Executive: Group Business Finance at MTN

Mission/ Core purpose of the Job
The MTN Group Business Finance Leader is accountable to lead, operate and manage Core Business-led Finance operations. The role leads three core finance sub functions and outcomes which impact and influence financial business performance for the Group:

• Group Financial Planning and Analysis
• Regional & Manco Finance Business Partnering
• Group Capital Management

These portfolios work in close coordination with the respective Operating Companies/Group Platform Business CFOs and business finance teams, Regional Offices and Manco Business Leader communities across the Group. As a strategic leader for business finance in the Group, the role is responsible to:

• Functionally cascade and steer strategic business finance across markets
• Enhance reliability and continuously improve financial planning reporting and analytics
• Establish sound and innovative capital practices & governance
• Execute core business partner finance activities for the headquarter business units and establish operational standards to drive business partnering excellence across the Group
• The business finance leader is accountable to the Group CFO, Group EXCO and Board Committees (as required) to provide reliable financial performance indicators and reports, data-driven financial insights, assurance over governance & practices and insight-led strategic advice. The role is also responsible to create strategic capacity and capability within the Group team, but to equally guide new capability building across Operating Companies/Group Platform Business finance teams.

As a Group Finance Leadership member, the role is empowered with authority, resources and capacity to achieve specific business financial performance targets and improvement standards for the Group.

The role reports to the Group CFO and is supported by leads for the respective Business Finance portfolio, comprising of General Managers and Senior Managers.

Key Performance Areas: Core, essential responsibilities / outputs of the position (KPA's)

• Responsible for strategic alignment and translation of the company priorities into clear, standardized and actionable business finance operations & capital management directives. Accountable to cascade to respective Opcos/Business CEO’s, CFOs, Business heads and Executive Members for execution and delivery
• Accountable to establish and lead efficient, reliable and innovative business finance practices across the Group, which include but not limited to, principles, policies, frameworks, guardrails and governance mechanisms for Group Budgeting, Forecasting, Performance, Reporting & Analytics. The objective is to ensure standardization, accuracy and insight-driven analytics for financial decision-making
• Responsible to cohesively direct and plan operations of Forecasting, Planning, Reporting, Business Partnering and Capital Management teams to ensure congruence in operating principles, business financial goals and business finance governance practices
• Accountable to proactively monitor, review and constructively challenge the financial efficacy and soundness of business strategy, budgets, plans and reported outcomes in context to the business operations.
• Oversee business partnering operations and proactively engage/advise Manco Business Leaders and Regional Vice Presidents on matters including financial forecasts, operational goals and annual budgets in order to achieve strong financial fundamentals and strategic priorities
• Accountable to successfully build, implement and lead an efficient and strong capital allocation and management framework policies, DOAs, governance structures, innovative capital utilization, profitability models and practices for Group and it’s business operations across markets
• Execute responsibilities as the Group Executive representative at Local Capital Allocation Committee for Tier 1 Opcos and other subsidiary entities (as allocated), evaluate investment proposals related to capital investment and assess financial / business viability. Also provide guidance and stewardship to Tier 2 and Tier 3 CAMC on drivers for evaluating investment proposals
• Identify opportunities and provide recommendations to maximize returns on investment. Build accountability across the Opco/Platform management teams by strategically aligning Executive performance to investment portfolio and expected RoI

Accountable to independently advise the Group CFO and Executive Committees on material matters which impact profitability, portfolio transformation and growth ambitions. Include, but not limited to:

• Long/Short Range Capital Planning and Allocation
• Material capital investment studies and recommendations
• Portfolio transformation initiative evaluations and recommendations thereof
• Expert level consultation and advisory practices to business unit leaders on cost and investment transformation initiatives including resource allocation and profitability management
• Accountable to govern and steer group finance business plan and reporting cycles (plan development, Opco guidance and cascades, adjustment principles etc.) including, top-down business plan target, revenue plan, business/financial plans, and budget management. Present outcomes, insights and recommendations to Group CFO, Group EXCO and Group Board (as required)
• Responsible to institute business-relevant reporting models, including segmented reporting framework, standards and principles to improve Executive decision making
• Responsible to oversee and present the Group Annual Budgets (and periodic budgetary performance & analytics) to respective Group authorities as per the Delegation of Authority (DoA).
• Steward and direct MTN Opco/Platform Business CFOs to continuously improve reliability of forecasting, planning, budgeting, reporting and analytics, to drive optimum financial prudence and performance
• Review Executive reports, deliverables and presentations with respect to annual budgets, business performance metrics, capital allocation etc. at Group Exco, Steering Committees and Board Sub-Committees (as applicable) to support business decision making and contribute to the attainment of Group’s strategic objectives and targets
• Executive review and authorization (in consultation with the Group CFO, Investor Relations Office, Company Secretary and Legal Office) of MTN’s annual and interim earnings releases, financial statements and management discussion and analysis. Ensure the information communicated to the public fairly portrays MTN’s financial position
• Manage and address material financial matters with the external auditors. Communicate transparently and collaborate to the fullest extent possible by providing all relevant support to internal and external auditors and to the Audit Committee
• Jointly accountable with the Group Finance Operations and Controls team to improve financial reporting data quality standards, enhanced integrated reporting reliability through improved processes, policies, systems/technologies and control frameworks across the Group

Job Requirements (Education, Experience and Competencies)
Education:

• Qualified Chartered Accountant with a minimum of 4-year tertiary degree
• Relevant certification / accreditation / membership with professional body in Finance and Accounting bodies
• Fluent in English (French and Arabic advantageous)

Experience:

• 5 years of more experience as a seasoned general manager; with at least 3 – 5 years in the ICT Sector
• 10+ years of experience in leading business finance functions of large multinational company
• Proven track record of a start-up, shut-down and/or business improvement project
• Experience working in a global/multinational enterprise with a good understanding emerging market
• Worked across diverse cultures and geographies
• Expertise and experience in instituting and leading:
• Complex financial planning, reporting and analytics in a multi-country environment.
• Capital Management operations (including allocation, utilization, modelling and governance)
• Business Partnering operations for Group/Headquarter businesses
• Experience in managing a large team made up of mainly highly qualified individuals
• Good understanding of telecommunication industry.

Functional Competencies:

• Strategic Business Finance
• Advanced Financial Planning and Forecasting
• Business Analytics and Market Intelligence
• Segmented reporting
• Capital Management and Allocation
• Investment/Deal Evaluation and Analytics
• Financial Portfolio Management
• Complex Finance Business Partnering
• Corporate Performance Management
• Governance and Internal Controls

Behavioral Competencies:

• Leading with Care
• Empathy
• Accountable
• Adaptable
• Agile
• Communication
• Culturally aware
• Gets work done
• Innovative
• Inquisitive