Background information about the job or company (e.g., role context, company overview)

HAIL & COTTON, a leading global tobacco leaf merchant, are currently recruiting for their Zambia Operations. The following positions are vacant.

The purpose of this position involves managing and reconciling all financial transactions related to tobacco leaf procurement, processing, inventory valuation, and sales. The role ensures accurate costing, reporting, and financial controls for leaf operations, supporting both Finance and Leaf Operations teams. This includes monitoring farmer payments, contract reconciliations, stock valuation, yield analysis, and ensuring compliance with accounting standards and company policies.

Responsibilities or duties

1. Leaf Procurement Accounting

• Record and reconcile all tobacco leaf purchases, including farmer payments, contract settlements, advances, and deductions.
• Verify accuracy of receiving reports, scale tickets, bale weights, and quality grades before processing payments.
• Monitor contract ceilings and ensure farmers are paid according to agreed schedules and pricing structures.
• Reconcile procurement cost components (handling, transport, commissions, levies).

2. Inventory & Stock Management

• Maintain accurate leaf inventory records across all phases: receiving, grading, processing, storage, and dispatch.
• Reconcile physical stock counts with system records, investigating and resolving variances.
• Perform daily, weekly, and monthly inventory valuations.
• Track leaf movements between warehouses and processes (re‑drying, blending, processing).
• Monitor stock losses, shrinkage, and quality adjustments and post appropriate accounting entries.

3. Costing, Analysis & Reporting

• Calculate cost of leaf per grade, per farmer, per intake point, and per season.
• Analyze yields, processing losses, grade outturns, and compare against budget or standard costs.
• Prepare financial reports for leaf operations, including cost summaries, production variances, and stock positions.
• Support budgeting and forecasting for leaf procurement and processing costs.

4. Sales & Dispatch Accounting

• Record all leaf dispatches to local customers or export markets according to invoices and delivery notes.
• Reconcile dispatches, customer pricing, and revenue recognition.
• Monitor freight, insurance, export charges, and other logistics cost allocations.
• Prepare dispatch variance analyses and margin reports.

5. Compliance & Audit Support

• Update stock movements in the ERP/WMS system.
• Support cycle counts and monthly inventory reconciliations.
• Investigate stock variances related to shipping or receiving.

6. Systems & Process Management

• Maintain accurate data in ERP systems related to leaf procurement, inventory, and costing.
• Work closely with operations staff to ensure timely and accurate data capture.
• Identify and recommend process improvements to enhance financial accuracy and efficiency.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

• Diploma or Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.
• Professional qualification or part‑qualification (ACCA, CIMA, ZICA) is a strong advantage.
• Training in agricultural or manufacturing cost accounting is desirable.

Experience needed

• 3–5 years’ accounting experience, preferably in tobacco leaf, agriculture, FMCG, or manufacturing.
• Experience in cost accounting, inventory management, or procurement finance.
• Strong understanding of commodity accounting and agricultural supply chains.
• Experience with ERP systems (SAP, Sage, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, etc.).

Competencies and Skills

d. Technical Competencies

• Strong knowledge of cost accounting and inventory valuation.
• Understanding of tobacco leaf processes (grading, moisture, outturns, bale classifications).
• High proficiency in MS Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, data analysis).
• Ability to analyze financial data and generate actionable insights.
• Strong understanding of IFRS and internal control frameworks.

e. Behavioral Competencies

• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to work under pressure, especially during peak leaf seasons.
• Strong communication and relationship‑management abilities.
• Integrity, accountability, and confidentiality in handling financial data.

Any other provided details (e.g., benefits, work environment, team info, or additional notes)

Interested applicants that meet the criteria and reside within the mentioned localities (Chipata, Mkushi, Lusaka and Kabwe) are highly encouraged to apply.

• Record and reconcile all tobacco leaf purchases, including farmer payments, contract settlements, advances, and deductions.
• Verify accuracy of receiving reports, scale tickets, bale weights, and quality grades before processing payments.
• Monitor contract ceilings and ensure farmers are paid according to agreed schedules and pricing structures.
• Reconcile procurement cost components (handling, transport, commissions, levies).
• Maintain accurate leaf inventory records across all phases: receiving, grading, processing, storage, and dispatch.
• Reconcile physical stock counts with system records, investigating and resolving variances.
• Perform daily, weekly, and monthly inventory valuations.
• Track leaf movements between warehouses and processes (re‑drying, blending, processing).
• Monitor stock losses, shrinkage, and quality adjustments and post appropriate accounting entries.
• Calculate cost of leaf per grade, per farmer, per intake point, and per season.
• Analyze yields, processing losses, grade outturns, and compare against budget or standard costs.
• Prepare financial reports for leaf operations, including cost summaries, production variances, and stock positions.
• Support budgeting and forecasting for leaf procurement and processing costs.
• Record all leaf dispatches to local customers or export markets according to invoices and delivery notes.
• Reconcile dispatches, customer pricing, and revenue recognition.
• Monitor freight, insurance, export charges, and other logistics cost allocations.
• Prepare dispatch variance analyses and margin reports.
• Update stock movements in the ERP/WMS system.
• Support cycle counts and monthly inventory reconciliations.
• Investigate stock variances related to shipping or receiving.
• Maintain accurate data in ERP systems related to leaf procurement, inventory, and costing.
• Work closely with operations staff to ensure timely and accurate data capture.
• Identify and recommend process improvements to enhance financial accuracy and efficiency.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Strong knowledge of cost accounting and inventory valuation.
• Understanding of tobacco leaf processes (grading, moisture, outturns, bale classifications).
• High proficiency in MS Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, data analysis).
• Ability to analyze financial data and generate actionable insights.
• Strong understanding of IFRS and internal control frameworks.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to work under pressure, especially during peak leaf seasons.
• Strong communication and relationship‑management abilities.
• Integrity, accountability, and confidentiality in handling financial data.

• Diploma or Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.
• Professional qualification or part‑qualification (ACCA, CIMA, ZICA) is a strong advantage.
• Training in agricultural or manufacturing cost accounting is desirable.