Background

Zambia Sugar PLC is an ABF Group sugar company and is the leading sugar producer in Zambia. Its main activities are the growing of sugar cane, the production and marketing of sugar and other sugar downstream products.Labor & Employment Law

The Company invites applications from suitably qualified and experienced persons to fill the following positions in the Finance Department to be based at Nakambala.

Key Responsibilities

• Business partnering at a section level with section heads, providing detailed analysis of cost breakdown, querying all cost drivers and ensuring the basis of analysis against forecast/budget parameters.
• Accountable for all deliverables with minimal or no supervision.
• Conduct budget/forecast review processes, including detailed analysis of the reasonableness of production-related numbers and review of cost drivers in relation to their impact on cost.
• Provide and analyze daily production reports showing performance against daily targets to give business performance outlook against monthly targets.
• Work closely with the Financial Analyst to provide insightful input and commentary on the income statement monthly.
• Provide accurate, timely and insightful financial reporting in a standardized format done quarterly (estimates) and annually (budget).
• Coordinate and facilitate strong financial performance through detailed business analytics and insights, focusing on the highest costs, their associated drivers and establishing KPIs that closely measure business performance against them.
• Work with the business partner to prepare the budget, five-year plans and estimates for the business function up to the approval process. Distribute budget worksheets and relevant information and prepare budget schedules.
• Provide support to the person compiling and presenting budgets and capital submissions.
• Conduct monthly meetings with relevant budget holders, promote cost control and provide outlook for the end of the year.
• Analyze, challenge and process first-level budget and forecast inputs from sectional heads.
• Analyze and review phasing of all budgets versus actual expenditure and assist budget holders with queries.
• Liaise with budget holders with regards to estimates and other changes and ensure major variances are investigated and support appropriate corrective actions to get back on track.
• Review and improve score cards and related processes.
• Engage in regular internal and external benchmarking.
• Participate in relevant meetings (i.e., monthly customer meetings, cost meetings for departments) as required.
• Customer and Stakeholder Accountabilities
• Develop and maintain favorable stakeholder relationships with all stakeholders.
• Manage strategic discussions with business partners (internal customers) and other business teams to make sure that their needs are met, and key pain-points are addressed.
• Form a close working relationship with the Financial Analyst to finalize the historic reporting within the required timeframes.
• Formulate and manage Service Level Agreements with required stakeholders.
• People and Leadership Accountabilities
• Update goals, regularly track performance against these and have frequent discussions (one-on-ones) with the business partner.
• Document your Individual Development Plan and discuss your training needs with your manager.
• Skill and knowledge sharing: Support and guide team members in compliance with Group processes, policies and procedures and with continuing professional education/keeping abreast of latest technical skills.
• Embrace self-development and lifelong learning to stimulate continuous personal growth.
• Promote and adhere to Illovo’s procedures, policies and guidelines, including, without limitation, those relating to Safety, Health, Environment, Risk, & Quality, Competition Law and Anti-Bribery and Corruption (ABC).

Minimum Requirements

• Grade 12 Certificate (or Equivalent).
• Bachelor’s Degree in Accountancy / Business Administration / Equivalent. Added advantage ACCA, CIMA, CA Zambia.
• Must be a member of the Zambia Institute for Chartered Accountants (ZICA).
• Preferably 3–5 years’ experience in management / cost accounting environment.
• Experience in SAP system will be an added advantage.
• Suitably qualified applicants must provide certificates which have been verified by the Zambia Qualifications Authority (ZAQA).

• Business partnering at a section level with section heads, providing detailed analysis of cost breakdown, querying all cost drivers and ensuring the basis of analysis against forecast/budget parameters.
• Accountable for all deliverables with minimal or no supervision.
• Conduct budget/forecast review processes, including detailed analysis of the reasonableness of production-related numbers and review of cost drivers in relation to their impact on cost.
• Provide and analyze daily production reports showing performance against daily targets to give business performance outlook against monthly targets.
• Work closely with the Financial Analyst to provide insightful input and commentary on the income statement monthly.
• Provide accurate, timely and insightful financial reporting in a standardized format done quarterly (estimates) and annually (budget).
• Coordinate and facilitate strong financial performance through detailed business analytics and insights, focusing on the highest costs, their associated drivers and establishing KPIs that closely measure business performance against them.
• Work with the business partner to prepare the budget, five-year plans and estimates for the business function up to the approval process. Distribute budget worksheets and relevant information and prepare budget schedules.
• Provide support to the person compiling and presenting budgets and capital submissions.
• Conduct monthly meetings with relevant budget holders, promote cost control and provide outlook for the end of the year.
• Analyze, challenge and process first-level budget and forecast inputs from sectional heads.
• Analyze and review phasing of all budgets versus actual expenditure and assist budget holders with queries.
• Liaise with budget holders with regards to estimates and other changes and ensure major variances are investigated and support appropriate corrective actions to get back on track.
• Review and improve score cards and related processes.
• Engage in regular internal and external benchmarking.
• Participate in relevant meetings (i.e., monthly customer meetings, cost meetings for departments) as required.
• Develop and maintain favorable stakeholder relationships with all stakeholders.
• Manage strategic discussions with business partners (internal customers) and other business teams to make sure that their needs are met, and key pain-points are addressed.
• Form a close working relationship with the Financial Analyst to finalize the historic reporting within the required timeframes.
• Formulate and manage Service Level Agreements with required stakeholders.
• Update goals, regularly track performance against these and have frequent discussions (one-on-ones) with the business partner.
• Document your Individual Development Plan and discuss your training needs with your manager.
• Skill and knowledge sharing: Support and guide team members in compliance with Group processes, policies and procedures and with continuing professional education/keeping abreast of latest technical skills.
• Embrace self-development and lifelong learning to stimulate continuous personal growth.
• Promote and adhere to Illovo’s procedures, policies and guidelines, including, without limitation, those relating to Safety, Health, Environment, Risk, & Quality, Competition Law and Anti-Bribery and Corruption (ABC).

• Cost breakdown analysis
• Budgeting and forecasting
• Financial reporting
• Business analytics
• KPI development
• Stakeholder relationship management
• SAP system experience (advantageous)
• Cost control
• Benchmarking
• SAP

• Grade 12 Certificate (or Equivalent)
• Bachelor’s Degree in Accountancy / Business Administration / Equivalent
• ACCA, CIMA, CA Zambia (added advantage)
• Membership of the Zambia Institute for Chartered Accountants (ZICA)
• Certificates verified by the Zambia Qualifications Authority (ZAQA)