Group Finance Manager / Financial Controller - Zambia

Black Pearl Consult is hiring an experienced Group Finance Manager / Financial Controller, responsible for overseeing financial management, reporting, and controls across three privately owned businesses, including a growing FMCG manufacturing operation.

The successful candidate will be based primarily within the manufacturing business and will have direct responsibility for its accounting and finance function, while also providing group-level financial oversight, reporting, and control across the other family-owned businesses.

This is a hands-on and commercially focused finance leadership role, rather than a purely bookkeeping position. The ideal candidate will be highly trustworthy, independent-minded, and confident in providing shareholders with clear and accurate visibility of the group's financial position, expenditure, controls, and financial risks.

The role will report directly to the owners/shareholders and will be responsible for providing independent and timely monthly financial reporting.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day finance and accounting function of the manufacturing business.
  
• Manage month-end closing, management accounts, financial reporting, reconciliations, and product costing.
  
• Prepare accurate and timely financial reports for the owners/shareholders.
  
• Provide group-level financial oversight across three privately owned businesses.
  
• Establish and strengthen financial controls across the group, including:
  
  • Payment approval limits
    
  • Segregation of duties
    
  • Bank reconciliations
    
  • Procurement controls
    
  • Inventory and stock verification
    
  • Expense controls
    
• Review expenditure and financial transactions and identify discrepancies, unusual transactions, control weaknesses, or potential breaches.
  
• Escalate significant financial concerns and control issues directly to the shareholders.
  
• Manage cash flow forecasting, budgeting, working capital, foreign exchange transactions, and import payments.
  
• Ensure compliance with applicable statutory requirements, including ZRA, NAPSA, and NHIMA.
  
• Coordinate and manage external audits and ensure timely resolution of audit findings.
  
• Standardise accounting procedures, financial controls, and reporting processes across the group.
  
• Develop and implement finance processes and controls where required.
  
• Work closely with operations, procurement, inventory, and management teams to improve financial visibility and cost control.
  
• Monitor manufacturing costs, inventory movements, margins, and overall financial performance.
  
• Provide commercially relevant financial analysis and recommendations to the shareholders.
  
• Ensure the integrity, accuracy, and confidentiality of financial information.
  

Requirements

• ZICA, ACCA, CIMA, or equivalent professional accounting qualification.
  
• Minimum 7 years of relevant finance and accounting experience, including experience in a Financial Controller, Finance Manager, or similar senior finance role.
  
• Strong experience in manufacturing or FMCG is highly preferred.
  
• Experience managing accounting and finance functions within a lean or growing organisation.
  
• Strong knowledge of financial controls, internal audit, compliance, budgeting, cash flow, and financial reporting.
  
• Experience with ERP/accounting systems and implementing or improving finance processes.
  
• Experience establishing financial controls and processes from the ground up is highly advantageous.
  
• Experience in internal audit, forensic accounting, fraud prevention, or financial investigations would be an advantage.
  
• Strong understanding of inventory management, procurement controls, product costing, and manufacturing finance.
  
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
  
• High level of integrity, discretion, and professional independence.
  
• Comfortable challenging irregularities, questioning transactions, and raising sensitive financial concerns with shareholders.
  
• Hands-on, proactive, and willing to work closely with the wider business rather than operating solely at a strategic level.
  
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
  
  

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