EDUARD JOCHEMS
Durbanville,South Africa
Summary
Qualified Chartered Accountant (CA(SA)) with extensive experience in finance, accounting, and leadership. Proven track record in senior financial roles, including Financial Director at Imperial Fast 'n Fresh and various management positions at British American Tobacco South Africa with expertise in financial management, strategic planning, risk mitigation, and corporate governance. Skilled in overseeing complex financial operations, including budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, tax compliance, internal and external audits, and financial reporting, ensuring alignment with legal and statutory requirements. Strong project involvement with successful contributions to global initiatives such as SAP system implementation at BAT. Extensive experience aligns with the responsibilities of a senior financial leadership role, including strategic planning, financial policy development, stakeholder relations, compliance, and team leadership.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
5
5
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work history
Financial Director
Imperial Fast ‘n Fresh (part of DP World)
2018.10 - 2026.04
- Lead high-performing finance, IT, insurance and payroll teams (20+) towards achieving key performance indicators consistently.
- Support Managing Director to develop and implement strategies.
- Partner with Executive team, supporting cross functional strategic initiatives and improving financial acumen.
- Support and work closely with Regional and Group structure (Central Finance, Tax, Legal, Internal Audit, Procurement).
- Ensure accurate and timely reporting to all stakeholders (financial operational, data-related).
- Instilled culture of fiscal discipline within organisation, promoting sustainability in operations.
- Responsible for key financial health indicators and relevant financial measures.
- Collaborate with business management to set and control annual budgets that mitigates financial risks with diligent forecasting and budgeting practices.
- Initiate cost-saving measures, bolstering companies bottom line.
- Monitor Companies performance versus strategic business plan, develop/propose relevant actions where necessary.
- Institute rigorous internal controls to prevent fraud, discrepancies in transactions, streamline finance operations implementing robust risk management strategies.
- Identify opportunities to enhance financial and operational policies and processes.
- Manage cash flow effectively to meet operational needs and investment goals alike.
- Liaise with internal/external auditors to ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
- Drive business growth through meticulous capital investment evaluations.
- Ensure compliance with relevant Legal and Statutory requirements (including Tax)
- Review Customer and Supplier contracts and Service Level agreements in conjunction with Regional Legal team.
Senior Commercial Finance Manager: Sales Finance
BAT South Africa
2017.10 - 2018.09
- Managed day-to-day Direct Store Sales finance (credit and cash sales) operations.
- Led and developed Sales Finance operational team (45+ people).
- Custodian of credit guidelines to retailers and ensured credit processes, credit management, trading terms, and authority limits are adhered to.
- Prepared KPI dashboard reports for Marketing and Finance leadership facilitating effective decision making.
- Developed and implemented operating procedures (cash, stock, debtor management) ensuring that high level of internal controls existed while driving efficiencies and effectiveness.
- Performed financial analysis for credit sales, outstanding debtors, and trading terms improving efficiency and effectiveness of spend.
- Supported Trade team with volume management and stock management processes and procedures.
- Prepared and managed Sales Finance budget and provided accurate and timely financial information to Marketing Leadership team.
- Contributed to Talent development strategy and plans to improve leadership pipeline at all levels.
Senior Commercial Finance Manager: TM&D (Southern African Area)
BAT South Africa
2014.03 - 2017.09
- Provided finance support and information to Trade Marketing & Distribution (TM&D) Leadership Team, facilitating decision making that enabled the achievement of the overall Marketing strategy objectives.
- Managed finances of TM&D function including all Warehouses and Depots nationally.
- Led the preparation of TM&D budget and forecasting, providing accurate and timely information to the Head of TM&D and Marketing Director.
- Translated TM&D strategies into financial plans and budgets, providing commercial insights and business case support.
- Contributed to development and implementation of processes for management, control and reduction of TM&D expenditure.
- Provided analysis of financial and non-financial data to TM&D Leadership Team, enabling strategic financial decisions and inputs for commercial agreements.
