Ernest Simwinga

Reporting to: CEO

Duties:

• Prepared Management Accounts and quarterly financial board packs for board meetings ( i.e Statement of financial position, Income statement, revenue performance reports and cash flow statements etc)
• Prepared and submitted Quarterly Prudential Returns to Central Bank (BoZ).
• Ensured that company meets all compliant regulations with relevant regulatory bodies such as Pension funds, workers' compensation, financing institution and ZRA.
• Developed annual budget and ensured that it was implemented.
• Managed working capital and monthly cash plans in adherence to company budget.
• Manage loan book for correctness as per loan terms and ensure accurate statements are distributed to customers.
• Performed both month and year-end financial processes, journal entries, cash book reconciliation review and produce annual financial statements.
• Established financial policies and accounting operations manual, thereby ensuring that adherence is achieved 100%.
• Ensured that accounting standards such as IFRS are adhered to.
• Supervised Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable matters and all banking activities to ensure correctness and accuracy.
• Liaison with external Auditors, Bank Managers and Tax specialists
• Provided advisory service to directors and shareholders on company's financial operations.
• Managed investments to diversify financial portfolios and grow revenue.
• Monitored budget and revenue trends, compiling reports for company leadership to inform decision-making.
• Prepared monthly reconciliation of bank accounts and took corrective actions on deviations.
• Partnered with IT and operational leadership to develop financial business plans with detailed benchmarks.
• Maintained responsive organization with sustained revenue growth through industry forecast monitoring and deliberate financial planning.
• Supported operations management, sales, and marketing efforts to increase revenue and overall financial health.
• Completed filings and upheld strict compliance with regulatory agencies and supervisors.
• Prepared and managed large capital expenditure budgets to effectively handle infrastructure investment and long-term operations.
• Created organizational structures to improve accounting and finance functions.
• Trained new and existing staff members in various financial procedures to prepare for job requirements.
• Reviewed documentation and identified financial discrepancies where applicable.

Reporting to: Regional Manager for Central and East Africa

Duties

• Managed operations of 40 member staff branch and ensured that available resources (i.e Human capital, fixed assets, working capital including daily operations), were strategically used to grow and sustain the company by effectively driving year-over-year business growth while leading operations, strategic vision, and long-range planning.
• Reviewed financial statements prepared by finance (i.e. Before and after audit) and made sure that audit queries/findings were resolved.
• Facilitated both internal and external auditors.
• Consulted on payroll and human resource matters with Regional Head Office in South Africa as well as third-party appointed payroll consultant, BDO
• Ensured full compliance with all statutory bodies, such as ZRA on income tax, third-party pension providers, Napsa, and EIZ registration.
• Participated in high-level strategic and financial planning meetings and grew revenue by over 25%.
• Ensured that both sales and financial targets were met by implementing structures such as on-time sales deliveries and timely accurate monthly debt collections.
• Reviewed and analyzed month-to-month financial performance comparing actual transactions against forecast and budget numbers in order to control any deviations and improve performance, e.g. Capital expenditure, turnover, and operational expenses.
• Established trust relationships with customers and negotiated for sales contracts ( e.g Glencore, Vedanta, CNMC Luanshya Mines and First Quantum Minerals), increasing revenue and establishing long-term customer relations.
• Established sustainable business for group and ensured year-on-year profitable growth for branch including scouting for greenfields markets(new customers)
• Identified competitors and replicators in industry and Through engagement with company's marketing and sales team, strategized ways of having competitive advantage and winning back any lost business.
• Established safe environment within branch by encouraging safety training, daily safety talks and improving safety procedures thereby creating safe working conditions for workers.
• Maintained ISO and OHSAS standards and accreditation in keeping with group safety standards.
• Offered and was trusted with fiduciary duties - Operated as a member of the executive board and custodian of company documents and authorized signatory to company accounts including bank accounts.
• Expanded client base by setting up in-person meetings both in Zambia and the DRC as well using media communication with key members of customers.
• Communicated clearly with employees, suppliers and stakeholders to keep everyone on same page and working toward established business goals.
• Onboarded new employees with training and new hire documentation.
• Developed a succession plan for employees at various levels in supervisory and management positions(e.g Through external and in-house training)
• Managed and motivated employees to be productive and engaged in work by monitoring daily activities and mentoring team members.
• Monitored financial performance, set budgets and controlled expenses to provide financial stability and long-term organizational growth. Preparing annual and monthly sales forecasts and budget figures.
• Managed budget implementations, employee reviews, training, schedules, and contract negotiations.
• Negotiated prices and services with customers and vendors to decrease expenses and increase profit.
• Prepared and managed large capital expenditure budgets to effectively handle infrastructure investment and long-term operations.
• Created organizational structures to improve accounting and finance functions to improve financial performance reporting structures.

Reporting to: Country Manager

Duties:

