Financial Accountant at Smart Partners

Salary: 500,000k Net

Role Purpose

The Financial Accountant provides strategic financial leadership across manufacturing operations, ensuring financial integrity, robust cost management, and insightful reporting to support operational efficiency and profitability. The role owns core accounting outcomes, drives cost and inventory governance, and partners with operations and executive management to enable informed decision-making.

Key Accountabilities

Financial Reporting

• Lead the preparation and review of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements in accordance with applicable accounting standards.
• Own the integrity of the general ledger, ensuring accurate postings, reconciliations, and timely month-end and year-end close.
• Establish, enforce, and continuously improve financial controls and accounting policies.
• Lead internal and external audit engagements and ensure full statutory and tax compliance.

Manufacturing Finance & Cost Leadership

• Provide end-to-end oversight of cost accounting, including standard costing, BOM reviews, variance analysis, and overhead absorption.
• Analyze production efficiency, yield, wastage, and cost drivers, providing actionable recommendations to management.
• Drive cost optimization initiatives across production, procurement, and supply chain functions.
• Own product costing, margin analysis, and profitability reporting by SKU, production line, or plant.

Inventory, Assets & Working Capital Oversight

• Provide strategic oversight of inventory valuation, controls, and reconciliation across raw materials, WIP, and finished goods.
• Lead periodic stock counts, variance investigations, and corrective action plans.
• Oversee fixed asset accounting, capital expenditure governance, and depreciation policies.
• Support working capital optimization initiatives, including inventory turnover and cash flow management.

Budgeting, Forecasting & Performance Management

• Lead annual budgeting, rolling forecasts, and long-range financial planning for manufacturing operations.
• Perform in-depth variance and trend analysis, translating financial data into executive-level insights.
• Develop and present management reports, dashboards, and financial models to support strategic and operational decisions.

Business Partnering & Leadership

• Act as a trusted finance partner to Operations, Production, Supply Chain, and Procurement leaders.
• Provide financial guidance on pricing, capacity planning, make-or-buy decisions, and capital investments.
• Mentor and provide technical oversight to junior finance and accounting staff.
• Drive continuous improvement in finance processes, systems, and reporting frameworks.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline
• Fully qualified professional accountant (ICAN, ACCA, CPA or equivalent).
• Minimum of 5–7years’ progressive finance experience, with significant exposure to manufacturing operations.
• Strong expertise in cost accounting, inventory management, and manufacturing finance models.
• Proven experience working with ERP systems in a manufacturing environment.

Core Competencies

• Strategic financial analysis and decision support
• Manufacturing operational finance
• Executive communication and stakeholder management
• People leadership and capability development