CFO

Job Summary

Lead the financial planning, performance management, and strategic finance operations of the beverage business by developing the Annual Financial Budget and 3-Year Annual Operating Plan (AOP).

Partner with the Managing Director and leadership team to drive sustainable growth, profitability, operational efficiency, and shareholder value across manufacturing, distribution, sales, and supply chain operations within the beverage industry.

Ensure strong financial governance, effective risk management, compliance, and cost-efficient stewardship of company assets while supporting business expansion, product innovation, and market competitiveness.

Duties & Responsibilities

Financial Planning & Analysis

• Develop and manage the annual financial budget and long-term strategic business plans for the beverage group.
• Prepare and monitor the capital expenditure (CAPEX) plan, including investments in production lines, bottling equipment, warehousing, fleet, and distribution infrastructure.
• Forecast funding requirements and assess the impact on cash flow, working capital, and balance sheet performance.
• Develop financial analysis and business cases for major initiatives including:
  • New beverage product launches
  • Packaging innovations
  • Capacity expansion projects
  • Market expansion initiatives
  • Cost optimization programs
  • Equipment modernization and automation
• Prepare and present consolidated financial budgets, forecasts, and management reports to the Board of Directors and executive leadership team.
• Prepare Monthly Operating Statements (MOS) and KPI dashboards highlighting operational performance, profitability, cost efficiencies, and improvement opportunities.
• Deliver timely monthly financial reporting and performance analysis to shareholders and regional management teams.

Financial Control & Compliance

• Coordinate the preparation of half-year and annual statutory accounts, including external audit processes and regulatory reporting requirements.
• Ensure accurate and timely sales, inventory, and cash reconciliations in line with company SOPs.
• Oversee tax planning, VAT compliance, excise duties, import/export taxation, and regulatory requirements applicable to the beverage industry.
• Ensure the company maintains appropriate insurance coverage across manufacturing plants, warehouses, distribution fleets, and operational facilities.
• Coordinate Annual General Meetings (AGMs) and support corporate governance activities.
• Monitor legal cases, financial risks, and regulatory matters affecting the business.
• Strengthen and continuously improve internal audit policies, financial controls, and compliance procedures across all business units and regions.
• Ensure regional finance and internal audit activities comply with company policies, SOPs, and governance standards.

Cash Flow & Treasury Management

• Develop and monitor rolling cash flow forecasts to ensure sufficient liquidity for operations and growth initiatives.
• Ensure strict adherence to bank reconciliation policies and treasury controls.
• Negotiate banking facilities, working capital financing, and trade finance arrangements to support imports, raw material procurement, and capital projects.
• Ensure adequate credit lines are maintained for CAPEX projects, inventory purchases, and ongoing import payments.
• Monitor foreign exchange exposure, commodity pricing risks, and financial market fluctuations impacting the beverage business.
• Monitor accounts receivable and distributor collections to improve working capital efficiency.

Operational & Business Support

• Develop and implement systems to strengthen inventory, stock, and cash controls across production facilities, warehouses, and depots.
• Monitor compliance with internal audit recommendations and corrective action plans across all regions.
• Partner with operations, supply chain, sales, and marketing teams to improve profitability, productivity, and operational efficiency.
• Support pricing strategy reviews, margin analysis, and profitability management across beverage categories and sales channels.
• Ensure cost-effective management of manufacturing, logistics, procurement, and distribution operations.
• Build a high-performance finance team through coaching, mentoring, and performance management practices.
• Promote a culture of accountability, integrity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure compliance with company values, ethical standards, and corporate governance policies.
• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned by management.

Job Requirements

Education

• Chartered Accountant qualification (ACCA, CIMA/ACMA, CPA, or equivalent).
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related discipline from an accredited institution.
• MBA or postgraduate qualification is an advantage.

Experience

• Minimum 15 years of progressive finance experience across multiple finance functions.
• At least 5 years of experience in a CFO or senior finance leadership role within a multinational organization.
• Prior experience within the beverage, FMCG, manufacturing, or consumer goods industry is highly preferred.
• Strong experience in manufacturing finance, supply chain finance, treasury management, and commercial finance.
• Experience managing excise tax, importation processes, and distributor-based business models is advantageous.

