Role Summary/Purpose:
This position serves as a critical business partner to the Healthcare Services team to support long term profitable growth of the Services business. He/she will partner with the Africa Services Finance Manager and Africa Services General Manager to drive operating performance and act as a champion for strategic initiatives within the region.
Essential Responsibilities:
Provide focused financial analytics & insights to the Finance Manager & General Manager to assist in setting the right metrics to drive desired behavior for long term profitable business growth
Build annual and quarterly sales to operating profit estimates in line with the business environment, strategic growth initiatives, variable cost productivity actions, cash targets and base cost reduction initiatives
Drive operating mechanisms of the Services business including preparation of financial reports, responding to ad hoc requests on various Africa Service metrics, act as central point of contact on all FP&A (Financial Planning & Analysis) requests by global and regional HQ teams and other stakeholders
Monitor weekly business performance against operating plan, ensuring all costs flowing into the income statement are valid, accurate and timely
In case of variances against plan, investigate root cause and recommend actions to close any process gaps identified
Lead the financial closing process for the Africa Services business, providing daily updates to the regional Services leadership team and coordinating with cross-functional teams to ensure accurate and timely reporting
Performance reporting of key metrics and providing recommendations to the Service teams to meet the operating plan and ensure continuous profitable growth
Own integrity of costing data, drive standardization & process improvement across all aspects of planning and reporting, including best practice sharing across various local teams.
Qualifications/Requirements:
Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance or Economics, and 4 years’ experience in Finance or equivalent knowledge or experience
Must have valid authorization to work full-time without any restriction in the role’s location
Desired Characteristics:
Experience working in a global business environment with sound understanding of global process and transactional flows
Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to communicate complex business issues in a clear/concise manner
Strong PC skills: experience with financial systems/applications such as Oracle, SAP, Business Objects, etc. Strong Excel skills in data compilation and aggregation (pivot tables, Vlookup)
Strong analytical skills: able to clearly link financial results to operational performance drivers, generate alternatives and drive positive change
Ability to work with cross functional teams
Integrity: accepting and adhering to high moral, ethical, and personal values in decisions, communications, actions and when dealing with others
Confidence/Assertiveness: strong influencing skills
The candidate can be based anywhere in Africa