- Contributed to ensuring key controls are in place and developed and implemented additional controls within TM&D environment.
- Conducted pre- and post-implementation reviews of all major projects.
- Analysed Key Accounts customers trading terms and Customer Account Profitability.
- Provided financial analysis to National Pricing and Excise Committee.
Audit Manager: BATSA
BAT South Africa
2013.03 - 2014.02
- Participated in and led multi-disciplined teams on audit assignments globally and locally (Kenya, Nigeria, Russia, Romania).
- Conducted and managed cross functional independent risk –based audits ensuring that systems and procedures supported achievement of business goals and strategic objectives.
- Prepared written reports for relevant audit committees and senior management that clearly and accurately explained findings and action plans for improvement.
- Communicated effectively across all levels of staff across the Group and different End Markets.
- Acted as audit support for various local, regional and global projects.
- Assessed control environment across all functions such Operations, Procurement, Finance, Marketing, etc. and provide advise Management of improvements to overall governance and applicable systems where applicable.
- Identified risks within processes and business units to ensuring strong control environment in maintained, effective management thereof and adequate governance is in place.
- Promoted awareness of risk management and control practices with BAT management
- Provided recommendations to improve quality of overall risk management and controls practices.
Finance Manager: Supply Chain (Southern African Area)
BAT South Africa
2012.10 - 2013.02
- Responsible for Product Cost Control, budgeting and continuous review of raw materials and packing materials costs across supply chain from procurement to finished product for local and export products.
- Controlled and continually evaluated primary supply chain costs, predominantly inbound and outbound freight, warehousing and management of exceptional costs e.g. write offs.
- Assessed impact of raw materials, packaging and logistics costs and variations thereto, on BAT South Africa’s underlying operating profit, brand margins and profitability.
- Reviewed pricing for printed materials for exchange rates and volume fluctuations.
- Prepared financials used to evaluate viability of product sourcing decisions across markets and regions.
- Analysed exchange rates, product mix, price changes, potential savings for potential impact on tobacco and material costs.
- Calculated transfer prices for export markets.
- Participated in negotiations with suppliers, clearing agents, freight forwarders and 3PL providers.
- Tracked financial impact of product projects and review against business cases and financial expectations.
- Provided financial inputs to assess appropriate supply chain models, including outsourcing of warehousing and transport in primary supply chain and driving optimal vehicle utilisation and network design.
- Evaluated inventory holdings and reviewed appropriateness of stock management philosophies i.e. vendor managed inventories, make to stock, use of economic order quantities.
- Prepared multi-currency cash flow forecasts for Primary supply chain for treasury management / input into currency hedging decisions.
- Reviewed and provided advise improving stock related procedures.
- Reviewed stock reports and completed inventory reconciliations.
Finance Manager: Manufacturing (Southern African Area)
BAT South Africa
2010.01 - 2012.09
- Led Manufacturing Finance team at factory and calculated manufacturing cost, identifying drivers of costs and variances.
- Identified savings opportunities for manufacturing costs and provided recommendations for improvements.
- Responsible for robust control environment in Operations that continually improved.
- Managed factory's capital expenditure management responsible for accurate and complete Fixed Asset Register.
- Streamlined key calculations and reporting (productivity, waste, etc.)
- Calculated of tobacco and wrapping material waste and provided insights on how to reduce waste levels.
- Calculation of productivity in line with global guidelines & methodologies.
- Compiled monthly cash flow forecasts for capital expenditure and spare part procurement.
- Reviewed transfer pricing calculations for exports.
- Completed tobacco Excise reconciliation for submission to SARS.
- Reviewed Mozambique and Zimbabwe factories performance and annual budgets to ensure alignment to Area and Regional targets.
- Employer representative for Union Negotiation team, BAT Operations Pension Fund and BAT Education Fund.
- Calculated financials and provided inputs for factory business cases.
