Yekanthi Pather CA (SA)

Experience

• 

  PwC South Africa

  Jan 2011 - Dec 2013

  Trainee Accountant

  Responsibilities included supervision and project management of external audits for a mix of Corporate and Small to medium entities

• 

  PwC

  Jan 2014 - Apr 2014

  Senior Associate

  International secondment to PwC Miami which included supervision and conduct of audits in the Banking and financial industry in the USA

• 

  Vector Logistics

  May 2014 - Jan 2020

  Strategic:-Participate in the formulation & implementation of the national strategy, based on 5 year view of requirements, ensuring the agreed strategic objectives are implemented through team targetsCustomer Pricing & Contracts:-Calculate & provide accurate pricing information for price negotiations-Review contracts/agreements & lead annual pricing negotiations-Formulate commercial tramlines & prepare presentations to internal/external parties-Manage existing/new contracts in consultation with the Legal TeamBudgeting & Forecasting:-Compile & review results of the budgeting & forecasting processes, including volume & revenue analysis-Update the revenue target trackers, highlight risk areas, growth strategy & margin improvement opportunities-Complete annual “tail cutting” reviewsProfitability Analysis:-Provide meaningful profitability information & recommend methods to optimize customer & business profitability-Support the customer team in the use of system tools regarding costing & profitabilityActivity-Based Costing:-Drive & review the functionality of the ABC system & the associated business efficiency opportunities to improve the accuracy & integrity of the model-Develop/extend the ABC model to all business areasReporting:-Compile reports of customer performance and appropriate interpretation of the output identifying opportunities for value added reporting to improve the quality & contentCommercial Insight & Technical Expertise: -Resolve queries resulting from changes in business operations-Provide expertise in meetings & recommend solutions based on insights/findings-Provide practical commercial expertise to external customersWorking Capital Management:-Assess customer working capital status & highlighting areas of riskStaff Management:-Manage staff activities/performance to achieve core objectives-Develop & manage a high performance team who can work cross functionally & solve problems Show less • Finance lead on new business and projects providing critical insight on the impact of financial processes and the impact of potential decisions (including SAP implications)• Implementation of several Customer take ons into the business including testing and sign off on the financial SAP postings• Assessing the implications of Vat in financial transactions• Established and implemented key business processes to manage the creditors book and reduce risk• Management of the Creditors book for the entire business• Provide support to the national finance teams with regards to new process implementation and training new staff as and when required• Support both Commercial and Customer teams in financial discussions• Compliance with IFRS• Review of Annual financial statements• Assess working capital impact of payments• Cash flow analysis Show less Responsibilities include:- Manage the PSD trade creditors’ team by ensuring that all reconciliations are completed and authorised before payment is made- Ensuring that reconciling items are actively resolved- Manage customer reporting requirements- Manage the PSD claims process ensuring no risk to Vector- Review, post and sign off on journals to ensure the accounting is aligned with IFRS and per the contractually agreed terms with Principals- Involved in discussions with both the Commercial and Customer teams when new arrangements are being entered to, including providing insight on the accounting and system implications/limitations- Assess tax implications of journals being processed by the team and ensure it is in line with the Tax act- Oversee the teams’ review of the margins by business area and principal, as well as investigation of variances- Assist branches with margin errors, ensuring correct accounting entries are processed- Review revaluations based on the principal agreement and ensure correct adjustments are processed- Provide support at month-end to the Admin Controllers and Regional Financial Managers- Identify potential control weaknesses within the business and highlight to the correct department- Implement efficiencies within the team in terms of processes being followed and potentially stream lining the said processes- Involved in investigations and queries regarding all areas related to Trade Creditors including resolution- Develop and manage high performance multidisciplinary teams in order to solve problems within the commercial arena- Coach/support staff where necessary to achieve objectives- Make all operational and scheduling decisions that fall within the ambit of responsibility- Solve complex conceptual and operational problems within the ambit of responsibility- Pro-actively identify and implement reporting innovations, particularly those that will improve decision-making, reduce costs and improve overall profitability Show less Responsibilities included:- Budgeting & Forecasting several business areas- New Business Costing- Reporting:» Analyse & interrogate results in the TM1 system by understanding & managing data accuracy & reconciliation in TM1- Streamline existing processes in order to reduce the risk of human error- Present reports in an accurate & timely manner by staying fully informed of business objectives, processes & policies, performance & critical trends- Focus on the compilation of commercial reporting which highlights focus points for the month, exposes core issues, generates action plans & assigns responsibilities- Provide the business with the tools to make informed strategic decisions, implement change & maximize profitability- Analyse & explain KPI fluctuations & variances- Understand the ABC Model & cost drivers in order to provide commercial insight into variances of cost drivers- Variance Analysis:» Analyse proposed changes to control costs & maximize profits & calculate the actual impact of changes that have been made & new cost allocation- Financial Management:» Analyse costs against budgets/forecasts» Drive optimisation of efficiencies in the business» Analyse actual KPI’s versus budget & work with the teams to address areas of non-conformance/concern proactively & timeously- Information & Data Management:» Ensure teams accurately & regularly capture data to enable access to reliable information for trend analysis & decision making- Team Coordination by taking ownership & accountability for tasks/activities & demonstrate effective self-management in terms of planning, prioritising & self-development:» Inform relevant parties in the event of tasks or deadlines not met, potential risks thereof & provide appropriate resolution- Problem Solving/Innovation:» Make procedural decisions» Solve simple/moderately complex operational/commercial problems» Identify & implement innovations, particularly those that will lower costs Show less

