Using PHP for server utilities

Hello- I am dreading having to break out my perl books, so here is a thought about using PHP on the server to handle a chore for me. I have a Linux ftp server that accepts files from a mainframe every night. I need to take those files, determine when the transfer is done and then re-send them to another machine across a wan. When that transfer is complete I need to make a new directory (date would be ok) and move all of the files into that directory, tar them and finally produce a status page. Thoughts? Has anyone tried this with php? BTW--it has to be automatic as a cron job. Thanks in advance. -Scott