Financial Planning and Analysis Business Partner at The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

Purpose of the Job

• The role is responsible for all elements of a branded P&L, supporting the Finance Business Manager, Brand managers and Finance Director.   Prepare brand financial and accounting records, reports and other information allowing senior management to make informed business decisions and thereby improve the affiliate’s profitability.  This role works closely with the brand teams and fulfils a business partnering role with the aim of creating and adding value, ensuring financial viability and ROI of initiatives.  Ensure compliance of all financial processes and policies.

Strategy Planning and Estimate Process

• Contributes to elements of the strategic direction of the brand evaluates financial impact of strategic choices and suggests alternatives.
• Ownership of the planning and estimate process; working with the brand, to accurately estimate monthly submissions.
• Consolidating business P&L to ensure targets are being met and re-forecasting as appropriate.
• Responsible for preparation of monthly estimate and annual budget reporting
• Inputting of budgets and estimates into the relevant models
• Assisting in the production and management of CAPEX plan/estimate/actuals; Partnering with key stakeholders in the business to ensure an accurate quarterly estimate and adherence to capital plans.
• Manage the capital authorization process.

  Business Partnering

• Responsible for providing commercial support to brand management team.
• Being key contract for analytical requests from the business
• Able to problem-solve and find solutions.
• Ability to stand firm in financial advice and policies.
• Ability to identify critical concerns and prioritize,
• Communicates with Regional FP&A team to guarantee common understanding and requirements.

Finance & Accounting

• Strong understanding of accounting processes and principles
• Responsible for upholding accounting principles, ensuring proper processes are adhered to within the brand teams and educating non-finance personnel on financial processes and policies.
• Involvement in Finance and Business operations project workstreams as required.
• Manage systems controls over sales and expenses in conjunction with the Affiliate Finance Manager
• Prepare monthly brand financial entries.

  Commercial & Financial Reporting

• Responsible for development and delivery of financial and commercial reporting to brand and senior management
• Proactively challenge status quo and use commercial analysis to drive business change.
• Responsible for leveraging company financial system to facilitate insightful and efficient reporting (Including but not limited to: SAP, CPM, BI, Door P&L, Smartview)
• Responsible for providing monthly commentary on the brand business results and the financial estimate.
• Analytical Excellence: Development and production of structured and ad hoc analysis with a focus on creating value in the business.
• Providing key commercial insight and supporting the business division to active it’s goals.
• Prepares and issues monthly reporting commentary, actuals results and various other reports reflecting monthly results.
• Monthly financial analysis: Review and interpret monthly financial information.
• Ability to add value in analysis and conduct any specific financial analysis upon request, or when self-identified.
• Monitors financial performance and prepares analysis of trends and financial consequences.
• Prepares monthly management reporting, including SIOP, relevant KPI’s and insights on performance drivers.
• Tracks financial impact of any major brand project.

  Commercial Awareness and Capabilities

• CRM
• External economic awareness and Risks
• Advertising effectiveness

  Key Stakeholders

• Finance Business Manager
• Finance Director
• General Manager
• Regional Accounting and FP&A
• Brand Management

Qualifications

• Requirements and Experience
• Experience in Finance and business analytics
• Experience in a fast-moving consumer products industry
• Accounting/Auditing experience is preferable.

  System Knowledge and Experience

• SAP
• CPM and BI (Business Intelligence)
• Advanced Excel,
• PowerPoint,
• MS Office
• OneStream

Key Personal Characteristics

• Capacity to manage pressure and resist stress.
• Strong Analytical skills is a must with ability to perform and present scenarios and predicative outcome.
• Analytical and innovative; seeks out fresh ideas from a variety of sources.
• Excellent eye for detail – precise analysis of figures (analytical and numeric skills)
• Smoothly handles multiple demands, shifting priorities and rapid change.
• Must be positive, participative, self-confident with a high level of energy, pace & consistency.
• Displays integrity and builds trust – honors commitments.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills – able to inform people at all levels of changes, updates and issues and deal with difficult people.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to work with people at all levels (both internal and external) – thereby fostering excellent customer relationships.
• Excellent organization, time management and follow up skills.
• Fast and accurate data entry.
• Displays pro-activity and persistence.
• Works with others towards shared goals - collaborates and shares information.
• Can identify potential problems and opportunities both in the short and long term.
• Results orientated – meets objectives and standards – has a sense of urgency