Commercial Finance Analyst at Bacardi

• This role provides financial, commercial, and analytical support to the South African Commercial team and must ensure accuracy of pertinent financial information and provide timely, accurate and relevant analysis regarding business performance. The role reports into SA Finance Manager and will be based in Johannesburg.
• The candidate must possess strong communication and collaboration skills to proactively business partner with the Commercial Team and demonstrate the ability to work both independently and cross-functionally.

Responsibilities

With our Consumer at the heart, your key focus will be:

PMeasurement & Planning

• To manage the month-end, quarter-end and year-end reporting process, with the following specific responsibilities:
• Prepare and distribute monthly performance management reports in accordance with Bacardi Global Finance guidelines, and propose corrective actions
• Track delivery of KPI’s during financial year
• Financial Master data management
• Help identify and communicate key performance challenges, opportunities on a timely basis
• Preparation and submission of the Budget and in-year forecasts, by building the necessary templates, providing guidance and challenge to the commercial team and checking submissions

Sales Decision Support

• Business partner to Country Manager, Key Account Manager and On-Trade Manager
• Act as a first point of contact for financial queries. Queries will include data accuracy and performance tracking, as well as analysis to help drive future performance
• Track trade terms & deals accruals and payouts (SAP Trade Terms Module)
• Develop a detailed understanding of customer account profitability to enable effective allocation of resources within and between key customers
• Support the Commercial team in identifying opportunities to take price and drive margin in annual customer negotiations
• Tracking incubation brand and innovation performance
• Conduct promotion (price and A&P) decision support through pre and post evaluation of promotional activity using ROI tools (On and Off Trade) to drive spend effectiveness and provide recommendations
• Work with teams to ensure all pricing and promotion implemented within guidelines or exceptions are approved
• Ensure integrity of price list and promotions in the system by reviewing completeness and accuracy

General

• Maintain a system of internal controls to ensure financial information is accurate, timely and robust
• Ensure integrity and accuracy of financials throughout systems
• Manage the Trade Terms accrual reconciliations
• Ensure statutory compliance with local laws and regulations
• Support BBBEE initiatives

Skills and Experience

The Skills & Experience needed to create your legacy

• Excellent oral and written communication skills: able to interact effectively both with senior colleagues and peers, both within Finance and other functions (sales/marketing/etc)
• Financial Analysis: Advanced Excel skills, ability to build excel models, explain variances to estimates, identify business risks and opportunities, and make appropriate recommendations
• Experience in SAP is mandatory, while experience in COGNOS Controller and TM1 will be an advantage
• Project Management: Ability to manage projects/tasks independently to ensure successful delivery (on time and within budget) while identifying potential issues/risks. Able to prioritize effectively and manage workload against tight deadlines
• Strong commercial acumen: Strong understanding of the underlying drivers of business performance
• Accuracy: High level of diligence and attention to detail
• Control Environment: Understanding of internal controls, standards, and processes to ensure accuracy and consistency in data used for decision-making, internal/external reporting and communications
• Fluent written and spoken English

Functional Excellence

• Ability to work effectively and achieve results in a matrix organization
• Process focused with an understanding of end to end business processes and their financial impacts
• Ability to identify root cause issues and develop plans to resolve
• Ability to communicate effectively
• Strong oral and written communication skills

Experience

• A minimum of 5 years finance experience, supporting a Customer Facing / FMCG / Spirits business with experience in trade spend.
• Strong understanding of trade spend and the financial processes involved, with experience in a trade spend environment.
• Skills: Advanced Excel, Strong SAP knowledge, strong analytical skills, strong governance skills, strong PowerPoint skills.
• Competencies; strong business partnering, ability to influence across all levels, strong team player, ability to handle and work under pressure and to tight deadlines, ability to work with remote teams and drive action. Self-starter able to take initiative and work independently.

Educational Requirement

• B.Com Accunting or B.Com Hons