Manager Finance – Africa

Job Summary
Direct responsibility for BU Finance function. Business partnering with GM in all operational and strategic decision making. Facilitate structured BU business reviews. Actively support BU Annual Business Planning exercise in accordance with Corporate guidelines. Continuously monitor key business performance metrics. Lead/support cross functional BU/Corporate initiatives. Ensure financial discipline. Strengthen internal controls. Build a high performance Finance team.
Reporting Relationship -Direct: to GM
Dotted line: to Director Finance
Qualifications & experience

Professional qualification – CAwith 5-10 years relevant experience of which at least 3-5 years as Mgr Finance of medium/large sized FMCG businesses (multi-product/multi-location) in Africa.
Domain expert knowledge and relevant experience of financial accounting, business analysis, business planning, forecasting, costing, treasury and taxation.
Business focus; exposure to business partnering and strategic decision making.
Hands-on exposure to Oracle, SAP or other major ERP.
Highly analytical, commercially oriented with good grasp of numbers.
Effective communication and presentation skills. Ability to interact with Board/Senior Management.

Key responsibilities

Business partnering with GM in all operational and strategic decision making. Drive day-to-day business performance through analysis and monitoring of key business performance metrics. Facilitate structured business reviews.
Actively participate in development of BU 3-year Strategy Statement and Annual Business Plan as per Corporate guidelines.
Monitor and ensure development of business intelligence and key business metrics including margin control, brand/customer profitability, product costing, CMI/TMI spends, SKU rationalisation, NPD, MTM etc.
Lead/actively support cross functional cost saving/ optimisation, efficiency improvement, revenue/margin maximisation and other BU initiatives.
Ensure financial discipline and working capital management. Ensure availability and optimum utilisation of bank facilities in co-ordination with Corporate Treasury. Monitor capital expenditure. Ensure strict credit control.
Continuously monitor foreign currency, interest and counter party risks. Help devise risk management strategies.
Critically examine and help strengthen existing BU systems, workflows, procedures, policies and controls.
Ensure compliance with applicable laws. Independently handle BU statutory audit and facilitate internal audit.
Maintain cordial relationship with Government agencies, banks, auditors, legal firms and key business partners.