Job Summary: The Finance Manager provides strategic financial leadership and direction to ensure the long-term financial sustainability and profitability of Ruko Milk Factory. This role is responsible for guiding financial strategy, managing cost structures, optimizing capital utilization, and ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements. The Finance Manager plays a key advisory role to the CEO and management team by delivering forward-looking financial insights, driving cost-efficiency initiatives, and supporting business growth through sound investment and financing decisions. This position requires a high level of professional competence, analytical ability, and leadership in developing and executing strategies that enhance shareholder value and operational performance.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Financial Planning and Leadership

• Develop and implement the company’s financial strategy aligned with overall business objectives.
• Advise the CEO and senior management on financial implications of strategic decisions and business plans.
• Prepare financial forecasts, business performance reports, and scenario analyses to support strategic decision-making.
• Participate in board-level discussions and present key financial performance insights.
• Lead financial risk assessments and design strategies to strengthen financial resilience.

Strategic Cost Accounting and Profitability Management

• Design, implement, and oversee strategic cost accounting systems to analyze product, process, and distribution costs.
• Establish cost benchmarks and conduct variance analyses to identify inefficiencies and recommend corrective actions.
• Drive initiatives for cost optimization across procurement, production, logistics, and energy consumption.
• Monitor product and segment profitability to guide pricing, product mix, and market positioning decisions.
• Introduce activity-based costing (ABC) and performance-based budgeting to improve operational accountability.

Financial Reporting and Control

• Oversee preparation of timely and accurate financial statements, management reports, and cash flow forecasts.
• Ensure compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and statutory obligations.
• Strengthen internal controls, accounting systems, and reporting accuracy across all financial processes.
• Ensure transparency and integrity in financial reporting and management decision support systems.

Budgeting, Forecasting, and Performance Monitoring

• Lead the annual budgeting and medium-term financial planning processes.
• Evaluate financial performance against strategic goals and operational budgets.
• Analyze financial variances, identify drivers of performance gaps, and propose strategic corrective measures.
• Provide financial guidance to departmental heads for cost control and resource allocation.

Treasury and Cash Flow Management

• Manage cash flow planning, liquidity, and working capital to support operational and investment needs.
• Optimize financing structures and banking relationships to ensure favourable credit and capital terms.
• Oversee treasury operations, including payments, collections, and cash forecasting.
• Monitor foreign exchange exposures, credit risks, and financial instruments.

Compliance, Audit, and Risk Management

• Ensure full compliance with URA, NSSF, and other statutory reporting requirements.
• Coordinate internal and external audits, ensuring timely closure of audit recommendations.
• Identify and mitigate financial, operational, and compliance risks through robust internal control systems.
• Maintain updated knowledge of changes in accounting standards, tax laws, and financial regulations.

Digital Transformation and Systems Optimization

• Oversee and optimize financial systems (e.g., SAP ERP) to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and transparency.
• Leverage technology for automated financial reporting, real-time dashboards, and data analytics.
• Promote digital innovation in cost monitoring, forecasting, and decision support tools.

Leadership and Team Development

• Provide leadership and mentorship to the finance team to build capacity and enhance performance.
• Foster a culture of financial accountability, ethical behaviour, and continuous improvement.
• Align departmental goals with organizational strategy and promote cross-functional collaboration.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Commerce, or related field.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) qualification is mandatory.
• 5–8 years of progressive experience in finance or accounting, including at least 3 years in a managerial or strategic finance role, preferably in manufacturing, dairy, or FMCG.
• Proven expertise in cost accounting, strategic financial management, and business analytics.
• Proficiency in SAP ERP (FI/CO, MM) and advanced Excel or financial modelling tools.
• Strong understanding of Ugandan tax laws, URA compliance, and statutory reporting.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strategic financial planning and analytical decision-making.
• Expertise in cost accounting, budgeting, and forecasting.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation abilities.
• High integrity, professionalism, and attention to detail.
• Proficiency in data-driven financial management and business intelligence tools.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Strategic Financial Performance – achievement of profitability, liquidity, and ROI targets.
• Cost Efficiency – reduction in production and operational cost variances.
• Budget Accuracy – alignment of actual performance to forecasted financial plans.
• Working Capital Optimization – efficiency in cash flow, receivables, and payables management.
• Audit and Compliance – zero non-compliance issues or audit qualifications.
• Return on Investment (ROI) – performance of capital expenditures and strategic investments.
• Financial System Effectiveness – data integrity, automation, and reporting timeliness.
• Team Development – competency growth and retention within the finance team.

• Develop and implement the company’s financial strategy aligned with overall business objectives.
• Advise the CEO and senior management on financial implications of strategic decisions and business plans.
• Prepare financial forecasts, business performance reports, and scenario analyses to support strategic decision-making.
• Participate in board-level discussions and present key financial performance insights.
• Lead financial risk assessments and design strategies to strengthen financial resilience.
• Design, implement, and oversee strategic cost accounting systems to analyze product, process, and distribution costs.
• Establish cost benchmarks and conduct variance analyses to identify inefficiencies and recommend corrective actions.
• Drive initiatives for cost optimization across procurement, production, logistics, and energy consumption.
• Monitor product and segment profitability to guide pricing, product mix, and market positioning decisions.
• Oversee preparation of timely and accurate financial statements, management reports, and cash flow forecasts.
• Ensure compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and statutory obligations.
• Strengthen internal controls, accounting systems, and reporting accuracy across all financial processes.
• Lead the annual budgeting and medium-term financial planning processes.
• Evaluate financial performance against strategic goals and operational budgets.
• Analyze financial variances, identify drivers of performance gaps, and propose strategic corrective measures.
• Provide financial guidance to departmental heads for cost control and resource allocation.
• Manage cash flow planning, liquidity, and working capital to support operational and investment needs.
• Optimize financing structures and banking relationships to ensure favourable credit and capital terms.
• Oversee treasury operations, including payments, collections, and cash forecasting.
• Monitor foreign exchange exposures, credit risks, and financial instruments.
• Ensure full compliance with URA, NSSF, and other statutory reporting requirements.
• Coordinate internal and external audits, ensuring timely closure of audit recommendations.
• Identify and mitigate financial, operational, and compliance risks through robust internal control systems.
• Maintain updated knowledge of changes in accounting standards, tax laws, and financial regulations.
• Oversee and optimize financial systems (e.g., SAP ERP) to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and transparency.
• Leverage technology for automated financial reporting, real-time dashboards, and data analytics.
• Promote digital innovation in cost monitoring, forecasting, and decision support tools.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to the finance team to build capacity and enhance performance.
• Foster a culture of financial accountability, ethical behaviour, and continuous improvement.
• Align departmental goals with organizational strategy and promote cross-functional collaboration.

• Strategic financial planning and analytical decision-making.
• Expertise in cost accounting, budgeting, and forecasting.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation abilities.
• High integrity, professionalism, and attention to detail.
• Proficiency in data-driven financial management and business intelligence tools.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Commerce, or related field.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) qualification is mandatory.
• 5–8 years of progressive experience in finance or accounting, including at least 3 years in a managerial or strategic finance role, preferably in manufacturing, dairy, or FMCG.
• Proven expertise in cost accounting, strategic financial management, and business analytics.
• Proficiency in SAP ERP (FI/CO, MM) and advanced Excel or financial modelling tools.
• Strong understanding of Ugandan tax laws, URA compliance, and statutory reporting.