Audit Manager: BATSA
BAT South Africa
2008.09 - 2009.12
- Participated in and led multi-disciplined teams on audit assignments globally and locally (Kenya, Nigeria, Russia, Romania).
- Conducted and managed cross functional independent risk –based audits to help ensure that systems and procedures supported achievement of business goals and strategic objectives.
- Prepared written reports for relevant audit committees and senior management that clearly and accurately explained findings and action plans for improvement.
- Communicated effectively across all levels of staff across the Group and different End Markets.
- Acted as audit support for various local, regional and global projects.
- Assessed control environment across all functions such Operations, Procurement, Finance, Marketing, etc. and provide advise Management of improvements to overall governance and applicable systems where applicable.
- Identified risks within processes and business units to ensure that a strong control environment in maintained, effective management thereof and adequate governance is in place.
- Promoted awareness of risk management and control practices with BAT management
- Provided recommendations to improve quality of overall risk management and controls practices.
Financial Accountant
Touchline Media
2006.04 - 2008.08
- Managed Debtors department and later entire finance team.
- Prepared monthly Touchline Media Group consolidated financial reports for submission to its holding company, Media 24.
- Drafted A.F.S. for Touchline Media (Pty) Ltd and Group in compliance with GAAP/IFRS
- Prepared reports for external shareholders of joint venture companies within Touchline Media Group.
- Prepared annual consolidated budgets and quarterly forecasts for Touchline Media Group
- Identified financial risks, developing and implementing controls to comply with Sarbanes Oxley.
- Prepared annual income tax returns for Touchline Media (Pty) Ltd and 2 joint venture companies
- Prepared monthly, quarterly and annual returns for STATS SA
- Managed annual audit of Touchline Media Group
- Liaised with Media 24, local and foreign shareholders of Touchline Media Group’s joint venture and subsidiary companies.
Education
B Comm. (Honours) Accounting - Accounting
University of The Western Cape
Bellville 2002.01 - 2002.12
B Comm. Accounting - Accounting
University of The Western Cape
Bellville 1998.01 - 2001.12
Skills
- Strategic financial decisions
- Performance monitoring
- Corporate finance
- Financial acumen
- Data analysis
- Cost-reduction strategies
- Experienced in multiple ERPs, ie SAP, Pastel, HFM
- Advanced experience with MS Excel and proficient in MS Word, MS PowerPoint and MS Visio
Certification
- Member of South African Institute of Chartered Accountants
- Passed both part I and II of SAICA Qualifying Examination on 1st attempts.
- Training contract completed with PwC, Cape Town office in 2006.
Personal Details
English
Native
Afrikaans
Fluent
Accomplishments
Best 2002 B.Com (Honours) Accounting Student
Best 2002 Advanced Financial Accounting Student
Best 2002 Advanced Audit Student
Best 2002 Advanced Financial Management Student
OTHER PERSONAL INFORMATION
Gender: Male
Race: Coloured
Identity Number: 8003255057081
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Financial Director
Imperial Fast ‘n Fresh (part of DP World)
2018.10 - 2026.04
Senior Commercial Finance Manager: Sales Finance
BAT South Africa
2017.10 - 2018.09
Senior Commercial Finance Manager: TM&D (Southern African Area)
BAT South Africa
2014.03 - 2017.09
Audit Manager: BATSA
BAT South Africa
2013.03 - 2014.02
Finance Manager: Supply Chain (Southern African Area)
BAT South Africa
2012.10 - 2013.02
Finance Manager: Manufacturing (Southern African Area)
BAT South Africa
2010.01 - 2012.09
Audit Manager: BATSA
BAT South Africa
2008.09 - 2009.12
Financial Accountant
Touchline Media
2006.04 - 2008.08
B Comm. (Honours) Accounting - Accounting
University of The Western Cape
2002.01 - 2002.12
B Comm. Accounting - Accounting
University of The Western Cape
1998.01 - 2001.12