Financial Compliance Controller - East Africa at Kerry

About The Role

Reporting to: Finance Control & Compliance Director (MISA)

In this role you will ensure that Kerry is meeting its compliance obligations in East Africa and will safeguard and protect the assets of the Group by ensuring appropriate controls are in place. The role will work closely with corporate functions, Kerry Shared Service Centres, outsourced partners and the Group financial compliance team.

As the Financial Compliance Controller will be a ‘hands-on’ Financial Business Professional with self-starting capabilities and at least 8-10 years' relevant experience and will sit on the board of directors for local legal entities within East Africa and will perform all company secretarial duties as required.

Key responsibilities

General Compliance

• Enforcement of Group policies relating to Financial reporting, Tax, Treasury, Company Secretarial & Legal.
• Maintenance of Compliance databases and responsibility for review of compliance requirements.
• Ownership of the periodic review and population of KCRS for country of responsibility.

Financial Reporting/ Control

• Review monthly management accounts and compute statutory adjustments on a monthly basis to be able to forecast full year statutory accounts.
• Review year end BPC files and assist in the year- end audit process.
• Completion and filing of local statutory accounts (for all legal entities in country) to ensure that these are prepared in accordance with local requirements, deadlines, standards and templates.
• Support and coordination of legal entities annual audit in conjunction with Group Financial Reporting
• Act as a liaison between the relevant group departments and the auditors to ensure all queries and requests are completed.
• Liaise with Group Financial Reporting for any locally proposed audit fees
• Assist in the intercompany process for any un-agreed balances.
• Maintain an up-to-date record of the financial disclosures and compliance requirements.
• Complete any statistical returns to local authorities.
• Review of dormant entities and work through opportunities for strike off.

Treasury

• Bank account maintenance
• Inform Group Treasury on all joiners, leavers, movers who have or require access to bank accounts

Payment authorisations

• Payment approval responsibility (local taxes, social charges, indirect costs/expenses AP/)
• Preparation and submission of documents for any currency control activities
• Informing Group Treasury of any currency control rules and regulations (including any updates/amendments)
• Preparation and submission of documents for any currency control activities
• Perform any local regulatory reporting for Treasury instruments.
• Assist with any Forex Exposure report and management / Hedging if required.
• Ensure all intercompany loan agreements are in place and up to date.
• Assist with any funding requests or changes to capital structure.
• Assist with any external loan agreements in conjunction with group Treasury.
• Keep an up-to-date record of all guarantees issued by and to the company.

Insurance

• Complete the Group insurance questionnaire for the relevant jurisdiction and answer any queries arising from it.
• Work with the business to ensure valuation and accuracy of Insurance renewal information.
• Manage insurance claims in conjunction with Group Insurance.
• Information sharing (with Group Insurance/treasury) in relation to procurement of insurance policies, contract negotiation, selection of insurers/insurance limits/deductibles, funding of retained risk.
• Ongoing interaction and support with Group Insurance relating to local issues.

Company Secretarial

• Ensure all companies office filing are completed accurately and on time.
• Ensure all required meetings are held and minutes documented.
• Advise on local companies act changes and how that may affect disclosures and compliance requirements.
• Review legal entity directorships to ensure consistent approach and in accordance with Group policy.
• Intellectual property – work closely with internal departments to ensure IP is registered and protected as appropriate.

M&A

• Assist in the due diligence process for acquisitions and disposals as they pertain to East Africa
• Ensure accounting for any acquisitions and disposals is signed off by Group technical and all necessary supporting documentation is in place.
• Assist in completion accounts where necessary.
• Act as a liaison between the relevant group departments, the local advisors and the local management during any restructuring process to ensure all compliance requirements are satisfied.

Tax Accounting & Reporting

• Liaise with business on projections and budgets to ensure forecasting by legal entity is accurate in order to calculate tax charges.
• Complete standard Tax templates for budget & projections and provide back up where needed.
• Complete all necessary analysis for compilation of the CT and DT calculations at year end and work with APMEA and Group tax team in addressing all related queries.

Qualifications And Skills

• Qualified accountant (CPA, ACCA, CIMA, MIA, CA) with at least 8-10 years’ related experience
• Strong IFRS and Accounting Background
• Knowledge of South African Corporate Governance & exposure to Company secretarial and legal compliance
• Strong Project Management & Risk management skills/experience
• Astute business and commercial acumen

Personal Competencies

• Relationship builder (internally and with customers) with excellent communications skills
• Likes autonomy and is pro-active
• Results driven
• Team player (recognizes successes)
• Decisive (takes tough decisions on priorities)
• Challenges status quo
• Ability to communicate financial information to non-financial mangers
• Solution orientated management style
• Well-developed interpersonal skills and able to establish trust and credibility