Manager: Group VP Office Finance Business Partner (SVP Office & WECA) at MTN

Core purpose of the Job
The Manager Group Vice President (VP) Office Finance Business Partner role is accountable to support the Senior Vice President (SVP) Office and West & Central Africa (WECA) region in providing strategic finance business services and also in supporting respective WECA Opco CFOs and Finance Teams in aligning local financial business decisions to the Group strategy, financial objectives, goals and practices.

Key role attributes include:

• Effective execution of the regional business and finance strategy to ensure optimum allocation of financial resources, financial efficacy and prudence over costs, revenue and capital, relative to the respective businesses in the WECA region
• Proactively monitor financial performance and results of the WECA region and provide in-depth analysis, insight and recommendations to support and influence core business decisions.
• Assist SVP Office in consolidating, monitoring and reporting of Executive Financial Dashboards and reports for effective executive monitoring and decision making
• Execute and assist in coordinating for commercial and financial transformation initiatives and special projects, as authorized by the SVP Office

Key Performance Areas

The role is accountable to support the SVP Office and WECA region in providing strategic finance business services and to support WECA Opco CFOs and Finance Teams in achieving desired regional and Group strategic and financial goals and outcomes. The role is responsible to:

• Support development and ensure implementation of the WECA Regional Business strategy, financial and commercial plan/budgets/targets, budget & forecasting drivers, standardize financial performance and monitoring across the WECA markets, in line with the Group standards, strategy and objectives
• Responsible to cohesively monitor operations of critical/high impact Finance Business Partnering activities across the WECA region to ensure congruence in operating principles, business financial goals and business finance governance practices
• Cascade the budget and forecasting drivers to be used for budget and forecast preparation to the WECA Opcos, as defined by MTN Group Finance. Review them on periodic basis to ensure alignment with the Group Standards and resolve any queries if required.
• Responsible for preparing Executive reports, deliverables and supporting SVP Office in presentations with respect to annual budgets, business performance metrics, etc. at Group Exco, Steering Committees and Board Sub-Committees (as applicable)
• Support, coordinate and prepare for scheduled regional/Opco VP Office governance and review meetings with Opco Leaders
• Conduct financial analysis of key business drivers for the WECA region and provide commentary on business performance and insights on future trends
• Implement the defined standard framework, protocols, templates and processes for business planning and performance management, capital management and reporting for the WECA Region, in line with group standards.
• Provide direct guidance, advisory support and coordination with WECA region CFOs and finance on matters including:

1. Financial planning, forecasts, operational goals and annual budgets in order to achieve strong financial fundamentals and strategic priorities
2. Identifying financial and commercial risks and appropriate mitigation measures
3. Evaluation and advisory support on high value / critical proposals for investments, Capex and Opex items

• Prepare the consolidated month-end reports, executive dashboards, applicable regional/Group committee presentations for the WECA region, in conjunction with MTN Group month-end financial reporting and evaluate the overall progress of budget, plans and forecasts for the Opcos (Planned Vs Actuals)
• As part of continuous improvement, support GM VP Finance Business Partner (SVP Office and WECA) in development innovative financial management practices, scenario modelling, performance analytics and reporting, which supports the WECA Opco finance leadership in proactive decision making
• Ensure that each WECA region operating company operates within local accounting principles, standards, and guideline as well as Group financial and accounting guidelines; and further entrench a culture of strong financial discipline, with strong internal controls across the WECA region operating companies.
• Provide all relevant support to internal and external auditors and to the Audit Committee, as applicable
• Collaborate closely with the Group Capital Management Team and FP&A team to support WECA Opco finance teams with:

1. Assessment of the new / existing product commercial and financial feasibility, to arrive at “go/no-go” decisions and investment potential
2. Ensuring consistency and expertise for all business case/ financial modelling (including modelling of price plans and products and services)
3. Evaluating ATB and BTL related expenditures for the WECA Opcos and provide commentary on feasibility and expected returns on critical and high value opportunities to the SVP office

• Monitor compliance by the WECA Opco finance teams for the Group defined governance protocols and policies (committee approvals, DoA, process etc..) and report any deviations to the SVP office on priority
• Proactive conduct regional market studies, monitor economic patterns, industry/competitor benchmarks to identify opportunities for regional/Opco-level strategic course correction, spend re-allocations/baselining, changes to cost/budget/returns/profitability drivers and assumptions
• Assist in identification and implementation of regional cost containment strategies in line with business strategy
• As a member of the SVP office:

1. Assist in preparation of Consolidated Regional Executive Dashboards, Reports, Presentations to support the SVP, Group Finance Executives, Group EXCO
2. Coordinate and collaborate with regional business finance teams to consolidate, measure and report on the regional performance KPIs at various levels of the business (operations, products and markets, revenue, margins, profitability etc.) to the SVP office on periodic basis
3. Collaborate and support consistent adoption of standardised regional governance and reporting standards, practices, templates, with other Regional business finance teams.

• Ensure open communication channels with Opco and implement change management interventions where necessary

Job Requirements

Education:

• Minimum of 3-year tertiary degree
• Qualified Chartered Accountant/Chartered Finance Analyst/Relevant Financial Management Professional Qualification (preferred)
• Relevant certification / accreditation / membership with professional body in Finance, Accounting, Corporate Finance bodies

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in management of Business Finance Operations/Financial Planning, Capital performance management
• Worked across diverse cultures and geographies advantageous
• Experience working in pan-African markets (preferably WECA Region)
• Abreast of global mind-set and best practice
• Willing and flexible to travel within Africa
• Proficiency in English (mandatory). Proficiency in West and Central African languages is advantageous

Functional Competencies:  

• Finance Business Partnering
• ICT Business Unit Operations
• Financial Planning, Forecasting and Reporting
• Business Performance & Analytics
• Commercial Pricing, Profitability and RoI Management
• Bid Management
• Cost Management
• Capex and Opex Management
• Operational Finance Services
• Decision support
• Executive Reporting and Dashboarding

Behavioral Competencies:

• Empathy
• Adaptable
• Agile
• Communication
• Culturally aware

Skills:

• Leading with Care
• Accountable
• Gets work done
• Innovative
• Inquisitive
• Collaboration
• Regional and international travel