Finance Manager Liner / Principal Company

Job Description

Finance Manager – Liner / Principal Company

Position Overview

The Finance Manager – Liner / Principal Company will be responsible for managing and controlling the complete financial operations of the Principal/Liner business within the NVOCC organization. The role will have end-to-end accountability for the Principal Company's Profit & Loss (P&L), receivables, payables, cash flow, agency remittances and financial reporting.

The position will work closely with the Principal Company, Agency Companies, Commercial, Operations, and senior management to ensure accurate financial reporting, timely collection of receivables, settlement of liabilities, and proper remittance of funds by Agency Companies.

Key Responsibilities

1. Principal Company P&L Management

Take complete ownership and accountability for the Principal Company's monthly and annual P&L.

Prepare, review, and analyze monthly P&L statements, budgets, forecasts, and financial performance.

Monitor revenue, freight income, agency income, operating expenses, vessel/container-related costs, and other relevant income and expenditure.

Investigate significant variances against budget, forecast, and prior periods and provide explanations to management.

Identify areas of revenue leakage, unnecessary costs, and margin erosion and recommend corrective actions.

Ensure that all revenues and expenses relating to the Principal Company are accurately captured in the accounting system.

Support senior management with financial analysis and business-performance reporting.

2. Accounts Receivable – Principal Company

Have overall responsibility for Principal Company receivables and ensure timely collection of outstanding amounts.

Monitor customer and agency receivables, ageing reports, overdue balances, and credit exposure.

Establish effective follow-up procedures for overdue invoices and coordinate with Commercial/Operations teams where necessary.

Review customer and agency account reconciliations and resolve discrepancies promptly.

Monitor credit limits and payment terms and escalate significant overdue or high-risk accounts to management.

Ensure proper accounting and allocation of customer receipts.

Provide regular receivables forecasts and expected collection reports.

3. Accounts Payable – Principal Company

Manage and oversee all Principal Company payables and ensure liabilities are accurately recorded and settled within agreed terms.

Review supplier, service-provider, port, carrier, agent, and other operational invoices for accuracy and completeness.

Ensure appropriate supporting documentation and approvals are available before payments are processed.

Monitor the accounts payable ageing and prepare payment schedules based on cash-flow requirements and contractual obligations.

Reconcile supplier statements and resolve outstanding discrepancies.

Ensure that payments are properly authorized, recorded, and allocated to the relevant cost centers/voyages/services.

4. Agency Company Remittances

Maintain full accountability for all remittances from Agency Companies to the Principal Company.

Establish and monitor agency remittance schedules in accordance with contractual agreements and Principal Company requirements.

Track funds collected by Agency Companies on behalf of the Principal Company and ensure timely remittance.

Reconcile agency statements, collections, expenses, commissions, and remittances on a regular basis.

Monitor outstanding agency balances and immediately follow up on delayed or incomplete remittances.

Ensure that agency remittances are correctly allocated against the relevant invoices, voyages, customers, or accounting entries.

Prepare regular Agency Remittance Ageing and Outstanding Reports for senior management and the Principal Company.

Investigate and resolve differences between Principal Company records and Agency Company accounts.

Ensure that agency deductions, commissions, approved expenses, and other adjustments are properly supported and authorized.

Financial Reporting & Management Information

Prepare accurate and timely monthly management accounts for the Principal Company.

Develop financial dashboards and reports covering:

Revenue and profitability

P&L performance

Accounts receivable ageing

Accounts payable ageing

Agency remittances

Cash flow

Outstanding agency balances

Budget vs. actual performance

Provide meaningful financial analysis and recommendations to senior management.

Ensure financial information submitted to the Principal Company is accurate, complete, and timely.

Qualifications & Experience

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Commerce, or a related discipline.

Typically 7–10 years of relevant finance/accounting experience, preferably within NVOCC, shipping, freight forwarding, logistics, liner, or maritime organizations.

Strong experience in P&L management, accounts receivable, accounts payable, cash flow, and financial reporting.

Demonstrated experience managing agency accounts and remittances is highly desirable.

Strong understanding of shipping/NVOCC accounting, including freight revenue, agency settlements, voyage-related costs, and intercompany transactions.

Experience with ERP/accounting systems and advanced Excel skills.

Strong analytical and reconciliation capabilities.

Required Competencies:

Strong financial and commercial acumen.

Excellent understanding of P&L and balance-sheet management.

Strong attention to detail and numerical accuracy.

Excellent receivables and collections management skills.

Strong follow-up and negotiation skills.

Ability to identify financial discrepancies and control weaknesses.

Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills.

Ability to work independently and take ownership of financial results.

High level of integrity, confidentiality, and accountability.

Ability to work under tight reporting deadlines.

Reporting Structure

Reports to: CFO / Finance Director / Managing Director

Functional Scope: Principal Company / Liner Finance

Key Interfaces: Principal Company Finance Team, Agency Companies, Commercial, Operations, Treasury, Accounts, Senior Management, Auditors

Overall Accountability

The Finance Manager will be the financial owner of the Principal Company's business, ensuring that the P&L is accurate and controlled, receivables are collected on time, payables are properly managed, cash flow is maintained, and all Agency Companies fulfill their financial obligations and remit funds to the Principal Company within agreed timelines.