Finance Manager

A world leader in gases, technologies and services for Industry and Health, Air Liquide is present in 80 countries with approximately 66,000 employees and serves more than 3.6 million customers and patients. Oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen are essential small molecules for life, matter and energy. They embody Air Liquide’s scientific territory and have been at the core of the company’s activities since its creation in 1902. Air Liquide’s ambition is to be a leader in its industry, deliver long term performance and contribute to sustainability. The company’s customer-centric transformation strategy aims at profitable growth over the long term. It relies on operational excellence, selective investments, open innovation and a network organization implemented by the Group worldwide. Through the commitment and inventiveness of its people, Air Liquide leverages energy and environment transition, changes in healthcare and digitization, and delivers greater value to all its stakeholders.As the primary Single Point of Contact (SPoC) for local business leadership, this Finance Manager role bridges operational strategy with corporate scale by co-leading financial processes alongside the Chief Accountant and ALEBS Shared Services. Responsible for seamless group consolidations, financial reporting, and variance analysis in close coordination with central ALEBS teams, the position combines strategic business partnering with rigorous quality assurance, compliance, and accounting data integrity. Support ALEBS reporting team in financial reporting and analysis, Business advisor, perform statutory reporting supported by ALEBS teams Support ALEBS consolidation team for consolidations for a group of companies Lead finance initiatives to improve processes, financial reporting and analysis, business decision making Develop effective working relationships with all members of the Finance local Shared Service Centre and ALEBS, maintain accountability for the results from the Finance Manager Operations team in ALEBS Finance Leadership and Business Leadership Teams Support Support CFO on ad hoc projects implementation Support Treasury COE with working capital management initiatives Support ERP system implementation Build internal networks and relationships to support an effective shared service centre mindset including ALEBS Support Operations Control Manager on business performance reporting Support Operations Control Manager during target and forecast process Reporting Support ALEBS consolidation team for consolidations for the Southern African entities Accountable for accurate and timely monthly financial reporting Coordinate with ALEBS teams to develop insightful monthly financials analysis Provide accurate financial information to Operations control manager, for business performance reporting Support ALEBS teams to report monthly income statement and balance sheet positions to support Flash, Operations Control and Group accounting requirements Review and report monthly internal control Monitor monthly balance sheet recon and implement necessary changes for aged items (backlog clearing) Monitor payroll reconciliation by day 15 and get sign-off from Chief Accountant Adhere to other reporting requirements in place or as they arise Accounts Payable Ensure foreign orders are covered with FECs and revaluation of foreign open items where necessary Ensure leased properties are accounted for according to applicable accounting standards Ensure the accounts receivable reporting requirements in place are met to support Operations Control and Group Accounting Ensure revaluation of foreign open items is completed where necessary Ensure clearing accounts are cleared for aged items Fixed Assets Ensure the capital WIP list is reconciled, monitored and maintained with the help of requestors/project managers in the business Ensure the capex reporting is in place are met to support Operations Control and Group Accounting Inventory Provide assistance and supervision over the inventory counts for finished goods, raw materials and stores Support the valuation calculations of all inventory items where relevant and ensure stock depreciation for store and other items is adequate Ensure the inventory and sales reporting requirements in place are met to support Operations Control and Group Accounting Bank, cash and debt Release approved payments and transfers Ensure that Intercompany accounts are reported on a monthly basis, in time Review and sign-off intercompany balances, including reconciliations, on a timely basis Taxes Ensure the tax reporting requirements in place are met to support Operations Control and Group Accounting Ensure VAT amounts are reconciled, returns are compiled and submitted, and any amounts owing are paid on time Ensure valid tax compliance certificate is in issue at all times and respond to queries where necessary Provisions Ensure that Provisions and accruals are adequately maintained and accounted for with supporting documentation Audit and Statutory Manage the internal and external audit process from engagement to execution and signature/opinion supported by ALEBS Ensure information requirements are met for interim and final testing phases and that AFS are compiled accordingly Ensure recommendations regarding management letter points are implemented Reconciliation of statutory result to annual Flash/Magnitude and Group reported results General Ledger Review and follow up on General Ledger account reconciliations and reconciling items supported by ALEBS Ensure prepayments are supported by documentation and amortised accordingly Sundry debtors and creditors are appropriate recovered and paid respectively Management Coordinate with ALEBS to ensure Policies and procedures are maintained and updated Bluebook (Group Accounting Methodology) is applied consistently Assist with working capital requirement maximization throughout functions Are you a MATCH? Educational requirements Education: Matric certificate plus Qualified CA(SA) Valid driver's license and own transport Experience At least 3 years post articles experience Financial reporting and analysis Should have advanced Excel skills Business partnering, relationship management and influencing skills Good communication skills are essential, particularly in regard to presenting the results of analysis to management Ability to deliver through others Team Management