office of Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltd. for Sub-Saharan Africa) Position Overview Kirloskar Trading SA (Pty) Ltd. is seeking an experienced, commercially driven and strategic Finance Controller to lead the Finance function for its Sub-Saharan Africa operations. The incumbent will be responsible for providing financial leadership, ensuring robust financial controls, statutory compliance, business partnering, treasury management, budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting and governance across the region. The role will support the Regional Director – Africa in driving sustainable business growth, profitability and operational excellence while ensuring compliance with local regulations and Kirloskar Group policies. Reporting functionally to the Corporate Finance team at Head Office and administratively to the Regional Director – Africa, the Finance Controller will play a key leadership role in strengthening the finance function and supporting the company's expansion across Sub-Saharan Africa. Key Responsibilities Strategic Finance & Business Controlling Lead the Finance and Controlling function for the Sub-Saharan Africa business. Partner with Regional Business Heads to drive financial performance and profitability. Develop financial strategies aligned with business objectives and Annual Operating Plan (AOP). Provide financial insights and commercial recommendations to support strategic decision-making. Drive continuous improvement initiatives in financial processes and business performance. Support new business opportunities, investments and expansion projects through financial evaluation and business case analysis. Financial Planning, Budgeting & Reporting Lead the preparation of Annual Budgets, Quarterly Forecasts and Long-Term Financial Plans. Monitor actual performance against budgets and analyse key financial variances. Prepare monthly Management Accounts, MIS reports and financial dashboards. Present monthly business performance reviews to Regional Management and Head Office. Develop profitability analysis by product, customer, country and business segment. Ensure timely and accurate submission of all financial reports to Head Office. Financial Accounting Oversee end-to-end accounting operations including General Ledger, Trial Balance and Financial Statements. Ensure timely month-end, quarter-end and year-end closing. Review reconciliations for bank accounts, debtors, creditors, inventory and inter-company transactions. Ensure compliance with IFRS, Company Policies and Group Accounting Standards. Maintain proper accounting records and documentation. Treasury & Working Capital Management Manage regional cash flow planning and liquidity requirements. Monitor receivables, payables and inventory to optimise working capital. Oversee banking operations, foreign exchange transactions and treasury activities. Develop cash flow forecasts and recommend actions to improve cash conversion. Maintain strong banking relationships and negotiate banking facilities where required. Taxation & Statutory Compliance Ensure compliance with South African taxation laws and statutory regulations. Review VAT, PAYE, Income Tax and other statutory submissions. Liaise with SARS, auditors, tax consultants and regulatory authorities. Monitor changes in tax legislation and implement necessary compliance measures. Support transfer pricing documentation and inter-company compliance where applicable. Audit, Risk & Governance Coordinate internal and external audits from planning through completion. Implement audit recommendations and strengthen internal control systems. Identify financial risks and implement appropriate mitigation measures. Ensure compliance with Group Internal Audit requirements and Corporate Governance standards. Maintain robust financial control processes across the organisation. Payroll & Administration Review payroll processing and statutory deductions. Ensure payroll compliance with labour legislation. Oversee finance-related administration including insurance, licences and statutory registrations. Support office administration from a financial governance perspective. Head Office Coordination Act as the primary finance interface between Africa operations and Kirloskar Head Office. Coordinate financial reporting, consolidation and management presentations. Support Regional Director and Corporate Finance teams with financial analysis and strategic projects. Ensure timely implementation of Head Office finance initiatives and policies. Leadership & People Management Lead, mentor and develop the Finance & Accounts team. Build a high-performance finance organisation through coaching and continuous improvement. Establish performance objectives and monitor team development. Promote a culture of accountability, integrity and collaboration. Qualifications Bachelor's Degree in Commerce, Accounting or Finance. MBA (Finance) will be an added advantage. Professional qualification such as CA(SA), CIMA, ACCA, SAIPA, AGA(SA) or equivalent will be preferred. Experience Minimum 10–12 years of progressive experience in Finance, Accounting and Financial Controlling. Minimum 4–5 years in a Finance Leadership or Managerial position. Experience working in a multinational organisation or regional business environment. Exposure to Sub-Saharan Africa operations will be a strong advantage. Strong experience in budgeting, forecasting, treasury management, taxation, audits and financial reporting. Experience using ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, Xero or equivalent finance systems. Skills & Competencies Strategic Financial Management Financial Controlling & Business Partnering Budgeting & Forecasting Treasury & Cash Flow Management IFRS & Financial Reporting Taxation & Statutory Compliance Internal Controls & Corporate Governance Financial Analysis & Business Performance Management Working Capital Management Risk Management Stakeholder Management Leadership & Team Development Advanced Microsoft Excel, Power BI and Microsoft Office Strong analytical, communication and presentation skills High integrity with excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Timely completion of monthly, quarterly and annual financial reporting. Accuracy and compliance of financial statements. Budget and forecast accuracy. Improvement in EBITDA and profitability. Effective working capital and cash flow management. Zero statutory non-compliance or regulatory penalties. Successful completion of internal and external audits. Continuous improvement in finance processes and internal controls. Timely submission of Head Office reports. Finance support towards achieving Regional AOP and business growth objectives. Additional Requirements Willingness to travel within Sub-Saharan Africa as required. Valid South African work authorisation or citizenship. Ability to work effectively in a multicultural and fast-paced business environment. High ethical standards, professionalism and confidentiality. Strong commercial acumen with a proactive, hands-on and solution-oriented approach.