Competencies

Leadership & Behavioral Competencies

• Strong communication and active listening skills
• High ethical standards and integrity
• Strong leadership and people management capabilities
• Ability to work effectively in culturally diverse environments
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills
• Excellent negotiation and influencing abilities
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills
• Results-oriented with strong execution capabilities
• Ability to manage ambiguity and adapt in fast-paced environments
• Strong initiative and accountability
• Collaborative team player with excellent time management skills

Technical & Functional Competencies

• Advanced business and commercial acumen
• Strong financial planning and analytical skills
• Treasury and cash flow management expertise
• Strong risk management and internal control knowledge
• Deep understanding of manufacturing and operational finance
• Knowledge of ERP systems, financial reporting tools, and advanced Excel
• Experience in inventory management, supply chain finance, and cost optimization
• Strong understanding of pricing strategies, margin management, and profitability analysis within the beverage industry

Finance Controller

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Accounting & Tax Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with all applicable local legislation, food industry regulations, statutory accounting standards, tax laws, and internal company policies.
• Maintain accurate, transparent, and complete accounting records, including appropriate accruals and deferrals related to inventory, production, and distribution activities.
• Ensure timely preparation and submission of accurate financial reports to management, stakeholders, and regulatory authorities.
• Oversee effective tax management in collaboration with tax specialists, ensuring compliance with VAT, excise duties, import/export regulations, and food-sector taxation requirements.
• Monitor changes in tax and food industry legislation, assess business impact proactively, and ensure efficient handling of all tax-related matters.

2. Internal Controls & Governance

• Ensure compliance with corporate governance standards and internal financial control guidelines.
• Develop and implement local finance policies and procedures that support ethical conduct, operational efficiency, and fair business practices.
• Establish and continuously improve an effective Internal Control System to minimize risks related to errors, inventory loss, fraud, or operational inefficiencies.
• Ensure segregation of duties and adherence to the “four-eyes principle” across finance, procurement, inventory, and supply chain operations.
• Promote a culture of integrity, transparency, accountability, and confidential reporting of misconduct.

3. Financial Controlling & Performance Management

• Ensure compliance with company controlling and reporting standards.
• Design financial reporting structures that align with operational responsibilities across production, sales, logistics, and distribution teams.
• Provide timely and meaningful financial information to budget owners through reports, dashboards, and regular review meetings.
• Improve efficiency in reporting processes to enable greater focus on analysis, business insights, and strategic decision-making.
• Lead the budgeting, forecasting, and long-term planning processes in alignment with company objectives and seasonal demand cycles.
• Support department managers during planning while challenging assumptions to ensure realistic and balanced business plans.
• Analyze financial performance, identify risks and opportunities, and recommend corrective actions where needed.
• Monitor and evaluate the cost-effectiveness of operational, marketing, and production initiatives.
• Establish monthly reporting cycles with clear analysis of variances between actual and planned performance.

4. Business Partnership & Commercial Support

• Build strong working relationships with department heads and operational teams based on collaboration, trust, and mutual accountability.
• Act as a strategic business partner by providing financial insights, profitability analysis, budgeting support, and decision-making tools.
• Support the business in improving efficiency, productivity, profitability, and cash flow management across manufacturing, procurement, and distribution activities.
• Promote cost awareness and operational efficiency through spending reviews, supplier negotiations, tender processes, and value optimization initiatives.
• Conduct return-on-investment (ROI) analysis for new product launches, promotional campaigns, equipment investments, distribution channels, and customer opportunities.
• Support negotiations with suppliers, distributors, and retail partners by providing financial analysis and commercial recommendations.
• Regularly review pricing strategies, margins, and value chains to ensure profitability while maintaining competitiveness in the food market.
• Ensure proper inventory valuation and contribute to minimizing waste, spoilage, and supply chain inefficiencies.

EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS

• University degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Professional finance qualification (e.g., ACCA, CPA, CIMA) is an advantage.

EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 8 years of relevant Finance and Controlling experience, preferably within the food, FMCG, manufacturing, or distribution industry.
• Experience with import/export processes, inventory management, and supply chain finance is advantageous.
• Experience handling VAT, excise tax, and food industry regulatory compliance is beneficial.
• Experience working with production costing and inventory controls is highly desirable.

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

• Strong knowledge of accounting principles (Local GAAP & IFRS), taxation, and financial controls.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Highly analytical with strong problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
• Ability to identify financial and operational risks quickly and recommend practical solutions.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to influence stakeholders across all levels.
• Strong business partnering mindset with the ability to translate financial data into actionable business insights.
• Advanced IT literacy, including excellent MS Excel skills and experience with ERP systems and business intelligence tools.
• Understanding of supply chain, inventory, and value chain management within the food or FMCG sector is a strong advantage.
• Self-motivated, adaptable, and capable of working effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple priorities under pressure.