FET Lead Finance Manager at Unilever

Job Purpose

• As the FET Lead Finance Manager, you will play a pivotal role in driving business performance, strategic planning, and financial management. You will work with innovations across the organization, working with global leaders and colleagues in a diverse culture. Key responsibilities include overseeing corporate management accounting systems, budgeting, planning, reporting & insights, and performance management.

Key Responsibilities
Business Performance & Leadership

• Drive and shape business performance through analysis and interventions to achieve financial targets.
• Provide leadership and decision-making support on strategic planning, target setting, and resource allocation.
• Influence senior stakeholders and lead teams to deliver results.
• Manage monthly, quarterly, and year-end close processes, ensuring accurate reporting for local and global requirements.
• Operate financial controls in line with the Global Financial Controls Framework (GFCF).
• Prepare variance analysis, board materials, and executive presentations.
• Consolidate CEO updates and maintain integrity of historical data.
• Develop robust business planning and performance monitoring processes for enhanced analysis, modelling, and forecasting.
• Maintain alignment across reporting systems (SAP, BW, GCUT, Ifinance).
• Build and maintain effective relationships with business partners globally and within Southern Africa.
• Update financials for income statement commentary and variance analysis.

Business Planning & Forecasting

• Lead engagement with divisions and global teams on targets, Annual Operating Plan, and financial forecasts.
• Prepare monthly and quarterly forecasts, supporting analysis, and participate in reviews with leadership teams.

Performance Management

• Drive growth and gross margin improvement.
• Lead project Symphony and optimize returns from marketing investment.
• Implement pricing strategies using NRM/NRR.
• Deliver 5S targets and identify risks and opportunities for target achievement.
• Develop corrective actions to close gaps and make significant adjustments to forecasts as needed.
• Enhance resource allocation and budget setting decisions.
• Partner with divisions on active portfolio reviews to delivery the long term business strategy.
• Own and manage the end-to-end budget process, and driving performance improvements.

Talent & Team Leadership

• Provide leadership and development for team members.
• Interface with and influence leads.
• Champion diversity and inclusion, integrating these values into recruitment and development.

Information & Analytics (I&A)

• Lead simplification and automation initiatives to advance the Finance Digital Agenda.
• Collaborate with I&A, offshore teams, and partners to accelerate digital, RPA, and cognitive capabilities.
• Deliver monthly insights to business leaders, providing accurate and timely performance and forecast packs.

Reporting

• Ensure accurate submissions of actuals and forecasts to local and Global teams, maintaining high reporting standards.
• Oversee timely and accurate delivery of board materials, including performance commentary.
• Provide GMVA reporting and commentary variance analysis.

Ad Hoc Responsibilities

• Conduct customer-level CD reporting and manage year-end restatements.
• Resolve reporting system issues (BW, GCUT, Ifinance).
• Provide information for decision support and prepare P&L reports for auditors.

Overheads Management

• Prepare and submit annual overhead forecasts for Southern Africa.
• Increase visibility and accountability for overheads, promoting efficient spending in line with Zero-Based Budgeting (ZBB).
• Align processes with Global Overheads FET Team objectives
• Prepare and communicate phased overhead forecasts and performance updates.
• Maintain standard operating procedures for Finance
• Drive continuous improvement, simplification, and standardization in overhead management.
• Ensure monthly accruals and provisions,
• Benchmark for efficiency improvements and perform ad-hoc analyses.
• Coordinate data cleansing and SAP IO maintenance.

Experience, Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor’s Degree plus a professional finance qualification (CA, CIMA, or equivalent).
• 12-15 years’ experience in various finance roles with strong business partnering credentials.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders and teams not directly reporting to you.
• Solid understanding of finance disciplines, including controllership.
• Active networking and relationship-building capabilities.
• Confident leadership and immediate stakeholder impact.
• Proven project and process management skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment with flexibility.
• Strong organizational and prioritization abilities.
• Experience working with multi-geographical and multicultural teams is desirable.
• Head office and factory finance experience is advantageous.
• Strong influencing and leadership skills, with the ability to motivate and inspire.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience with SAP; proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Proven effectiveness in complex environments and driving business performance.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills.
• Objectivity, integrity, resilience, and courage under challenge.
• Ability to manage multiple senior stakeholders and drive change management initiatives.
• Skill in presenting complex information simply and explaining finance concepts to non-finance stakeholders.
• Direct responsibility for budgeting, forecasting, and quarterly reporting.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to communicate findings both verbally and in writing.
• Initiative and the ability to work independently and under pressure, especially during month-end reporting.
• Experience with SAP, GCUT, and Ifinance systems.

Leadership Attributes

• Motivates and develops teams, fostering an inclusive and passionate work climate.
• Balances individual performance with team leadership and coaching.
• Understands business context and demonstrates emotional intelligence to motivate others.

Critical Standards of Leadership (SOL) Behaviors

• Personal Mastery: Sets high standards, demonstrates emotional intelligence, and builds empathy.
• Passion for High Performance: Motivates teams to deliver results swiftly and takes accountability.
• Talent Catalyst: Invests in coaching and empowerment, creating an inclusive climate.
• Purpose & Service: Leads with humility and a service-oriented mindset.
• Consumer Love: Engages with consumers to understand their needs.
• Business Acumen: Drives sustainable growth, collaborating with partners for systemic change.