Financial Controller

Financial Controller | Nutraceutical & Consumer Health | Hands-On Operational Finance Leadership | Hybrid

• Location:

  Cape Town, Western Cape ( hybrid : office Monday, Wednesday and Friday, home Tuesday and Thursday)

• Compensation: R65,000 to R75,000 gross per month, depending on experience, plus a structured performance-based annual incentive

• Reports to: Chief Financial Officer

• Requirements: Approximately 4+ years of relevant Financial Controller or financial accounting experience, including significant manufactured inventory. BCom Accounting, BCom Financial Accounting or equivalent preferred

Sataya is representing a growing South African health and wellness business that develops, markets and distributes nutraceutical and complementary health products . It sells through retail, wholesale, e-commerce and international channels, and operates across multiple entities and currencies, including a UK entity.

The business is looking for an experienced, hands-on Financial Controller to own the day-to-day operational finance function, lead a small finance team and work closely with the CFO . This is not a purely reporting or management role. The right person will get into the detail, own the numbers, spot issues early and bring practical solutions to the CFO rather than just flagging problems.

Experience in a business carrying significant manufactured inventory is a key requirement. The successful candidate needs to be comfortable with inventory accounting, COGS, stock movements, adjustments, write-offs, returns, stock counts and reconciliations.

Key Responsibilities

1) Financial Accounting & Month-End

• Own the month-end close and consistently meet agreed deadlines
• Ensure financial transactions are recorded accurately and on time
• Review the general ledger, income statement and balance sheet
• Prepare or review journals, accruals and provisions
• Ensure balance sheet accounts are fully reconciled and supported
• Investigate discrepancies and unusual movements rather than simply reporting them
• Prepare the numbers and analysis that support the CFO's monthly management reporting

2) Banking, Cash & Working Capital

• Review monthly reconciliations for foreign currency and local South African bank accounts
• Review weekly payment schedules for accuracy and supporting documentation
• Prepare and maintain rolling monthly cash-flow forecasts covering debtor receipts, creditor payments, inventory purchases and foreign currency flows
• Update forecasts for actuals and known commitments, and flag potential shortfalls or funding requirements early
• Oversee debtors and creditors, including ageing, collections, reconciliations, supplier statements and disputes

3) Inventory & Cost Accounting

• Own the financial side of inventory accounting and reconciliation
• Review stock movements, COGS, adjustments, write-offs and returns
• Make sure inventory is accurately reflected in the financial records, and that stock issues are identified and resolved promptly

4) VAT, Statutory & External Advisers

• Prepare or review VAT information and reconciliations for the South African and UK entities
• Ensure statutory submissions are accurate and completed on time
• Liaise with external accountants, tax advisers and auditors as required
• Support audit and independent review requirements

5) Sales Commissions

• Calculate sales representative commissions
• Validate calculations against sales reports and approved commission structures

6) Systems, Controls & Process Improvement

• Maintain the financial integrity and accuracy of Sage Intacct
• Investigate and resolve accounting and system issues
• Ensure transactions from third-party platforms are recorded accurately
• Identify practical ways to simplify, improve and automate finance processes

7) Finance Team Leadership

• Manage and support the finance team, allocating responsibilities and monitoring deadlines
• Provide guidance, coaching and training, with regular performance check-ins
• Stay close enough to the detail to step in where required, while keeping processing accurate and timely

Ideal Candidate Profile

Essential

• Strong Financial Controller or financial accounting background, with approximately 4+ years of relevant experience (depth and relevance matter more than years alone)
• Proven month-end close and balance sheet control experience
• Strong inventory accounting experience in a business carrying significant manufactured stock, including COGS, stock adjustments, write-offs, returns and reconciliations
• Cash-flow forecasting and working capital management experience
• Experience managing or supervising junior finance staff
• A sound understanding of debtors, creditors, VAT and banking
• A high level of ownership, accuracy and attention to detail

Strongly Preferred

• Sage Intacct experience
• Multi-currency and multi-entity accounting
• Background in FMCG, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, food, consumer products or wholesale and distribution
• Retail, wholesale or e-commerce exposure
• Power BI or similar reporting tools

Qualification

• BCom Accounting, BCom Financial Accounting or equivalent preferred. Practical, commercial and operational capability matters more than qualifications alone

Personal Style

• Takes ownership without waiting to be told, and can be trusted to meet deadlines without being chased
• Challenges numbers that don't make sense and investigates properly before escalating
• Brings recommendations and practical solutions, not just problems
• Has strong professional integrity and is comfortable communicating difficult information
• Understands that stock is a core finance responsibility as well as an operational one
• Is commercially curious about what's selling, where margins are moving and why
• Works independently, manages competing deadlines and flexes when month-end, audit or other peak periods require it
• Communicates clearly with non-finance colleagues and handles difficult conversations professionally
• Can lead a small team while staying hands-on and involved in the detail

Why Our Client

• A growing health and wellness business with retail, wholesale, e-commerce and international channels
• A genuinely hands-on role with ownership of the operational finance function and direct access to the CFO
• Multi-entity and multi-currency exposure, including a UK entity
• A structured performance incentive linked to financial control, reporting, inventory control, working capital and process improvement, with final payout mechanics to be confirmed
• Hybrid working, with a structured handover from the outgoing Financial Controller

This represents a confidential search conducted on behalf of our client. Further details will be shared with shortlisted candidates only.