Financial Controller

The Role JOB PURPOSE:

The purpose of the Financial Controller role is to develop, analyse and manage branch-level Profit and Loss reporting across branches and divisions, providing accurate financial insight on revenue, expenses, volume movements and operational performance. The role partners with Branch Managers monthly to interpret financial results, identify patterns, risks and optimisation opportunities, and support improved branch profitability, cost control and data-driven decision-making.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop, maintain and review monthly branch-level Profit and Loss statements for branches, ensuring revenue, direct costs, operating expenses and margin performance are accurately reflected and understood.
• Analyse branch revenue, expenses, margins and cost drivers to determine whether financial performance is aligned to volumes, operational activity and branch targets.
• Interpret branch data to identify patterns in volume increases or decreases and assess the impact on revenue, cost absorption, productivity and profitability.
• Meet monthly with each Branch Manager to review branch P&L performance, explain variances, validate operational drivers and agree on optimisation actions.
• Support Branch Managers in identifying and implementing optimisation opportunities to improve cost efficiency, resource utilisation, margin performance and operational profitability in the following areas but not limited to:
• • Fleet costs
    • Labour costs
    • Fuel costs
    • Linehaul / transport costs

To identify:

• Cost drivers
• Margin leakage
• Inefficiencies
• Ensure financial reporting is accurate, complete and reliable through detailed review of source data, reconciliations, allocations and branch-level financial inputs.
• Identify financial and operational risks arising from declining volumes, increasing costs, margin erosion, incorrect allocations, unusual trends or non-compliance with financial controls.
• Provide branch-level financial insight to support budgeting, forecasting, target setting and financial planning activities across the logistics branch network.
• Translate financial data into clear, practical insights for non-finance stakeholders and support Branch Managers in understanding the financial impact of operational decisions.

Skills and Experience Minimum Requirements (Qualifications & Experience)

• Degree in Finance, Accounting, Management Accounting or a related field is essential. Or Newly qualified CA (SA)
• Minimum 3 to 5 years’ experience in financial analysis, management accounting or financial controlling.
• Experience within logistics, transport, courier, distribution or branch-based operational environments is essential.
• Proven experience developing and analysing Profit and Loss reports at branch, site or cost-centre level.
• Strong experience interpreting revenue, expense, margin, volume and operational performance data.

Advantageous:

• Advanced Excel, Power BI or ERP reporting experience.

Required Knowledge

• Branch-level P&L principles and management accounting practices.
• Revenue, cost, margin and profitability analysis.
• Logistics operational cost drivers including fleet, labour, linehaul, distribution and branch overheads.
• Budgeting, forecasting and variance analysis.
• Financial controls, reconciliations and reporting governance.
• Data interpretation, trend analysis and risk identification.

Required Skills

• Advanced financial analysis and interpretation skills.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to identify patterns, trends, anomalies and risks in data.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel and financial reporting capability.
• Ability to communicate financial information to non-finance stakeholders.
• Problem-solving and optimisation mindset.
• Planning, follow-up and stakeholder management skills.

Other Required Competencies

• Analytical thinking.
• Commercial and financial acumen.
• Accountability and ownership.
• Attention to detail.
• Collaboration and stakeholder influence.
• Business partnering mindset.
• Continuous improvement orientation.
• Resilience and ability to work under deadlines.

Job Reference: RTT77130