Westfalia Fruit is a leading multinational supplier of fresh fruit and related value-added products to global markets. Through our vertically-integrated supply chain we grow, source, ripen, pack, process and market quality avocadoes & fresh produce – 365 days a year & across the globe.
With the largest avocado-growing footprint in the world, we are recognised as the leading avocado experts and considered as the supplier of choice to both retail & wholesale customers whom we serve from sales offices in the UK, Europe, North America, Latin America & Southern Africa.
Westfalia Fruit Products, situated in Africa Region has a vacancy for a suitably qualified and experienced: Chief Financial Officer.
Requirements
Purpose of the role:
Responsible for full finance function including IT Financial Systems, Risk Management and Compliance.
The region has operations in South Africa, Mozambique, Mauritius, Kenya and Bukina Faso.
Responsibilities include new business expansion such as Merges, Acquisitions, Joint Ventures and companies with a large focus on Africa expansion.
Overall responsibility of leading and managing the following functions: Financial Control, Tax, Treasury, Insurance, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Internal Controls and Continuous Improvement, budgeting, forecasting, capital investment decisions and borrowings, with a strong focus on people.
Provide efficient and qualitative financial services using different levers (competencies, expert capabilities, efficient processes/systems) within the African region. Operations include farming, packhouse, nursery production and sales, avocado and nut product manufacture and sales, marketing and pooling of fresh fruit for internal and external farms.
The position is part of the Africa Leadership Team who are responsible for the implementation of Group objectives, setting Africa Regions strategy and implementation of projects to achieve bit Group and Regionals targets.
Key Responsibilities:
Financial reporting
- Supervises the collection of annual budget data and 5-year strategy information from departmental managers and coordinates the data into departmental budgets for the annual financial, capital and cash flow budgets.
- Supervises the production of monthly financial accounts, compares with budgets.
- Supervises and controls monthly capital expenditure against budgets.
- Reports on weekly Cash Flow.
- Responsible for review of the consolidated Africa Balance Sheet, Income Cash Flow and Capital Expenditure.
- Maintain forex exposure in line with Company Policy.
- Supervises, develops, implements and controls company account procedures including the capture, presentation and processing of relevant statistics.
- Ensures that all financial and administrative systems, relevant to his/her responsibility, comply with legislation and company audit requirements. Ensures adherence to all systems and maintains these up to date.
- Development and implementation of "Risk Management" policies and procedures
- Ensure that statutory obligations under the auspices of financial management are prepared and maintained, including but not limited to, statutory financials, tax returns and calculations, etc.
Operational Management
- Serves on various management committees and Board of Directors.
- Manages the recording of capital expenditure into the company asset register and ensures the reconciliation of such assets to main ledger.
- Manages the collection of data regarding insurance claims, submission of claims and ensures payment thereof.
- Manages hedging process.
- Manages lease, hire purchase and suspensive sale agreements and payment thereof.
IT Management
- Manages and is responsible for the day-to-day functioning of the Financial System.
- Investigates, recommends and introduces improvements.
- Investigates and corrects problems regarding computer data and printouts
- Implementation of Group IT strategy and assisting with the development thereof
Management and Development
- Timeous and accurate reporting to ensure effective and efficient operation of the Finance Department
- Enhance staff retention and identify trends to reduce staff turnover.
- Conduct monthly one on one with team members
- Coach and mentor Finance Team
- In collaboration with Human Resources create succession plans to ensure medium to long term talent requirements are catered for.
- Manage team development by providing role clarity, allowing skills diversity, performance managing and developing them appropriately
- Support and manage BBBEE initiatives i.e., employment equity, succession etc.
Strategic Development
- Management of all aspects relating to cash flow
- Financial evaluation of strategic projects
- General profitability analysis of products by product, customer and region
- Ongoing development of non-financial staff with financial information / detail
Education:
- Minimum of a relevant tertiary qualification (CA) NQF level 7 minimum
Experience
- At least 5 years’ experience in financial management on management level responsible for more than one operation
- Management experience/ability within a results-driven industrial environment
- Experience/ability to manage employees in line with relevant employment legislations.
- Experience/ability to understand and act upon financial issues of a high budget business.
- Experience working on financial ERP systems
- AX experience preferable
- Knowledge of the Agriculture industry and related products would be advantageous
- Willingness to travel
- Advanced levels of computer literacy in complete MS Office suite
Behavioural competencies
- Advanced levels of computer literacy in complete MS Office suite
- Influencing and persuasive skills
- Person must be fully literate in the English language and be able to represent both himself and the business at all levels
- Ability to prepare accurate reports and presentations and the self-confidence to communicate this work to various levels of the business
- Mentoring ability
- Person of integrity, passion for work, excellence, and success
- Results driven team player
- Competent to assess situations and can make decisions
- Ability to work under constant pressure
- Self-starter and ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Analytical problem-solving ability
- Attention to detail
Benefits
The Company offers a Total Guaranteed Remuneration Package, which comprises a provident fund, insured benefits, medical aid, and an option to structure an annual bonus.
Closing date for applications will be 11 July 2025
NB: Should you not receive correspondence 31 July 2025, please regard your application as being unsuccessful.
