Manager - Finance

Role: Manager- Finance

Designation: Manager

Base location: Kinshasa

Reporting To: Vice President Finance

What you become a part of:

The Manager/Sr. Manager - Finance will be leading day-to-day finance and accounting operations for Shalinas business in DRC, covering financial planning, budgeting, business partnering, treasury, statutory compliance, and internal controls. The role will work closely with OU leadership and the central finance team to drive financial discipline, profitability, cash-flow efficiency, and compliance with applicable local regulations and corporate policies.

Role & responsibilities

Business Partnering & Financial Planning

• Partner with OU leadership and commercial teams to provide financial insights and support business decisions.
• Prepare and analyze budgets, forecasts, AOP, and periodic financial projections; monitor performance against plan and highlight variances.
• Recommend product pricing actions considering cost movements, foreign exchange fluctuations, profitability, and PBT performance against AOP.
• Analyze product and channel mix, discounts, customer incentives, and other commercial levers to identify opportunities for improving profitability.
• Evaluate ROI for major marketing spends, CAPEX, new shops, vehicles, and other business investments.
• Review credit limits, customer exposure, and receivables; identify underutilized limits and opportunities to support business growth while managing credit risk.
• Ensure accurate evaluation and timely posting of credit notes and customer incentives.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities and drive process improvements and automation.

Financial Reporting & Monthly Closing

• Ensure timely and accurate monthly financial closing, submission of financial statements, MIS, and closing checklists.
• Prepare and review P&L, balance sheet, cash-flow statements, and management reports.
• Conduct periodic balance sheet reviews, identify risks, and address under-provisions, excess provisions, and reconciliation issues.
• Analyze actual performance against budgets and forecasts, providing actionable insights to management.
• Track and close action items arising from management reviews.
• Ensure accurate product costing, inventory valuation, and financial reporting.

Treasury & Forex Management

• Manage daily funds, cash-flow forecasts, and working capital requirements.
• Ensure timely settlement of overseas supplier payments and forex remittances in line with approved policies and business requirements.
• Monitor foreign exchange movements and identify opportunities to optimize forex sourcing and blended exchange rates.
• Manage banking relationships, fund-based and non-fund-based facilities, and related documentation.
• Identify opportunities to reduce interest and banking costs, including negotiation of improved interest rates.
• Minimize idle funds and ensure efficient deployment of available cash.
• Drive adoption of online banking and efficient treasury processes.
• Evaluate available forex risk mitigation and hedging mechanisms in coordination with central finance.

Statutory Compliance & Audit

• Ensure timely and accurate filing of statutory returns, tax returns, annual accounts, and other regulatory submissions applicable in DRC.
• Ensure compliance with local tax laws, statutory requirements, and company policies.
• Reconcile statutory books with management accounts and investigate discrepancies.
• Review transfer pricing and intercompany transactions; coordinate with Head Office Finance on pricing recommendations and implementation.
• Manage relationships with statutory authorities, tax regulators, banks, and internal and external auditors.
• Coordinate statutory and internal audits, ensure timely submission of information, and drive closure of audit observations.
• Support appropriate tax planning while ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Internal Controls & Process Governance

• Ensure adherence to corporate finance policies, procedures, approval matrices, and internal control requirements.
• Establish and maintain effective controls across Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, procurement, inventory, and cash management.
• Ensure regular independent stock and cash audits across locations, at least quarterly, and follow up on identified discrepancies.
• Develop and implement SOPs for AP, AR, procurement, and other relevant finance processes.
• Identify segregation-of-duties gaps and implement appropriate checks and controls.
• Monitor debtor ageing, credit control, supplier reconciliations, and timely settlement of obligations.
• Ensure accurate financial records, reconciliations, and supporting documentation.

Team & Stakeholder Management

• Lead, guide, and develop the local finance and accounts team.
• Work closely with the central finance team and cross-functional stakeholders, including Commercial, Supply Chain, Procurement, and Operations.
• Promote financial awareness, accountability, and disciplined adherence to processes across the business.
• Provide timely financial updates, analysis, and recommendations to OU leadership and Head Office.

Preferred candidate profile

Education: Bachelors degree in finance, Accounting, or a related discipline; MBA in Finance or a professional accounting qualification such as CA/ICWA/ACCA or equivalent will be an advantage.

Experience:

• 15+ Years of experience as finance controller in the pharmaceutical, healthcare, FMCG, retail, or consumer goods industry preferred.
• Prior experience working in African markets is preferred.
• Significant experience in finance and accounting, including leadership responsibilities in a business or regional finance function.
• Strong experience in financial planning and analysis, budgeting, MIS, P&L management, cash-flow management, forex, costing, credit control, and statutory compliance.
• Experience working with ERP systems such as SAP or equivalent is required.
• Ability to work independently and collaborate effectively with cross-functional and multicultural teams.

Skills & Attributes

• Financial Planning, Budgeting & Forecasting
• Business Partnering & Commercial Finance
• P&L Management and Financial Analysis
• Treasury, Cash Flow & Forex Management
• Product Costing, Pricing & Profitability Analysis
• Credit Control and Working Capital Management
• Statutory Compliance, Taxation & Audit
• Internal Controls, SOPs & Risk Management
• ERP Systems and Advanced MS Excel
• Team Leadership and Stakeholder Management
• Analytical Thinking, Ownership, and Execution

Success Measures / KPIs

• Timely and accurate monthly financial closing and MIS submission.
• Budget and AOP monitoring, variance analysis, and financial performance visibility.
• Product profitability and cost optimization initiatives.
• Cash-flow efficiency, working capital management, and forex cost control.
• Timely statutory filings and closure of audit observations.
• Compliance with internal controls, policies, and approval processes.
• Timely completion of credit reviews, reconciliations, and management action items.
• Finance team effectiveness and stakeholder support.

Behavioral Competencies

• High ownership and accountability
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, cost-driven environment
• Cross-cultural collaboration skills
• Problem-solving under constraints
• Strong execution focus