Finance Business Partner at Corporate Staffing

• He/She will be tasked with maximizing the company revenue generation and optimizing resource allocation (marketing and trade-marketing investments, SG&A). You will provide the Africa Head Office with support functions by having a deep understanding of the market forces and business performance and supporting the strategic decision-making process. Along with the local Operations Business Partner and Accountant, the Finance Business Partner is the key local support to ensure the affiliate’s compliance with local regulations and Group requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

Revenue generation

Value Chains 

• Understand and monitor the key elements impacting value creation, margin split, and of it sharing in the market.
• Build and update value-chain analyses by product, distribution channel, and customer where relevant.

icing and Trade terms optimization

• Monitor the competitors’ shelf ices and make recommendations on ice increases and ice adjustments.
• Propose and formalize new ice lists in close collaboration with the affiliate’s Country Manager and Africa RGM team.
• Propose ices for new product introduction based on formalized value chains.

Trade terms optimization

• Review and challenge existing customer distribution agreements and trade terms.
• Co-build optimized annual trade terms and incentives with the local commercial team and Africa team.
• Support best practice sharing and trade terms alignment between African customers/markets.
• Ensure monthly compliance of customers with signed trade terms.

Promotion Effectiveness

• Assess the efficiency of in-trade promotions through local adaptation of e- and post-evaluation tools in collaboration with the Africa team.
• Assist the commercial team in decision-making.

Resource allocation

A&P investments

• Support commercial and trade marketing team in building rolling A&P forecast by brand/project.
• Monitor A&P expenses vs latest forecast (by brand/project).

SG&A

• Build non-P&B SG&A annual budget and estimates in collaboration with Africa Head Office.
• Ensure oper utilization of non-P&B SG&A budgeted expenses.

Stakeholder relations

• Give internal stakeholders accurate financial information when required.
• Provide ‘real-time’ support and advice to the business, adding value to the decision-making process.
• Analyse information received from internal stakeholders for accuracy and reasonableness, challenge inputs where appropriate, and present findings to relevant stakeholders concisely.
• Develop appropriate tools to enable the business to better manage and understand the financial performance of their brands, functions, and/or customers.
• Work with business partners to identify risks and opportunities, escalating these to the appropriate levels when required.

Compliance with local regulation

Tax

• Timeously submit tax returns prepared by Africa Head Office to local authorities.
• Closely work with Africa Head Office to answer any local tax query.
• Handle tax audits and litigation, liaising with Africa Head Office, tax advisors, and tax authorities.

Other legal requirements

• Perform legal watch and inform local teams and the Africa Head Office about any change in local regulations.

External Audit process

• Support the external audit process by providing relevant, accurate and timely responses to audit queries.

Compliance with Group requirements

 Internal control

• Support the Africa Control & Efficiency team in the local roll-out of internal control policies and processes.

Qualifications and skills

• BSc/BA in Accounting, Finance, or relevant field. MSc is an added advantage.
• Over 5 years in financial reporting, report writing, and analytical experience, financial audit or financial advisory (Transactions and Corporate Finance).
• Experience in the FMCG environment is appreciated.
• International environment exposure will be an added advantage.
• Preference will be given to applicants who have worked in a multi-national environment.
• Knowledge and experience in database management & BI (Business Intelligence) applications/tools.
• Knowledge of IFRS principles.
• Knowledge and use of ERP systems.
• Advanced Excel and PowerPoint.