Finance Manager

Cromwell South Africa is looking for an experienced, commercially minded Financial Manager to lead and manage the finance function of the business.

The ideal candidate must be hands-on, accurate, disciplined, and able to operate in a fast-paced trading and distribution environment. This role requires someone who can manage the full finance function, provide meaningful financial insight, support operational decision-making, and ensure strong financial controls across the business.

This is not only an accounting role. We need someone who understands how finance supports sales, stock, cash flow, debt control, supplier management, and overall business performance.

Key Responsibilities

The Financial Manager will be responsible for:

• Financial Management & Reporting
• Prepare, review, and analyse monthly management accounts.
• Read, interpret, and report on Profit & Loss statements.
• Provide financial insight on sales, gross margin, operating costs, profitability, and working capital.
• Assist with budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning.
• Monitor business performance against budget and targets.
• Identify financial risks, cost-saving opportunities, and areas for improvement.

Debtors, Creditors & Cash Flow

• Manage the full debtors and creditors function.
• Oversee customer credit control and debt collection.
• Ensure supplier accounts are accurate and paid according to agreed terms.
• Monitor cash flow and ensure strong control over incoming and outgoing payments.
• Review overdue accounts and support escalation where required.

Payments, Banking & Forex

• Manage local and international supplier payments.
• Handle foreign exchange transactions and related documentation.
• Work with international suppliers and group companies.
• Ensure payment approvals, banking controls, and financial procedures are followed.
• Maintain accurate records for all local and foreign transactions.

Payroll & Statutory Compliance

• Manage or oversee monthly payroll processing.
• Experience with Sage Payroll or similar payroll systems would be advantageous.
• Ensure compliance with SARS requirements, PAYE, UIF, SDL, VAT, and other statutory obligations.
• Support audits, tax submissions, and statutory reporting.
• Liaise with auditors, tax consultants, banks, and external service providers.

Systems & Processes

• Work with internal company systems and reporting tools.
• Maintain accurate financial data and ensure strong internal controls.
• Improve finance processes, reporting accuracy, and operational efficiency.
• Ensure finance procedures are documented and followed consistently.

Business & Operational Support

• Partner with operations, sales, procurement, and management to support business decisions.
• Provide financial insight into stock, margins, supplier performance, and working capital.
• Support inventory-related analysis, including stock holding, slow-moving stock, and cost impact.
• Supply chain, distribution, or inventory management experience would be highly advantageous.

Minimum Requirements

• Proven experience as a Financial Manager, Senior Accountant, or similar finance leadership role.
• Strong understanding of full finance function, including management accounts, P&Ls, balance sheet, cash flow, debtors, creditors, payroll, and statutory compliance.
• Experience managing debt control, supplier payments, and month-end reporting.
• Experience with Sage Payroll or similar payroll platforms.
• Strong Excel and financial reporting skills.
• Experience with international payments and foreign exchange transactions.
• Strong understanding of South African tax and statutory requirements.
• Ability to work with internal ERP or finance systems.
• High level of accuracy, confidentiality, and accountability.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work across departments.

Advantageous Experience

• Experience in a distribution, wholesale, industrial, tools, MRO, or supply chain environment.
• Knowledge of inventory, stock management, landed cost, and supplier costings.
• Experience working with international group companies.
• Experience dealing with imports, forex, and overseas supplier payments.
• Relevant finance qualification such as BCom Accounting, Financial Management, SAIPA, SAICA, CIMA, or similar.

Key Competencies

The successful candidate must be:

• Commercially aware and business-minded.
• Strong on detail and deadlines.
• Able to challenge numbers and identify risks.
• Confident in managing financial controls.
• Comfortable working with multiple departments.
• Proactive, reliable, and solution-driven.
• Able to communicate financial information clearly to non-finance managers.
• Strong enough to manage pressure, deadlines, and accountability.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• We are looking for someone who does more than process numbers. The ideal candidate will understand the story behind the numbers and help the business make better decisions.
• They must be able to manage the day-to-day finance function while also supporting the leadership team with accurate reporting, cash flow visibility, cost control, and commercial insight.
• Experience in a trading, distribution, or supply chain environment will be a strong advantage. About Cromwell

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Cromwell has been around for over 50 years, supplying an unrivalled choice of cutting tools, power tools, hand tools and safety equipment into all industries, professions and trades. We offer next day delivery or collection from our nationwide branch network, supported by an overnight UK logistics operation. Our team of over 1500 people are proud to be keeping industry working.

We’re all individuals, yet we’re very much one united team. We treat everyone fairly – regardless of gender, sexual orientation, background, age or disability – and give everyone opportunities for new and varied experiences. Inclusion means not just accepting people for who they are, but showing respect and making adjustments to help people and remove all barriers; it’s about creating a culture where everyone is respected, empowered and able to realise their full potential.

Cromwell is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates, regardless of their race, gender, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age. We are also committed to offering applicants from the armed forces community (current and past) an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role.

Information for Recruitment Agencies

We always prefer to recruit candidates direct to our business and first, and foremost believe in promoting talent from within whenever possible.

We do not accept speculative approaches including CVs and candidate profiles sent direct to Managers, by receipt of any such email or correspondence, we do not agree to terms and conditions. Any speculative CVs will be considered our own and we will not pay any agency fees.

We have a PSL and those on this will have access to our portal to accept CVs. Should you want to be considered for our PSL, please email [email protected]

Location South Africa Unit 5 & 6 Pelican Park, Malcolm Moodie Crescent, Jet Park 1469, Johannesburg, South Africa

• Location: South Africa
• Working Hours per week: 39
• Contract Type: Permanent - Full Time

Meet the recruiter

Rob Brookes

[email protected]

Group Personal Pension

Company Funded Healthcare

Bonus Scheme

Cycle to Work

24/7 Wellbeing Support

Free Tea & Coffee

Discounted Cromwell Products

Retail & Leisure Discount Scheme