Head of Finance, SSA at Cipla

FP&A, Accounting and Taxation: Provide decision analysis support, play a key role in finalizing budget and resources allocation, monitor and report actual performance against KPIs. Lead the taxation and accounting vertical.

Business Partnering: Provide financial leadership; challenge, guide, and advice on key business topics that have impact of the financial success of the business. Be a partner in Performance review, strategic planning, and investment proposals to drive best outcomes.

Accountabilities

Financial Leadership, Strategy and Planning

• Partner with Cipla One Africa Leadership and SSA leadership and provide informed financial lens/insights into strategic business decisions (growth plans, M&As, etc)
• Partner with One Africa Finance Leadership to develop and implement SSA financial strategies to support the region's business ambitions.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes.
• Provide financial insights and recommendations to senior management.

Accountabilities

Financial Reporting and Analysis

• Lead and drive accurate and timely reporting of Key Financial metrics as per guidelines both locally and to Central Teams.
• Deliver consistent and relevant PnL Analysis and reviews with Key stakeholders including global, OneAfrica, brand leads, SLT, Sales teams etc.
• Drive the implementation of Monthly Performance Reviews (MORs) and enable the commercial teams with regular Financia insights
• Advice the business on budgetary variances on monthly basis and identify any remedial action that needs to be taken.
• Provide insights and guidance to the business leads on price, mix and volumes analysis

Accountabilities

P&L Leadership

• Facilitate business performance, drive top–line and bottom-line growth and mitigate financial risks to achieve budgeted sales targets for SSA – from both a management reporting and legal entity point of view
• Responsible for business partnering with SSA Business using detailed MIS analysis with insights to influence and drive decision-making.
• Drive financials with a focus on profitable growth, manage mix expectations while leveraging expenses to deliver margin improvement (including divisional, TA, brand P&Ls).
• Review ROI/ROCE on key commercial spend and ensure funds are optimally directed to the best areas to drive profitable growth.
• Review performance (down to TA and brand level) and provide guidance to heads of functions on implementation of financial strategy.
• Drive the review and interpretation of financial information to identify key trends and areas for future exploitation within specific functions.
• Review actual performance of Functional areas vs KPIs, challenges performance, identifies key variances and advises on potential solutions and risk mitigation for Heads of Functions.
• Present detailed MIS analysis to leadership team with insights to drive value creation through maximizing opportunities and / or minimizing risks.

Accountabilities

Accounting & Controlling:

Maintain, monitor and review Financial Structure for SSA and ensure adherence to accounting standards to consistently achieve desired level of financial performance.

• Drive all activities for maintaining a robust balance sheet and clean profit and loss accounts and consolidate across SSA entities.
• Define and govern implementation of policies, procedures and standards, as per the local and Cipla global requirements and oversee compliance with Government pricing, Transfer pricing, Tax laws, Audits etc.

Accountabilities

Governance:

• Propose critical audits and ensure audits are carried out as per requirements and timely resolution of issues and act as key interface between finance and various functions.
• Standardize all finance practices assuring alignment with group finance practices, processes and systems and ensure effective and efficient delivery of financial processes, ensuring zero control risk.
• Monitor and update DOA as per the prevailing business structures and compliance requirements

Accountabilities

People Leadership:

• Drive the Finance team to meet the needs of business and deliver quality service in areas of priority.
• Develop, coach, lead the team to ensure succession plan is developed, and facilitate growth; knowledge sharing and skills transfer within the team.
• Lead / influence without direct authority.

Education Qualification

• Ideal candidate’s academic background would be a B. Com in Finance + Chartered Accountancy or an MBA in Finance