• Supervised Commercial sales and Stores departments, heading a total of 10 members of staff.
• Played a key role as advisor to Country Manager on the company's financial performance, monthly and annual sales performance and cost analysis
• Reviewed the financial statements before and after an audit and collaborated with finance manager in resolving any financial/audit queries.
• Developed and implemented annual sales budget as well as departmental capital budget. Reviewed month-by-month transactional performance in line with budget and gave an overview to senior management for further cost management and profitability growth.
• Managed working capital for the company and ensured that monthly reports and reconciliations were accurately maintained and reported to other senior managers.
• Negotiated, reviewed and managed annual customer prices and customer contracts in order to maintain long-term customer relationships and revenue growth. Contracts established with Vedanta, FQM, Glencore and LNMC Luanshya Mine.
• Managed the branch's treasury functions. Liaison with the bank and the company's group treasury department on all foreign exchange functions such as negotiating and implementing hedging of funds, monitoring monthly exchange rates, and negotiating and selling/buying foreign currency.
• Managed import and export processes for the company's core products with foreign suppliers and customers including adherence to all statutory obligations. Dealing with various receivers of revenue through the engagement of in-house clearing agents in order to handle border tax matters such as customs duty and import taxes
• Collaborated with group HR Management in employee recruitment, salary reviews, employee contract reviews and reviews of employees' yearly personal performance by using indicative KPIs.
• Managed Payroll processing and ensured that all statutory-related matters were timely submitted to relevant statutory compliance institutions such as ZRA, external pension funds and NAPSA.
• Facilitated both Internal and external audits and ensured smooth audit runnings.
• Provided and was trusted with fiduciary duties – As Executive Director and the custodian of company documents and authorized signatory to company documents and bank accounts,
• Managed the company's ERP systems in collaboration with IT department. These included Pastel, and Baan LN(equivalent of SAP).
• Implemented and ensured that all assets were ably insured against risk of loss with relevant insurance companies and that any claim of loss is handled on time.
• Researched and identified potential new markets (greenfields).
• Worked with sales team to collaboratively reach targets, consistently meeting or exceeding personal quotas.
• Met with customers to provide information about available products and policies.
• Negotiated contracts and terms of sale with potential customers.

Reporting to: Finance Manager

Duties:

• Supervised both accounts and store departments ensuring 100% accurate reporting.
• Prepared monthly and annual Management Accounts with commentaries to assist senior-level managers in decision-making and forward-looking.
• Prepared and ensured that weekly and monthly working capital reconciliations and reports were submitted to the Finance Manager and the regional finance head office on a time, e.g Accounts receivable reports, inventory reports, accounts payable reports, and cash management
• Reviewed bank & cash account reconciliations prepared by Financial Accountant
• Prepared and processed monthly journals with 100% accuracy.
• Prepared payroll and ensured that all statutory obligations are submitted and paid for on time.
• Cooperated with senior managers to create operating budgets and initiate financial planning.
• Monitored company sales, spending and budgets.
• Identified past financial trends, performed risk management and predicted future outcomes and needs.
• Facilitated both internal and external audits
• Supervised and reviewed cyclical, quarterly and yearly stock counts.
• Captured GRNs and issued supplier invoices
• Liaison with Internal Sales on all incoming shipments.
• Maintained integrity of general ledger and chart of accounts.
• Compiled general ledger entries on short schedule with 100% accuracy.
• Collaborated with Financial Accountant to comply with governing bodies and limit regulatory risks.

Reporting to: Finance Manager

Duties:

• Supervised inventory departments and increased stock accuracy by over 90%.
• Liaison with both internal and external auditors and ensured that financial statements were produced as per IFRS and presented to senior managers and board of directors.
• Prepared financial statements in accordance with IFRS/IAS accounting standards and in readiness for audit and presentation to the senior managers.
• Prepared annual Corporate Tax as well as monthly VAT workings and returns in accordance with tax regulatory compliance procedures and submitted to Zambia Revenue Authority upon review by senior managers.
• Contributed to financial and operational risk reduction by evaluating effectiveness of internal controls and systems.
• Minimized losses and checked compliance with internal protocols by analyzing and preparing effective annual budgets.
• Led daily general ledger entries, using double-entry accounting method and check backs.
• Analyzed and prepared annual expenditure budgets to contain costs, minimize losses and assure compliance with internal controls.
• Tracked business revenue and expenditures and reconciled accounts to maintain high accuracy.
• Investigated daily variances and corrected errors to resolve discrepancies.
• Reconciled account information and reported figures in general ledger by comparing to bank account statements each month.
• Compiled budget figures by reviewing past budgets, evaluating estimated income, and assessing expenses.
• Prepared and processed payroll for both senior management and junior staff members. Ensuring that all payroll-related statutory returns are submitted to the regulatory bodies on time.
• Managed and maintained accurate records of accounts receivables, reconciling and ensuring that collections are made in accordance with credit term agreements.
• Maintained timely reconciliations of bank accounts giving 100% accurate results.
• Reviewed customer order intake by monitoring daily sales reports.
• Reviewed weekly and monthly stock counts and analyzed stock reports prepared by store's controller.
• Managed company's treasury function, ensuring that exchange differential risks are controlled through hedging, exchange rate monitoring and consistent liaison with financial institutions.
• Implemented internal functional controls & carried out the company's administrative duties.
• Managed and updated fixed assets register, accurately maintaining amortization schedule as well as updating balance sheet all in accordance with IAS16.

Reported to: Financial Controller

Duties:

• Supervised accounts department with four subordinates.
• Custodian and enforced internal control systems for accounts departments.
• Prepared monthly payroll for both Junior management staff and unionized employees.
• Managed inventory and ensured above 90% stock accuracy.
• Managed and maintained ERP system in collaboration with IT department station off-site.
• Prepared monthly and annual management accounts to assist with management decisions.
• Prepared VAT returns in accordance with tax compliance and ensured that submission was done on time to meet deadline.
• Contributed to financial and operational risk reduction by evaluating effectiveness of controls and subsystems.
• Input financial data and produced reports using sun system.
• Led daily general ledger entries, using double-entry accounting method and check backs.
• Investigated daily sales variances to budget and corrected errors to resolve discrepancies.

Reporting to: Financial Accountant,

Duties

• Maintained sales record analysis and reconciliations which were handed to financial accountant and financial controller for review and decision-making.
• Processed payroll by validating work hours and attendance of employees.
• Maintained detailed financial records of accounts receivable and payable status and bank reconciliations.
• Managed inventory system and supervised monthly stock counts.
• Facilitated month-end and year-end closing processes to support accuracy and completeness of financial reports.