Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) CFO

Job Description

Location: Bedfordview / Cape Town

Become part of the team powering household names like Andrex®, Kleenex®, Cottonelle®, Scott®, Viva®, and WypAll®. At Arbex, everything you need is right here - innovation, growth, and the chance to leave a real mark.

About You

In one of our professional roles, you’ll focus on winning with consumers and the market, while putting safety, mutual respect, and human dignity at the centre.

The Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) CFO is accountable for providing strategic and operational Finance leadership for the ARBEX SSA stand-alone market. The role is a key member of the South Africa Leadership Team, partnering with the Managing Director to shape business strategy, drive value creation and ensure strong financial stewardship of the market.

The role leads a team of 3 finance professionals and reports directly to the ARBEX CFO. It acts as the senior Finance voice for the market, bringing constructive challenge, insight and commercial judgement to decisions across Commercial, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Marketing and supporting functions.

The ARBEX South Africa business has net sales of approximately $110 million, holds a market leadership position with the Babysoft brand and is supported by the Enstra manufacturing site in South Africa. The role scope includes both Family Care (B2C) and Professional (B2B) business segments.

The CFO is accountable for the market financial plan, actual performance delivery, cash generation, working capital discipline, risk management, control and compliance. The role leads the budgeting and forecasting processes and provides clear insight into risks, opportunities, external dynamics and mitigation actions to enable agile business decisions.

The CFO works closely with Controllership, Tax, Treasury and Global Business Services to maintain financial discipline, optimise cash flow, strengthen controls and ensure compliance with local statutory, tax and corporate requirements.

Subject to Legal confirmation, the CFO may carry fiduciary responsibilities as a Director of relevant Legal Entities and must ensure robust governance and appropriate escalation of statutory, regulatory and compliance matters.

Essential duties and responsibilities included in this role:

Act as a strategic partner to the Managing Director and Leadership Team, shaping the market business plan, value creation agenda and resource allocation priorities.

Own and drive the financial performance management agenda, including delivery of short- and long-term plans, forecast accuracy, risks and opportunities, and clear mitigation actions.

Lead profitable growth through strong financial analysis, pricing and mix insight, portfolio support, productivity delivery and disciplined investment choices.

Lead cash generation and working capital optimisation, including inventory, receivables, payables, capital expenditure governance and cash conversion discipline.

Provide robust challenge and decision support to Commercial, Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Marketing, ensuring major decisions are financially sound and aligned with market strategy.

Maintain a strong control and compliance culture, ensuring effective governance, risk management, internal controls, statutory compliance and financial stewardship.

Lead Finance transformation and continuous improvement, leveraging technology, automation, standardised processes and GBS capabilities to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

Build, coach and develop a high-performing Finance team, strengthening capability, succession and engagement.

Partner effectively with Controllership, Tax, Treasury, GBS and the broader ARBEX Finance organisation to ensure enterprise alignment and disciplined execution.

Represent Finance credibly with senior stakeholders, clearly communicating performance, risks, opportunities and key decisions.

Qualifications, experience and competencies:

Experienced finance leader with strong commercial, operational and technical finance capability, preferably in FMCG or another manufacturing-led consumer business.

Professional accounting qualification, MBA or equivalent senior finance experience. Typically, ten to fifteen years of progressive finance leadership experience, including P&L ownership, commercial analysis, business planning, manufacturing and supply chain finance, control and compliance, and talent leadership.

Strong strategic and analytical capability, with the courage to constructively challenge assumptions and influence senior leaders.

Track record of driving transformation, continuous improvement and technology-enabled simplification across Finance processes.

Strong enterprise mindset and ability to work across diverse cultures, functions and geographies.

Excellent communication and influencing skills, including the ability to explain complex financial matters clearly to finance and non-finance stakeholders.

High integrity, strong judgement and commitment to robust governance, controls and compliance.

Language skills:

Strong English communication skills are critical for this role. The incumbent must be able to read, analyse and interpret complex documents, respond effectively to sensitive enquiries or issues, and make clear, persuasive presentations to senior management.

Total Benefits

We believe that our employees are our greatest asset, and we're committed to providing them with the resources they need to be successful. If you're looking for a rewarding career with a company that cares about its employees, then ARBEX is the place for you.

Flex That Works at ARBEX

We believe great work happens when people come together with purpose. That’s why we offer a flexible work model that blends remote work with intentional in-person collaboration - helping you connect, grow, and innovate while maintaining the balance you value.

To Be Considered

Click the Apply button and complete the online application process. A member of our recruiting team will review your application and follow up if you seem like a great fit for this role.

In the meantime, please check out the careers website.

And finally, the fine print….

The statements above are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this classification. Statements are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills required for this position.

Employment is subject to verification of local policies.

This role is available for local candidates already authorized to work in the role’s country only. ARBEX will not provide relocation support for this role.

#LI-Hybrid

PRIMARY LOCATION

No K-C Work Site - South Africa

ADDITIONAL LOCATION

South Africa -Cape Town; South Africa- Enstra

WORKER TYPE

Employee

WORKER SUB-TYPE

Regular

JOB TYPE

Full time