Store Financial Controller

Job description / Role

Job Description
Store Financial Controller for French and/or Arabic
The Financial Controller is the warrant of the implementation and respect of the company rules and policies, warrant of the store results accuracy, and a key partner for the store and HO management to provide detailed analysis, reporting and assist commercials in their day to day business.

His responsibility will articulate into 4 Categories:
- Operations
- Finance
- Procedure & Internal Control
- Training

The store finance team is composed of a store financial controller, one assistant financial controller (supervisor level) and one clerk in charge of the documentation.
He / She has to be close to the Store Management (GM/DH) by participating to daily briefing, weekly meeting and store duties.

OPERATIONS
Key indicators: development of store Turnover (Analysis Benchmark)
Analyze daily sales by Family / sub-family / item
Analyze promotional sales (market share / profitability)
Analyze variances Actual sales Vs Budget / Forecast
Analyze customer flow (seasonality) and Average Basket
Analyze competition (flow-up) and cannibalization impact
Cash Flow Management: drive the store to maximize the Profitability
Use benchmark tools to develop the results
Analyze daily (weekly/monthly) Margin for all departments
Analyze negative margin and ensure corrective actions are taken
Assist and advice on the impact of Internal promotional items, clearance and costly actions to anticipate the impacts.

Review and control month-end margin calculation and closing stock
Follow-up of Store Fees and Opening Fees collection, and challenge HO fees with regular analysis.
Follow-up of Price Protections HHH
Control of FOC / Bundle / Gift procedure
Control the issuance and monitoring of Consignment Contracts (fees)
Inventory Management: Improve Working Capital and ensure stock accuracy and freshness
Control the Stock Taking Operations (Monthly in Market and OPSS, and Cyclical for others). Deeply involved in the organization of the general stocktake.
Maintain the weekly sensitive stock of the risky families (Memo)
Analyze Shrinkage results and implement formalized action plans to improve
Approve Stock Taking Corrections, results and ensure proper appropriation from Commercial Teams of the stock taking operations.
Optimize the stock level to improve working capital in each section and Department (optimization of the financial margin).
Monitor sleeping stock / Slow Moving Item and follow up the implementation of adequate solutions (Action Plans)
Control stock depreciation calculation
Control Manual Stock Adjustment / Stock Transfer
Control Negative Stock
Control Home Deliveries provision & ensure regular clearing
Control Internal sales process
Control the waste according P&P / Challenge SM/DH on abnormal results

FINANCE
Reporting: to maintain high standard of informations flow (Store-Centralization-HO)
Store Financial Controller is responsible for the results accuracy of the store
Setting yearly Budget & monthly Forecast (in collaboration with GM & DHs)
Review and analyze Budget / Forecast results (variances)
Ensure accurate and timely information to the management (DFM, HO, CF, GM)
Communicate all store related issues (with an impact on results / liabilities)
Control and validate all financial documents sent to Centralized Office (GL / Asset). Ensure no delay to transfer of documents to HO Finance.
Review and Approve the Actual Package
Communicate timely Inventory results (Physical Stock)
Facilitate communication of Cash Flow to Treasury team and provide store provisions data to HO Finance.
Control and communicate all Assets movement (In / Out, Disposal, Write Off)
Review of specific balance sheet account / Profit &Loss accounts
Ensure compliance with tax and local laws

Cost Management: to maximize store efficiency
Staff Cost
Forecast the staff cost according manpower movement
Guide management on financial impact for each movement/promotion
Review and approve monthly payroll as per P&P
Benchmark staff force and propose adequate structure to be online with budget and objectives
General Expenses
Review and approve LPOs, Investment and Petty Cash expenses
Monitor the Maintenance / Security contracts issuance and renewal
Monitor store expenses Vs Budget/Forecast
Propose action plans for cost saving
Capital Investment
Assess and drive CAPEX decisions according store needs
Ensure compliance with FATT process (tagging, inventories)
Conduct feasibility study for management guidance
Conduct regular asset visit and ensure assets maintenance
Follow up WIP and Pre-Opening Costs

PROCEDURE & INTERNAL CONTROL

Process: ensure smooth operations with proper controls

Control overall application of procedures and guarantee the internal control
CCO: Control price override
Initiate and conduct periodical Audits on CCO to minimize cash flow risks
Control and approve monthly CCO cash float, do spot check safe counts

Conduct Receiving controls to ensure proper merchandise flow
Ensure strict implementation of Internal Audit recommendations
Follow up Control Self Accessment implementation and do random tests
Control Insurance declaration and monitor incident declaration
Be the coordinator at the time of external & internal auditors visits

TRAINING

Conduct regular training sessions for inventory organization
Ensure proper understanding of board of results, margin calculation, shrinkage
Assist DHs by providing adequate assistance for day to day business
Participate on the elaboration of store needs in term of training

Requirements

Min Experience
3-5 years of relevant experience.

Key Requirements
Must speak and write French and/or Arabic.
Ability to adjust style appropriately, motivate others to succeed and delegate effectively
Builds relationship with colleagues, engages with others and consults others on key decisions
Provides a supportive work environment for colleagues and shares information readily
Proactively shares skills and knowledge with others
Strives to identify and meet client needs
Able to give small presentations confidently and write good reports
Able to multitask and consistently meet deadlines with minimal supervision.
Contributes to problem solving and generates ideas for enhancements and improvements to service delivery
Organises information and resources effectively and demonstrates good attention to detail
Flexible approach

Qualifications
Educated to degree level
Qualified accountant and a member of a recognised accounting body
Previous experience of a professional practice organisation is beneficial but not essential
Good numeracy and literacy skills
Computer literate with experience in Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word and Outlook

About the Company

Robert Walters is one of the world's largest specialist professional recruitment consultancies with 53 offices spanning 24 countries.

We've helped thousands of professionals find permanent, contract and interim roles with leading global corporations, small to medium sized companies and innovative start ups. Our specialist recruitment focus includes: accountancy and finance, banking, engineering, operations, legal, IT, sales, marketing, procurement & logistics, HR and support/administration.