Commercial Navigator at AkzoNobel

The role has Local Decorative Paints responsibility and is part of the local Decorative Paints business. Decorative Paints Finance cooperates with a Country Finance, Sales, Support and Supply Chain team, as well as the 3rd party contract partner. The focus of this role is ensuring repeatable models and standardized processes are implemented.

Key Accountabilities

• Manage the contractual relationship with the East Africa countries where we have agent/principle contracts with
• Economically evaluate expansion opportunities in East Africa based on population, currency volatility, foreign direct investment, macro and micro economic factors as well as benchmarking against global economy risk metrics
• Responsible for financially assessing all new range launches and controlling full P&L to budget
• Responsible for ensuring adherence to contract, asset security and liaising with lawyers to ensure protection of our assets
• Provide forecasts and budgets for the east Africa region
• Responsible for giving financial and commercial support to the in-country teams
• Ensure monthly consolidation and reporting is complete and accurate for 3 countries, both within Hyperion (HFM) ERP system and in monthly management packs
• Ensure AkzoNobel quality standards are adhered in terms of financial reporting
• Ensure that all Merger & Acquisition activities are fully economically assessed, and countries benchmarked in comparison to other African and outside Africa countries
• Finance business partner for Sub Sahara Africa management and sales managers
• Member of Sub Sahara Africa finance leadership team
• Managing, overseeing and performing key finance activities and processes (accounting, reporting, budgeting, forecasting, controlling, gap closing activities, in control)
• Commercial finance: supporting and setting (sales) strategy – including M&A/deals, preparing and negotiating sales contracts, margin management, credit management, managing sales initiatives and projects, identifying and supporting growth projects, controlling and advising on marketing spend, inventory management (mainly around SLOB)
• Manage relationship with partner in East Africa (driving performance, due diligence, loan admin & cash management)

Experience

• University degree in Finance or Accounting and preferably a post master’s level like CPA or CA(SA) , CFA or CMA.
• At least 5 to 7 years of relevant work experience in Finance.
• Business partner skills and result oriented, strong accounting skills, including IFRS, in addition has a practical understanding of ERP and Finance systems
• Experience in all areas in relation to business control (internal control, business performance improvement, measurement & financial analysis, budgeting and forecasting, general technical and tax accounting, data management/tools & systems and decision support)
• Good analytical skills and able to balance multiple priorities and meet deadlines
• Excellent English language, both written and spoken.
• Knowledge of SAP and Hyperion (HFM) and experienced with MS Office.
• People management position Preferable.