Finance Accountant ​- Supply Chain

Join us as a Finance Accountant – Supply Chain

Function - Supply Chain Finance

Reports to - Supply Chain Finance Manager: Assets & Logistics Manager

Scope - South Africa

Location - Durban or Johannesburg

Terms & Conditions - Full-time

ABOUT UNILEVER

With 3.4 billion people in over 190 countries using our products every day, Unilever is a business that makes a real impact on the world. Work on brands that are loved and improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us. We are driven by our purpose: to make sustainable living commonplace, and it is our belief that doing business the right way drives superior performance. At the heart of what we do is our people – we believe that when our people work with purpose, we will create a better business and a better world. 

At Unilever, your career will be a unique journey, grounded in our inclusive, collaborative, and flexible working environment. We don’t believe in the ‘one size fits all’ approach and instead we will equip you with the tools you need to shape your own future.

JOB PURPOSE

We are seeking a highly motivated and analytical Supply Chain Accountant to support the financial management of inventory, Business Waste, and Supply Chain Indirects (SCI). The role is responsible for ensuring accurate financial reporting, strong governance and controls, balance sheet integrity, and delivering meaningful insights to support business decision-making and continuous improvement across the Supply Chain.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Inventory & Stock Reporting

  • Own the month-end stock reporting process, ensuring accuracy and completeness of inventory balances.

  • Perform inventory reconciliations and balance sheet reviews, investigating and resolving discrepancies in a timely manner.

  • Monitor inventory movements, stock provisions, and ageing reports to ensure compliance with accounting policies.

  • Partner with Operations, Logistics, Planning, and Factory teams to improve inventory visibility and control.

  • Provide analysis and insights on stock trends, risks, and opportunities to management.

• Business Waste Management

  • Lead the Business Waste and SLOBs (Slow Moving and Obsolete Stock) reporting process.

  • Validate waste provisions, write-offs, and reserve calculations in line with company policy and accounting standards.

  • Ensure all write-offs are appropriately approved and supported by adequate documentation.

  • Conduct root cause analysis of waste drivers and partner with operational teams to identify sustainable improvement actions.

  • Maintain audit-ready records and support internal and external audit requirements.

• Supply Chain Indirects (SCI)

  • Manage Supply Chain Indirect cost reporting, forecasting, budgeting, and variance analysis.

  • Provide financial analysis and challenge cost drivers to improve spending efficiency.

  • Support stakeholders in identifying productivity initiatives and cost-saving opportunities.

  • Monitor SCI expenditure against budget and provide timely insights into performance and risks.

  • Drive accountability through robust financial reporting and governance processes.

• Governance, Controls & Reporting

  • Ensure compliance with internal control requirements, accounting policies, and governance standards.

  • Prepare and post journals, accruals, provisions, and month-end adjustments.

  • Support balance sheet reviews and ensure timely clearance of reconciling items.

  • Maintain strong financial controls and continuously identify opportunities to simplify, standardize, and automate processes.

  • Support audit activities and ensure full compliance with audit and control requirements.

• Business Partnering

  • Build strong relationships with Supply Chain, Planning, Logistics, Manufacturing, and Finance stakeholders.

  • Provide financial insights and recommendations to support strategic and operational decision-making.

  • Drive a culture of financial accountability and continuous improvement across the Supply Chain.

• Adhocs

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Degree in Accounting, Finance, Commerce, or related field.

• 5-8 years of experience in Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Operations, or Commercial Finance environments.

• Chartered Accountant (CA(SA)), CIMA, ACCA, or equivalent qualification will be advantageous.

• Strong understanding of inventory accounting, costing, provisions, and financial controls.

• Experience using SAP or similar ERP systems

Skills

• Advanced Microsoft Excel, SAP PM/FI and PA knowledge desirable

• Digital Native

• Stakeholder Management Strong work ethic, great attitude, self-starting & initiative-taking mind-set, resilience in the face of pressure, strong team player

• Strong Control mindset

Leadership Behaviours – Supply Chain Accountant

• Results & Continuous Improvement: Demonstrates strong ownership and accountability for delivering accurate, timely, and high-quality financial reporting across inventory, Business Waste, and Supply Chain Indirects (SCI). Continuously seeks opportunities to simplify processes, improve reporting accuracy, strengthen controls, and drive operational efficiencies. Collaborate effectively with Supply Chain, Logistics, Planning, and Finance teams to identify and implement sustainable improvements that enhance business performance.

• Accountability & Business Insight: Takes full accountability for financial results, reporting integrity, and compliance with internal controls, accounting policies, and governance requirements. Acts as a trusted business partner by translating financial information into actionable insights, enabling informed decision-making and promoting financial discipline across the Supply Chain.

• Analytical Thinking & Data-Driven Decision Making: Applies strong analytical and problem-solving skills to interpret financial and operational data, identify trends, risks, and performance opportunities. Proactively investigates variances, inventory risks, waste drivers, and cost overruns, providing practical recommendations that support productivity, waste reduction, and cost optimization objectives.

• Governance & Control Excellence: Maintains a strong control and compliance mindset, ensuring all inventory, Business Waste, and SCI transactions are accurately recorded, supported, reviewed, and approved in line with company policies and audit requirements. Champions a culture of governance, accountability, and continuous control improvement.

• Commercial & Operational Acumen: Demonstrates a strong understanding of Supply Chain operations and the key drivers impacting inventory, waste, logistics, and indirect costs. Uses financial insights to challenge assumptions, support decision-making, and drive initiatives that improve profitability, cash flow, and operational efficiency.

Unilever Behaviors

• Care Deeply: We care deeply about how consumers experience our brands every day, everywhere; about our people’s growth and development, and our impact on the planet. We care about our performance, to a point where it hurts when we don’t win.

• Focus on What Counts: We ruthlessly prioritise what truly matters, and so do fewer things brilliantly. We set clear goals & direction and recognise others for maximum impact.

• Stay Three Steps Ahead: We think boldly and creatively to make breakthroughs in performance. We are always curious and confident - anticipating and staying ahead of consumer needs and external trends, to beat the competition.

• Deliver with Excellence: We deliver excellence in what we do at pace. We take personal ownership and hold each other to account – always finding a way to do what we said we will do.

Unilever is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We are intentional in attracting and developing talent that reflects the demographics of our country and supports improved representation of under-represented groups.

We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including differences in age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion, and beliefs. In line with South African Employment Equity and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment legislation, these considerations will form part of the recruitment process.

As part of our legal obligations, all appointments are subject to verification of the right to work in South Africa. Applicants who are foreign nationals may be required to provide appropriate documentation to support their eligibility to work.

Unilever is an organisation committed to equity, inclusion and diversity to drive our business results and create a better future, every day, for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their ‘Whole Self’ to work and this includes you! Thus if you require any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of your application so that we can support you through your recruitment journey.

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