Grains Controller

Overview

The Grains Controller will play a key role in driving financial discipline and transparency across the grains trading business. This role is accountable for accurate, timely, and insightful trade P&L reporting, effective risk and position management controls, and alignment of financial results with operational performance. As part of the Business Control division, the Grains Controller will partner closely with traders, operations, and management to support sound decision-making, safeguard financial integrity, and embed best practices in commercial finance and accounting processes.

Key Responsibilities

• P&L Control, Trade Reporting, and Working Capital Management : Ensure daily P&L reporting is accurate and submitted within agreed timelines; maintain integrity of trade data and alignment with market exposures; monitor and reconcile working capital efficiency; identify and resolve P&L discrepancies and stock valuation variances proactively; circulate estimate and actual emails daily.
• Month-End Close, Management Reporting & Commercial Business Partnering : Month-end close completed within Group deadlines with minimal WD4 adjustments; ensure accuracy and completeness of management reporting (variance analysis, commentary, dashboards); deliver timely insights to support trading, operations, and strategic decisions; ensure high-quality business partnering and stakeholder responsiveness.
• Internal Controls, Audit Readiness & Compliance Governance : Timely resolution of internal and external audit findings; strive for zero repeat audit findings; maintain control self-assessments and risk registers; ensure compliance with group policies, accounting standards, and regulatory frameworks; keep documentation complete (SOPs, reconciliations, signoffs) and address control breaches within agreed timelines.
• Digital Systems Optimization, Process Improvement & Automation : Drive automation of manual processes; demonstrate time savings and error reduction from automation; implement and adopt system upgrades; collaborate cross-functionally to redesign workflows; reduce spreadsheet dependency and reconciliation gaps; support training and change management for new tools or processes.
• Team Leadership, Development & Performance Management : Deliver team objectives aligned with business priorities; conduct regular performance discussions; implement development plans; monitor team engagement and retention; ensure clear role clarity, task ownership, and workload distribution; provide training to take over daily P&L responsibilities of the maize book.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement : Maintain effective communication with key departments (e.g., trading, ops, coordination, finance); resolve interdepartmental queries and bottlenecks; contribute to cross-functional projects and ensure deliverables meet expectations.
• Risk & Exposure Management : Daily / weekly monitoring and reporting of market and operational exposures; escalate and resolve risk incidents or breaches; maintain and review risk registers periodically.

Minimum Criteria

Competencies

Skills, Knowledge, And Experience Required

Desirable Skills

General

Reports to : Business Controller. Salary is market related with provident fund and medical aid benefits. Office based in Techno Park, Stellenbosch. Work model : Monday to Friday with ad hoc flexibility for working from home. Seasonal activities : harvest runs from April to August. December is financial year end.

How to apply

The company offers a competitive salary with provident and medical benefits, incentive opportunities, and opportunities for career growth. Interested parties should submit a comprehensive CV and covering letter via the COFCO Careers website by searching for vacancies in South Africa and following the prompts to apply. Only applications submitted directly on the COFCO Careers website will be considered. If you do not hear from us within 14 days, please regard your application as unsuccessful. Only shortlisted candidates will be moved through the Talent Pipeline; the company appoints in line with its employment equity plan.

Privacy

By contacting COFCO International South Africa (Pty) Ltd., you acknowledge and agree that the company may collect and process your personal information to review and comply with legal obligations. Personal information will be processed in accordance with POPIA and the company’s privacy policy available at

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