Shared Services Controller (Milnerton/Century City) at Ecowize Group

Description

• Ecowize is looking for a Shared Services Controller to join the Finance team in Cape Town. The Shared Services Controller will be responsible for providing strategic and operational leadership over the organization’s central treasury, accounts receivable, and accounts payable functions.
• This role ensures the effective management of cash flow, the integrity and accuracy of financial transactions, and the implementation of robust internal controls.
• In addition, the role will champion continuous improvement initiatives, focusing on system optimization, automation, and the development of standardized operating procedures (SOPs) across Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, and Treasury functions.
• By driving process efficiency and compliance, the Shared Services Controller supports the Finance Manager – Shared Services in delivering timely, reliable financial information and safeguarding company assets.
• The role is pivotal in fostering collaboration across departments, optimizing working capital, and enabling the business to achieve its financial and operational objectives.

High-level Job Objectives:

• Stakeholder focus on building relationships with key business partners
• Drive business process innovation through system enhancements, automation of repetitive tasks, and implementation of standardized workflows to improve efficiency and accuracy.
• Quality focus to ensure strong and effective financial controls to ensure safeguarding of assets and accurate reporting.
• People focus – People management of the Shared Services Team 
• Compliance focus – Responsible for management the invoice / debtors function. the purchasing / creditors function and treasury function
• Innovation Focus – Business process innovation – financial, operational, systems and automation

Key Responsibilities:

• Understanding the business
• Building relationships
• Provide sound financial and clear advice. Communicate findings to the team.
• Aid the field to understand the process and to address queries
• Effective management of the team and support to the business
• Good clear communications to the team and Operations
• Development of the individual team members and identification of high potentials
• Ensuring the Debtors function is effective and efficient
• Ensuring the Purchasing/Creditors function is effective and efficient
• Cash Book Management
• Cashflow Management
• Continuously work on improvements in financial and operations business process
• Review all business systems (finance and operations) for innovation and improvement
• Lead the improvement and implementation of SOPs for AR, AP, and Treasury processes to ensure consistency and compliance.
• Identify opportunities for automation and digital transformation within Shared Services and oversee implementation projects.
• Collaborate with IT and external vendors to optimize opportunities for automation and digitization.
• Champion change management initiatives to ensure successful adoption of new systems and processes.

Requirements

• Degree in Accounting or similar (Advantageous)
• Solid understanding and hands-on experience in managing both Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable functions
• Experience in developing and implementing SOPs for finance functions.
• Proven track record in driving automation and system improvements within Shared Services or similar environments.
• Strong project management skills with a focus on technology-driven initiatives.
• Proven experience in:
• Project Management
• HR-related matters
• Total Quality Management system
• Management and delegation of tasks
• Operations and Service delivery
• Sound knowledge of the Services or Cleaning industry
• Excellent staff management and leadership skills (essential).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Experience working with Accpac (Sage 300)

The successful incumbent must have the following skillset:

• Strong leadership abilities
• Communication skills
• Effective problem-solving capability
• Ability to multitask and manage priorities
• High level of attention to detail