Finance Manager

Company Overview

Latitude Trade Company (LTC) is a rapidly growing social enterprise in Uganda sourcing specialty cacao for export and producing bean to bar chocolate at origin. Working with over 2,500 certified organic smallholder farmers, our mission is to sustainably increase incomes and reduce risk for our suppliers while positively impacting the community and environment surrounding our operations. We aim to provide chocolate makers and consumers in East Africa and around the world with the highest quality, transparently sourced and fully traceable Ugandan cocoa products.

Latitude's sources all of it's cacao directly from Ugandan farmers, paying a premium price and offering an array of support services. The Latitude Craft Chocolate (LCC) brand is produced from bean to bar at the company's chocolate factory in Kampala. LCC has won 3 international chocolate awards and is sold not only in East Africa, but also in Europe, UK (https://cocoarunners.com/maker/latitude/), US, and Japan.

Job Description

The Finance Manager is a full-time in-country position supporting both sourcing and chocolate operations in Uganda reporting directly to the Managing Director. The core responsibilities for this position include:

·       Oversight of all sourcing and chocolate-related finances and accounts

·       Direct supervision of 3-5 Accounts Assistants, Cashiers and Jr. Accountants across 3 offices including: training and onboarding, work plans for task management, performance management, review and approval of work prior to finalization, guidance and instruction and approval of schedules (travel, leave, etc)

·       Coordination of cash requirements at each office

·       Submission of regular management accounts, payroll, and taxes in an accurate and timely manner by 10th day of the following month

·       Review of all monthly transactions and expense categorization

·       Invoice verification and routine checking and follow-up of debtors/creditors lists

·       Inventory: Oversee proper inventory records across entire company (raw cocoa, chocolate ingredients, processed chocolate)

·       COS: Proper tracking and reflection of COS across both sides of the company

·       Oversee verification of bank transaction recipients, amounts, bank reconciliations

·       Ensure proper tracking of materials use: vehicle mileage and maintenance, use and disposal of bags, production supplies, etc.

·       Routine random audits of petty cash management, inventory, accountability, prices, tax compliance, etc.

·       Risk management and mitigation

·       Oversee budgeting and reporting across all offices

·       Accurate and routine tracking and reporting for loans and investors

·       Preparation for and coordination of annual audit

·       Support in coordination of export documentation & freight (cocoa, cocoa butter & chocolate) and imports (sugar, machinery, etc.)

All employees are encouraged to propose programs, strategies or experiments which they feel offer a promising avenue for improvements to the company or livelihoods of the farmers.

Benefits & Compensation:

·       Monthly salary

·       Coverage of health related costs

·       Accommodation, if relocating from home location

·       Communications allowance

·       Flexible annual leave schedule

·       Coverage of all work-related travel

Qualifications:

·       Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree from reputable university in related field

·       CPA or ACCA

·       3+ years’ experience working and living in Africa or similar context

·       Knowledge of or previous experience in agriculture, agronomy, or agro-processing

·       Experience in finance, accounting, or bookkeeping

·       High level of organizational skills

·       Ability and willingness to learn and problem-solve independently (required)

·       Willingness to travel to and work in rural areas

·       Patience & sense of humor