  • Commercial Manager

    Jun 2018 - Jan 2020

  • Financial Manager

    Sept 2016 - May 2018

  • PSD Commercial Officer

    Dec 2015 - Aug 2016

  • Commercial Cost Accountant

    May 2014 - Nov 2015
• 

  Mondelēz International

  Jan 2020 - Aug 2020

  Commercial Finance Manager

  • Analysis of the top line strategies from a financial and commercial standpoint, including supporting and challenging these strategies • Build, analyse and make recommendations on business optimisation/investment in consultation with other functions• Build and monitor budgets vs actuals and hold senior leadership accountable for any variances• Strategic management: Support the sales senior team in developing the commercial strategy and analysing the potential sales impact and profitability of different strategies (e.g. trade deal spends)• Financial Analysis: Monitor commercial spend vs rolling forecasts; Month end closing - volume & net sales; Daily monitoring of sales, sales rates, promo spend and reporting to various stakeholders; Daily and monthly monitoring of product mix; Monitor, control and report commercial spend - Implementing mechanisms and tools to facilitate this• Financial Planning and Management: Understand all processes related to sales, within SAP; Control of gross sales, commercial spend and net sales; Maintenance of customer and contractual terms; Monthly reporting of volume and net sales by brand and customer including trend analysis; Working with the order to cash teams to control rebate and discretionary spend; Approval of rebate and ad-hoc payments• Integrated business planning: Closely collaborate with the demand planning team on rolling forecast of sales; Providing the demand planning team with relevant inserts for presentation on product mix etc; Challenge sales and demand planning teams on reasonability of forecasts• Budgeting: Build the budgets and forecasts from volume to net sales by customer and sku, including the company rolling forecasts Show less

• 

  Jumbo Brands

  Aug 2020 - Jun 2021

  Head of Finance (Group)

  Strategy•True business partner to CEO & COO,assess organizational performance against budget/long-term strategy•Develop tools & systems to provide critical financial & operational info. to CEO,make actionable recommendations on strategy & operations•Engage board & audit co. around issues in the operating model/operational delivery•Establish yearly objectives•Oversee long-term budgetary planning,costs management-aligned with strategic plans,expansion/acquisitions•Identify change management needsExecutive•Member of Executive leadership•Participate in key decisions-strategic initiatives,operating model&execution•Prepare/maintain reports;Monthly P/L forecast vs. budget;Cash flow•Analysis of financial results;Develop recommendations•FP&A reports•Develop,execute,manage accounting&admin. department to ensuremaintenance of accounting systems/functions•Enhance & implement systems,processes including internal control measures•Manage preparation/support of external audit•Timely,accurate,useful financial & management reporting;oversee the preparation & communication of all financial reports•Ensure legal & regulatory complianceCorporate Development•Manage relationships with investment bankers,potential investors•Prepare analyses & reports required•Play a catalyst role in Enterprise Risk Management•Insurance program,Legal affairsFinance•Oversee:-Cash flow planning-funds availability-Working capital,investment,asset management-Financing strategies•Develop&utilize forward-looking,predictive models/activity-based financial analyses•Coordinate the development/monitoring of budgets including capital•Develop financial business plans•Participate in corporate policy development•Represent the co. to financial partners•Up to date on best practicesTeam•Mentor&develop a direct team,managing work allocation,training, problem resolution, performance evaluation&building an effective team•Guide larger,cross-divisional teams Show less

• 

  Diplomat Distributors

  Jul 2021 - now

  • Chief Financial Officer

    Sept 2023 - now

  • Head of Commercial Finance

    Jan 2023 - Sept 2023

  • Finance Manager Commercial

    Jul 2021 - Jan 2023