Fractional Cfo / Consulting Cfo (manufacturing & Cost Accounting)

Role Overview

Africa Firm is seeking a highly experienced Fractional CFO / Consulting CFO to provide strategic financial leadership across its manufacturing and production businesses. The role will focus on cost accounting, production finance, cash flow management, profitability improvement, ERP optimisation, and financial governance. The successful candidate will work closely with CEOs, General Managers, and operational teams to drive sustainable growth, operational excellence, and value creation.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Finance & CFO Advisory

• Serve as a strategic finance partner to leadership teams across manufacturing businesses.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and financial planning.
• Advise on profitability improvement, working capital optimisation, and capital allocation.
• Support fundraising, banking relationships, and investor reporting where required.

Cost Accounting & Manufacturing Finance

• Design and oversee standard costing and production costing frameworks.
• Conduct variance analysis on labour, materials, overheads, and production efficiency.
• Develop pricing, margin, and profitability models.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities across manufacturing operations and supply chains.

Inventory & Working Capital Management

• Oversee inventory valuation, stock controls, and reconciliation processes.
• Monitor inventory turnover, wastage, shrinkage, and ageing.
• Improve working capital performance and cash conversion cycles.

Performance Reporting & Decision Support

• Develop management dashboards and KPI reporting for executives.
• Provide insights on production efficiency, profitability, and operational performance.
• Evaluate capital expenditure and investment decisions through financial modelling and ROI analysis.

Systems & Governance

• Optimise ERP and reporting systems, including Odoo, SAP, Oracle, Dynamics, or similar platforms.
• Strengthen internal controls, financial processes, and governance frameworks.
• Support audits, tax compliance, and statutory reporting requirements.

Candidate Profile

Qualifications

• Chartered Accountant (CA, ACCA, CPA, ICA, or equivalent).
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or a related field.
• MBA, CFA, CMA, or equivalent postgraduate qualification is an advantage.

Experience

• 10+ years of senior finance leadership experience.
• Proven experience as a CFO, Finance Director, Consulting CFO, or senior finance executive within manufacturing, industrial, agribusiness, or production environments.
• Strong expertise in cost accounting, production finance, inventory management, and operational performance improvement.
• Experience implementing or optimising ERP systems in manufacturing settings.

Core Competencies

• Strategic thinker with strong commercial acumen.
• Deep understanding of manufacturing operations and cost drivers.
• Strong financial modelling and analytical skills.
• Proven ability to improve profitability, cash flow, and operational efficiency.
• Excellent stakeholder management and executive communication skills.
• Hands-on, results-oriented, and comfortable working in entrepreneurial environments.

Engagement Structure

• Fractional / Consulting engagement (part-time or project-based).
• Flexible arrangement with a combination of strategic advisory and hands-on execution.
• Ability to work across multiple Africa Firm portfolio companies and turnaround projects.

Preferred Industry Experience: Manufacturing, Textiles, Footwear, Agribusiness, Food Processing, Industrial Production, or FMCG.

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