Job Description

Job Title: Factory Finance Manager
Location: Midrand
Department: Finance
Reporting To: Plant Director
About the Role:
We are seeking an experienced and visionary Factory Finance Manager to lead the financial operations and strategic financial planning for our manufacturing facility in Midrand. The Factory Finance Manager will be a key member of the factory's leadership team, responsible for driving financial performance, optimizing costs, ensuring robust financial controls, and providing strategic financial guidance to achieve operational excellence and business objectives. This role requires a dynamic leader with a strong understanding of manufacturing processes, excellent analytical skills, and the ability to translate financial data into actionable business insights.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Financial Leadership:

• Serve as a strategic partner to the Plant Director and other functional leaders, providing financial insights to support operational decisions and long-term strategic planning for the factory.
• Develop and implement the factory's financial strategy, aligning it with global corporate objectives and local operational realities.
• Lead the annual budgeting, forecasting, and long-range financial planning processes for the factory, ensuring accuracy and challenging assumptions to optimize resource allocation.
• Drive financial performance by identifying opportunities for growth, cost reduction, and efficiency improvements across all factory operations.

Financial Management & Reporting:

• Oversee all financial accounting, reporting, and control activities for the factory, ensuring compliance with L'Oreal's financial policies, IFRS, and local accounting standards.
• Manage the factory's P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow, providing comprehensive analysis and commentary on financial performance to leadership.
• Develop and implement robust internal controls to safeguard assets, ensure data integrity, and mitigate financial risks.
• Prepare detailed financial reports, management presentations, and dashboards for factory leadership, corporate finance, and other stakeholders.

Cost Optimization & Operational Efficiency:

• Lead initiatives to analyze, track, and reduce production costs, overheads, and supply chain expenses.
• Implement and monitor cost accounting methodologies, including standard costing, variance analysis, and activity-based costing, to provide accurate product costing and profitability insights.
• Collaborate with operations and supply chain teams to optimize inventory levels, production efficiencies, and procurement strategies.
• Evaluate capital expenditure projects (Capex), perform ROI analysis, and manage the factory's investment portfolio to ensure optimal returns.

Business Partnering & Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Foster strong relationships with all factory departments (Production, Supply Chain, P&D, HR, Quality, Sourcing) to provide financial expertise and support their operational goals.
• Act as the primary financial liaison with corporate finance, global manufacturing finance teams, and external auditors.
• Support negotiations with vendors and suppliers, providing financial analysis to secure favorable terms.

Risk Management & Compliance:

• Identify and assess financial risks inherent in factory operations, developing and implementing mitigation strategies.
• Ensure strict adherence to all financial regulations, tax laws, internal controls and corporate governance standards.
• Manage internal and external audits, ensuring timely provision of information and resolution of audit findings.

Team Leadership & Development:

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing factory finance and IT team, fostering a culture of excellence, continuous improvement, and professional growth.
• Set clear objectives, conduct performance reviews, and support career development plans for team members.
• Promote cross-training and knowledge sharing within the finance and IT department.

Required Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field. A Master's degree (MBA) or a professional accounting qualification (e.g., CPA, ACCA, CIMA) is highly preferred.
• Experience: Minimum of 10-15 years of progressive experience in finance roles, with at least 5-7 years in a senior leadership or CFO position within a manufacturing or factory environment. Experience in the consumer goods or beauty industry is a strong plus.

Skills and Knowledge

• Technical Proficiency: Expert-level knowledge of financial modeling, budgeting, forecasting, and cost accounting. Advanced proficiency with SAP is essential. Experience with business intelligence (BI) tools and data analytics platforms.
• Financial Acumen: Deep understanding of IFRS and local GAAP, financial planning & analysis (FP&A), treasury management, and capital allocation.
• Leadership Skills: Proven ability to lead, motivate, and develop diverse teams. Strong executive presence and communication skills, capable of influencing stakeholders at all levels.
• Strategic Thinking: Demonstrated ability to think strategically, solve complex problems, and make data-driven decisions that impact business outcomes.
• Operational Understanding: Solid understanding of manufacturing processes, supply chain dynamics, and operational KPIs within a factory setting.
• Communication: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex financial concepts to non-financial audiences.

What We Offer:

• A highly impactful leadership role at a world-leading beauty company.
• The opportunity to drive significant financial and operational improvements within a dynamic factory environment.
• A collaborative and innovative culture committed to excellence and sustainability.
• Extensive opportunities for professional development and career advancement within L'Oreal's global network.
• A competitive compensation package, including salary, bonus, and comprehensive benefits.

NB: Having MANUFACTURING experience is highly recommended
Who We Are
L'Oreal is present in 150 markets on five continents. For more than a century, L'Oreal has devoted itself solely to 'Create beauty that moves the world'; it is now the industry world leader with EUR42 billion consolidated sales. Together, we solve complex challenges at scale, while making sure we stay committed to making the world a more inclusive and a better place for everyone & our planet.
We're committed to guaranteeing inclusive recruitment processes and to advocating for hiring and promoting each candidate in an ethical and equitable way. The Group strictly prohibits discrimination against any applicant for employment because of the individual's gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, visible and/or invisible disabilities, socio-economic and/or multicultural origins, health conditions, age, religion, or any other characteristics protected by law.
Closing Date: 28 July 2025