Financial Controller- English Africa Cluster at Abbott

What You’ll Do:

• Develop appropriate financial strategies and implement programs with administrative excellence in accordance with the company’s strategic objectives.
• Drive development and preparation of solid financial business plans (and underlying analysis) to ensure EAC delivers its financial commitments.
• Partner with Country Manager and support him in key decisions and ensure responsible investment decisions. Provide financial counsel and analysis for proposed strategic growth initiatives.
• Ensure integrity of financial books and records, establish and maintain a robust & compliant internal control environment for EAC countries.
• Monitor operations performance against financial plans/LBE and ensure that Area management is advised on exposure/opportunities issues.
• Provide financial and strategic support to all EPD commercial departments at Affiliate, ensuring investments are being directed to most efficient and profitable activities.
• Develop plans for margin & profit maximization.
• Key Focus on Working Capital improvement.
• Provide leadership to build, maintain and develop EAC finance organization

Financial Reporting & Analysis: 

• Meet all financial reporting requirements within agreed upon timelines.  Provide timely, accurate and insightful analysis which provides senior management necessary information with which to address variances and develop corrective actions.

Identify Business Issues:

• Anticipate and identify business issues (including performance gaps, opportunities and emerging needs) for senior management and develop appropriate action plans to maximize business profitability and performance against key metrics.

Financial Planning: 

•  Develop financial plans/forecasts (including annual plans, LBE’s, etc) that are accurate, well written and professionally presented for senior management review, and properly supported and gaited.

Financial Achievement:

•  Achieve financial commitments including Plans, and LBE’s for both full year and quarterly periods while preventing surprises through financial planning excellence and staying close to the business.

Apply Market/Operations Knowledge: 

•  Incorporate thorough knowledge of market [or operations] dynamics, competitive landscape, and key business drivers in our financial planning, reporting and analysis, with emphasis on leveraging this knowledge to affect business strategies and decisions.

Internal Controls: 

• Assure compliance with Abbott CFM’s and GAAP [or local statutory requirements] and the integrity of our financial planning, reporting and analysis and related processes.

Business Counsel:  

• Provide meaningful, transparent and value-added analysis and counsel to management (Country Manager) to influence and directly support decision-making and development of business strategies and tactics that maximize economic profitability and long-term success.

Organization/Development: 

•  Attract top talent, train and develop staff to meet best in class industry/professional standards, motivate and retain key talent, drive operational improvements to realize lean/efficient operations

Accuracy: 

• Ensure that figures and data provided to both local and Area team are accurate and in a timely matter to serve as support for business decision-making.
• Working Capital Management 
• Ensure that cash flow targets are achieved through robust plans and strategies.

Required Qualifications

• A BCOM Accounting or related is essential
• Accreditation as CA(SA) OR CIMA OR Related is beneficial.

Preferred Qualifications

• 5 years’ experience in a Snr financial role having been responsible for FP&A., preferably in pharmaceuticals in the international environment with exposure to distributor operations.
• Previous experience in an affiliate financial planning role.
• Strong written and oral communication skills with ability and confidence to speak up and present to all levels of the management
• IT skills: Excellent working knowledge of MS Excel and MS PowerPoint is required.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to complete assignments under tight deadlines.
• Strong business sense and ability to grasp complex situations quickly and across functions (Marketing, Supply Chain, Sales)
• Independent thinker with the ability to challenge the status quo with outstanding interpersonal skills.
• Proven track record of academic and work-related success showing rapid upwards career movement.
• Experience having managed a team is advantageous.