Branch Accountant - FMCG - East Africa

Role Overview

The Branch Accountant manages the financial records, cash activity, stock accounting, and control procedures that keep a busy FMCG branch operating accurately and responsibly. Working across finance, warehouse, sales, and supplier transactions, this role gives management reliable reporting, helps protect company assets, and supports timely tax and audit compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain branch ledgers and supporting records, prepare regular profit and loss reports, reconcile balance sheet accounts, and complete month-end journals and budget-to-actual analysis.
• Record stock movements, transfers, finished goods, damages, and breakages; coordinate routine cycle counts and monthly physical counts against ERP balances.
• Investigate stock discrepancies, short deliveries, transit losses, and suspected leakage, and escalate significant findings to management promptly.
• Review customer and distributor balances, credit limits, and overdue accounts, supporting effective collection and credit control.
• Oversee daily receipts, bank deposits, cash and bank reconciliations, petty cash, and point-of-sale handovers in line with branch cash procedures.
• Check and process approved operating expenses, utility bills, supplier invoices, and local vendor payments; reconcile vendor accounts before payment.
• Prepare and submit applicable statutory returns, including VAT, withholding tax, PAYE, and local levies, in accordance with relevant regional deadlines.
• Apply company financial controls, retain complete supporting documentation, and assist internal and external auditors with financial, tax, and stock reviews.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Commerce, or a related discipline.
• Three to five or more years of relevant accounting experience; experience in FMCG, retail, distribution, or manufacturing operations is preferred.
• CPA (K/T/U), ACCA, or an equivalent professional accounting qualification is strongly preferred.
• Practical experience using an ERP system such as SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, Tally, or QuickBooks.
• Working knowledge of inventory valuation, cost accounting, branch cash controls, and East African tax rules and filing requirements.
• Strong Excel skills, including VLOOKUP and PivotTables, with the ability to analyse financial information and build useful models.
• Sound numerical and problem-solving ability, close attention to detail, and a high standard of integrity.