Finance Manager

LED Lighting SA is a proudly South African lighting manufacturer at the forefront of LED technology. For around 20 years we have designed and manufactured high-performance lighting for the retail, architectural, commercial, industrial and rail sectors from our factory in Paarden Eiland.

We are looking for a hands-on Finance Manager who leads from the front. This is a player-manager role: you will prepare the management accounts yourself, run the annual audit and B-BBEE verification, keep the business compliant and well financed, and at the same time lead, coach and upskill a small finance team.

If you would rather walk the factory floor to find out why a number moved than wait for someone to explain it, and you get real satisfaction from building a team that gets better every month, this role is for you.

What you will do:

• Prepare the monthly management accounts and board pack yourself, on a tight reporting calendar, with signed reconciliations behind every number.
• Own the year-end close and the annual external audit, and prepare the annual financial statements under IFRS for SMEs.
• Own the annual B-BBEE verification and keep the scorecard on track throughout the year.
• Manage tax and statutory compliance: VAT, PAYE and EMP501, provisional and income tax, SDL, UIF and COIDA.
• Run a 13-week rolling cash flow and manage banking relationships, treasury, trade finance and foreign exchange.
• Own product costing, stock valuation and margin analysis, and be on the factory floor for stock counts, variance investigations and problem-solving with Operations.
• Lead credit control, debtors and creditors through your team.
• Prepare the annual budget and quarterly reforecasts, and support pricing, tenders and business cases.
• Build strong financial controls: delegation of authority, segregation of duties and written procedures.
• Lead, coach and upskill a team of four: development plans, monthly training, cross-cover and clear standards.
• Help the wider business read and use its numbers.
• Embrace automation, Power BI and AI tools to cut manual work.

What you bring:

• A professional accounting designation (CA(SA), CIMA, SAIPA or ACCA) with a relevant BCom degree.
• At least 8 years’ finance experience after qualifying or completing articles, including at least 3 years leading a finance team.
• Manufacturing experience is essential: bills of materials, standard costing, WIP and inventory valuation.
• A track record of preparing management accounts end to end, drafting annual financial statements and leading an external audit.
• Hands-on experience managing a B-BBEE verification.
• Sound working knowledge of South African tax.
• Genuine ERP fluency (Microsoft Dynamics NAV or Business Central preferred; Syspro, Sage X3, SAP or equivalent accepted) and advanced Excel. Power BI is a plus.
• Advantageous: Construction, Factory or project, contract or rail-sector accounting; lighting or electronics manufacturing; ERP migration experience.

Key attributes:

• Hands-on and self-starting
• A natural teacher and coach
• Commercially sharp, with a feel for cost and margin
• Proactive and solution-focused
• Clear, direct communicator at every level
• High integrity and discretion
• Calm and accurate under deadline pressure
• As comfortable on the factory floor as in the boardroom

Why LED Lighting SA:

• A seat at the leadership table, reporting directly to the CEO.
• A real manufacturing business with retail, commercial and rail customers, where finance shapes decisions.
• The opportunity to build the finance function and develop the team around you.
• A seat at a fast paced 100+ growing company.

All our recruitment is done in line with our company AA/EE requirements. LED Lighting SA is an equal opportunity employer who promotes and applies the principles of employment equity.

Kindly note: If we do not contact you within 30 days of submitting your application, we have proceeded with other candidates. We appreciate your interest in joining LED Lighting SA and encourage you to apply for future opportunities that match your skills and experience.

Job Type: Full-time

Application Question(s):

• What is your notice period?
• What is your current cost to company?
• What is your desired cost to company?

Education:

• Bachelors (Required)

Experience:

• Manufacturing: 8 years (Required)

Work Location: In person