FINANCIAL CONTROLLER

The Financial Controller will oversee the existing finance team. The Senior Finance & Reporting Accountant will continue to manage routine accounting, statutory reporting and external audit coordination, while the Junior Accountant will handle daily bookkeeping and transaction processing. The Financial Controller will provide independent review, control, challenge and final oversight of their work.

Key Responsibilities

1. Financial Reporting and Control

• Lead the monthly, quarterly and annual financial closing process.
• Review management accounts, reconciliation, journal entries and supporting schedules prepared by the finance team.
• Ensure financial reports are accurate, complete and submitted within agreed deadlines.
• Present financial performance, material variances, risks and recommendations to the Managing Director and Board.
• Maintain the integrity of the general ledger and ensure compliance with IFRS and Goldenpot's accounting policies.

2. Cash-Flow and Treasury Management

• Prepare and maintain weekly and monthly cash-flow forecasts.
• Monitor daily cash positions, receivables, payables and upcoming financial obligations.
• Recommend payment priorities based on approved budgets, operational requirements and available cash.
• Review bank reconciliation and investigate long-outstanding or unusual transactions.
• Ensure bank payments, collections and petty cash are supported, authorised and properly recorded.

3. Budgeting and Performance Management

• Lead the annual budgeting process and prepare periodic forecasts.
• Monitor performance against approved budgets and investigate significant variances.
• Work with department heads to improve cost discipline and accountability.
• Provide practical financial analysis to support pricing, investment, production and operational decisions.

4. Product Costing, Inventory and Profitability

• Maintain accurate costing models for all products.
• Analyse gross margins and profitability by product, customer, route and distribution channel.
• Review raw-material, packaging, production and finished-goods variances.
• Oversee regular reconciliation of physical stock, production records and ERP balances.
• Monitor wastage, damaged stock, slow-moving stock and products approaching expiry.
• Recommend corrective actions to improve margins, pricing and production efficiency.

5. Internal Controls and Risk Management

• Develop, implement and enforce finance policies, approval procedures and segregation of duties.
• Ensure no employee can prepare, approve and release the same transaction.
• Review payments, procurement documentation, credit notes, journals and financial adjustments.
• Identify control weaknesses, fraud risks and financial irregularities and ensure corrective action is taken.
• Conduct control reviews across Finance, Sales, Procurement, Stores, Production and Logistics.
• Escalate serious financial risks or irregularities directly to the Managing Director.

6. Tax, Audit and Regulatory Compliance

• Review tax and statutory returns before submission and ensure all obligations are met on time.
• Ensure compliance with TRA, NSSF, WCF and other applicable authorities.
• Oversee external audits and review all schedules and information submitted by the finance team.
• Track audit findings and ensure agreed actions are implemented within the required timelines.
• Ensure compliance with investor, lender and grant reporting requirements.

7. Team Leadership and Systems

• Supervise, coach and evaluate the Senior Finance & Reporting Accountant and Junior Accountant.
• Set clear reporting responsibilities, deadlines and quality standards.
• Ensure the finance team's work follows a clear prepare-review-approve process.
• Strengthen the use of the company's accounting and ERP systems and improve integration with sales, inventory, production and procurement records.
• Promote a culture of integrity, confidentiality, accountability and continuous improvement.

Authority and Accountability

• May challenge or stop transactions that lack proper documentation, budget provision or approval.
• Reviews and recommends payments in line with the company's approved authorisation matrix.
• Has access to all financial and operational records reasonably required to perform the role.
• Must not prepare and approve the same transaction or release bank payments outside approved mandates.
• Is accountable for the accuracy, completeness and integrity of the company's financial reporting and control environment.

Requirements

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Commerce or a related field.
• CPA(T), ACCA or an equivalent professional qualification is required.
• At least seven years of relevant finance experience, including a minimum of three years in a financial control or supervisory role.
• Strong experience in management reporting, budgeting, cash-flow management, internal controls and statutory compliance.
• Experience in manufacturing, FMCG, food processing or distribution is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of product costing, inventory management and production accounting.
• Strong knowledge of IFRS and Tanzanian tax and regulatory requirements.
• Advanced Excel skills and practical experience with accounting or ERP systems.
• Experience reporting to Boards, investors, lenders or development-finance partners is an advantage.

Key Competencies

• High integrity, professional independence and sound judgement.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Commercial understanding and the ability to translate numbers into clear business actions.
• Confidence to challenge unsupported transactions or decisions professionally.
• Strong leadership, communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Proactive, accountable and able to meet strict deadlines.

Key Performance Indicators

• Accurate and timely monthly management accounts.
• Reliable cash-flow forecasts, budgets and variance reports.
• Reduction in unexplained stock, cash and production variances.
• Accurate product costing and profitability reporting.
• Improved receivables, payables and working-capital management.
• Timely tax and statutory compliance without avoidable penalties.
• Successful external audits and timely closure of audit findings.
• Consistent compliance with financial, payment and approval procedures.