Debtors Manager

Job Title:Debtors Manager (Accounts Receivable & Credit Control)

Department:Finance & Commercial Operations

Reporting To: Financial Director

Direct Reports:Credit Controllers, Debtors Clerks, Accounts Receivable Assistants

Location:Tongaat Head Office (KwaZulu-Natal)

Seniority Level:Mid-Senior Management (Finance Authority)

Salary : R12 000 CTC

1. POSITION PURPOSE

The Debtors Manager is responsible for leading the accounts receivable and credit control function for Frimax Foods, ensuring the accurate billing and timely collection of outstanding debts across major retail groups, pharmacy debtors, and independent wholesale accounts.

This role is highly critical to maintaining the organization's cash flow stability. In the fast-paced FMCG sector, the Debtors Manager must expertly navigate complex retail claims-including short payments, promotional rebates, and markdowns-while utilizing the SYSPRO ERP system to manage aging reports, mitigate financial risks, and lead a dedicated team of credit controllers.

2. KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS (KPAs) & RESPONSIBILITIES

KPA 1: Accounts Receivable & Cash Flow Management

· Full Debtors Function: Manage the end-to-end debtors cycle, ensuring accurate and timeous processing of customer invoices, credit notes, and statements.

· Collection Strategy: Define the debtors collection strategy, continually monitoring daily aging reports and driving proactive collection initiatives to maximize company cash flow.

· Receipt Allocation: Oversee the receipt allocation process, ensuring timely resolution of unallocated cash and recurring payment exceptions through targeted root-cause analysis.

KPA 2: Retailer Claims & Deductions (FMCG Specific):

· Complex Account Management: Handle high-volume, complex retailer accounts including Pick n Pay, Shoprite, SPAR, and major buying groups.

· Dispute Resolution: Investigate, reconcile, and resolve customer account queries related to chargebacks, pricing differences, delivery shortages, markdowns, and promotional deductions.

· Cross-Functional Liaison: Work closely with the Sales, Logistics, and Merchandising teams to resolve disputes efficiently and streamline the billing process.

KPA 3: Credit Risk & Compliance

· Risk Assessments: Conduct thorough credit checks and risk assessments for prospective and existing customers, analyzing trade references and creditworthiness.

· Credit Limits: Review and approve credit applications, manage credit limits, and strictly enforce trading terms as per company policy.

· Legal & NCA Compliance: Ensure full compliance with the National Credit Act (NCA). Advise on legal actions for defaulting customers and escalate overdue accounts/risks to the Head of Finance when necessary.

KPA 4: SYSPRO System Management & Reporting

· Month-End Close: Own and review debtor reconciliations, balancing accounts receivable to the General Ledger (GL) during the month-end close cycle.

· ERP Data Management: Ensure accurate customer master data is created and maintained within the SYSPRO ERP system, ensuring compliance with internal audit controls.

· Financial Reporting: Prepare and present detailed weekly and monthly reports, including debtor aging analysis, cash flow projections, and bad debt provision summaries.

KPA 5: Team Leadership & Mentorship

· Staff Management: Provide leadership, guidance, and motivation to the accounts receivable team, setting clear objectives aligned with the finance department's broader goals.

· Performance Tracking: Encourage performance, train junior staff on query resolution protocols, and conduct regular credit limit review meetings with the credit controllers.

3. ROLE REQUIREMENTS & COMPETENCIES

· Education: A completed Degree or National Diploma in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field (CA/CIMA qualifications are advantageous).

· Experience: Minimum of 5 years of experience in an Accounts Receivable, Credit Control, or Debtors role, with at least 2-3 years spent managing a team. Experience specifically within the FMCG or Wholesale Distribution sector is essential.

· System Expertise: Advanced proficiency in SYSPRO (or a similar Tier-1 ERP system) and excellent Microsoft Excel skills (VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables) are mandatory.

· Core Competencies: Outstanding analytical and problem-solving skills, excellent negotiation and conflict-resolution abilities, high integrity, and a strict attention to detail.

Pay: R12 000,00 per month

Work Location: In person