Our client, a newly established avocado oil processing plant, is seeking a highly proactive and hands-on Senior Accountant to lead and oversee their financial operations. The Senior Accountant will serve as the right-hand person to the Factory Manager, overseeing comprehensive accounting functions from the sourcing of avocados through processing to the final product. This role is pivotal in ensuring financial accuracy, integrity, and compliance, providing strategic financial insights to support decision-making; leaving no detail unchecked or unresolved.
Key Responsibilities:
- Financial Reporting and Analysis:
- Prepare financial reports, including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements, leading bank reconciliations, meticulously verifying bank interests, commissions, and supplier payments, and maintaining precision in financial transactions.
- Reconcile and analyze financial information and summarize financial status, providing insights.
- Lead the development and implementation of financial workflows tailored to the unique needs of the avocado processing plant.
- Prepare and maintain detailed cash flow forecasts to support operational and strategic decision-making.
- Track and reconcile sales revenue, customer payments, and accounts receivable to ensure timely collections.
- Working capital management:
- Collaborate with senior management to optimize working capital management, contributing to financial stability.
- Monitor and control costs, expenses, and budgets, identifying areas of overspending and recommending corrective actions.
- Establish cost accounting systems to capture production costs accurately, including raw materials, labor, and overheads.
- Manage accounts payable and vendor relationships, ensuring efficient payment cycles and leveraging credit terms.
- Inventory and Cost Management:
- Monitor and manage daily inventory movements, ensuring accuracy in raw materials, packaging, and finished goods.
- Collaborate with the production team to set up financial checkpoints in the supply chain, ensuring cost efficiency.
- Work closely with operations to optimize stock levels and reduce wastage, including setting up inventory tracking systems.
- Analyze production variances and provide recommendations for cost-saving measures.
- Develop and implement robust stock reconciliation processes, identifying and resolving discrepancies promptly.
- Budgeting and Forecasting:
- Works closely with department heads and business units to develop annual budgets and performance targets.
- Maintain budgets, forecasts, and financial models to support strategic planning by managing cash flow, audit reporting, asset management, and logistics to improve overall financial performance and operational efficiency.
- Internal Controls and Compliance:
- Develop and implement internal controls to safeguard assets and mitigate risk.
- Ensure compliance with accounting principles, standards, and regulations.
- Redesigns duties and responsibilities in alignment with SOPs to enhance internal control processes and minimize financial risks
- Oversee the preparation and submission of statutory reports, including tax filings (VAT, income tax, excise duty) and regulatory compliance.
- Financial Reporting:
- Utilizes ERP and MS Excel for financial data analysis, and timely report preparation enhancing financial transparency and accuracy.
- Prepare detailed presentations for management and investors, including KPIs and trend analyses to provide actionable insights to the leadership team.
- Provide hands-on support to operational teams, bridging financial insights with business operations.
- Train and mentor junior accounting staff to build a strong finance team capable of handling complex tasks.
- Drive the setup and maintenance of accounting and ERP systems to automate inventory, production, and financial data.
Requirements
- A minimum of 5 years of accounting experience, ideally within manufacturing (fresh produce), FMCG, or startup environments.
- A Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field is required, complemented by professional certifications such as CPA-K or ACCA.
- Proven expertise in inventory control, stock reconciliation, and cost accounting is essential.
- Demonstrated experience working with suppliers, partners, or stakeholders from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.
- Advanced proficiency in accounting systems such as QuickBooks, SAP, or similar ERP platforms.
- Familiarity with procurement, inventory management, or logistics, particularly in industries serving international markets, is an advantage.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills are crucial, with the ability to develop practical and actionable solutions.
- Exceptional ability to multitask and thrive in a fast-paced, startup environment.
- Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, with a track record of effective collaboration across teams and C-suite.