Finance Manager

Job Title

Manager: Finance

About the Company

Since its establishment in 2008, Mulilo has grown into one of the leading Independent Power Producers (IPP) in Southern Africa. Mulilo is majority owned by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, the world’s leading private equity investor in renewable energy assets, through its New Markets Fund I. Mulilo has concluded numerous PPA's in both the Department of Mineral Energy's Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPPP) and with several large corporate energy users. Mulilo currently operates 450MW of wind and solar PV projects and has a further 500MW of projects under financial close and close to 1GWh of energy storage projects awarded with its partners. Having adopted a strategy that aligns with the company's long-term vision, Mulilo has accumulated a pipeline of projects exceeding 25GW, and is now positioned as a key player in the renewable energy sector. 

Mulilo places strong emphasis on its human capital and prides itself in providing a world class working environment for all its employees, thereby placing huge value on career progression and personal growth. 

Mulilo is guided by strong ethical principles and adheres to its environmental, social and governance responsibilities.  

About this role

The Finance Manager (Asset Management) is responsible for the finance function of the Construction projects, ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting, compliance and reviewing the work of the Financial Accountant and Accounts Payable & Finance Officer to ensure the smooth operation of financial activities within the renewable energy sector as detailed below.

Duties and responsibilities 

Reporting

• Preparing/ reviewing monthly management accounts for construction SPVs which will eventually become operating SPVs.
• Reporting actuals vs budget within Group month-end timetable.
• Investigating, understanding and explaining any variances – working with local asset management team
• Preparation and review management accounts. Review revenue, invoices and purchase orders for accuracy, classification, and approval.
• Reporting on actuals expenditures vs budget
• Where possible, look for opportunities to improve P&L performance.

Providing input to annual budget and reviews

• Provide input to the annual budget where required and review the budget before finalised by Asset Management and presented to the Board for approval.
• Simulate cash flows and forecasts.

Loan Compliance

• Understanding the terms in the various facility and shareholders agreements.
• Ensuring debt service payments are paid on time and accurately.
• Support Asset Management where required.

Working capital management

• Coordinating accounts payable process to ensure all invoices are logged, approved and paid on time.
• Ownership of local cash planning and management.
• Being the key relationship point for local banking providers.
• Responsible for local compliance with Group financial control policies (e.g., approval matrix, bank authorities). 

Coordinating local SPV and Service Co accounting

• Ensuring monthly accounting entries are made in ERP system (the Group-wide accounting software) accurately and in line with the Group’s monthly close timings.
• Reviewing the monthly accounting entries made and ensuring key checks and controls (e.g., bank reconciliations, aged debt analysis) have been performed.
• Ensuring that the TB balances are reconciled and agrees to supporting documentation and audit ready.
• Performing analytical review of management accounts ensuring it is accurate and complete.
• Reviewing work of Financial Accountant and Accounts Payable & Finance Officer.
• Ensuring statutory accounts are prepared and filed accurately and timely.

Coordinating local audit work for any local statutory audit requirements and Group audit review.

• Coordinating & managing local audit timetable
• Preparing audit deliverables.
• Co- ordinating the AFS preparation and review.

Ensuring tax compliance

• Ensuring corporate income tax returns prepared are filed timely and accurately,
• Ensuring VAT returns are filed timely and accurately where applicable,
• Ensuring payroll & payroll taxes are filed timely and accurately if applicable,
• Ensuring withholding tax etc (if applicable) are paid timely and accurately,
• Ensuring all tax payments due are paid on time.

Communication

• Communication with various stakeholders is of primary importance. The applicant will be required to ensure that the financial requirements of the entities as well as operational matters are communicated to stakeholders timeously through regularly held board meetings.

Required skills and education background

• Degree in Accounting/Finance and a recognized accounting qualification CA (SA) is essential.
• At least 5 years of experience, ideally within an energy, utility, industrial company or similar industry.
• Experience in project finance loan management is a plus
• Caseware knowledge is advantageous.
• Understanding of IFRS, Budgeting, Forecasting and Financial Analysis.
• Keen to take ownership of tasks and responsibilities and ensure that work is completed in an accurate and timely manner and all financial and covenant requirements of lenders are complied with.
• Proactive self-starter, highly motivated, focused on working at a high level and producing an excellent work product under changing priorities and deadlines.
• Good relationship builder – open and honest style – excellent communication skills. Able to communicate effectively and deal comfortably with multiple projects/requests.
• Excellent English both written and verbal.
• Excellent Excel Skills
• Familiarity with Financial modelling would be a plus but not essential

Desirable attributes

The ideal candidate would have a passion for the Renewable Energy sector and personality traits would include a high level of diligence, determination, resilience, and agility.

Mulilo is an employer of choice and is offering an extremely competitive total remuneration package for this position.

Additional Information

Might be required to work overtime according to operational needs.

The position is based at the offices of the company, but travel may be required occasionally.