Principal Specialist: Financial and Digital Services Finance Business Partner at Vodacom

Role purpose:

• To ensure that key financial and business objectives of the Financial Services Group and Digital Lifestyle Services within Vodacom are met with regards to financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting, analysis, control and regulatory requirements.
• Provide support to the Financial Services businesses, manages the financial reporting, forecast processes, capital cost reviews and analysis, Financial Services Board (FSB) requirements and long range plan/strategy together with FinOps, business, marketing teams and managing executives.  
• Deliver reporting for tracking of strategic objectives, expenditure by category and segment and key commercial initiatives.
• Full understanding of the financial services cost drivers.
• This role will incorporate the below requirements for the Vodacom Payment Services entity as well as the overall Financial Services Group and Digital Lifestyle Services.

Your responsibilities will include:
Management    

• Day-to-day management of the Financial Services (“FS”) and Digital Lifestyle Services (“DLS”) business partner team (dotted line) with regards to operational requirements
• Review FS and DLS BP team submissions and reconciliations
• Approval of invoices and cost approval per budget(where necessary);
• Responsible for overall process management and reporting of the FS and DLS group, including consolidation
• Responsible for the overall month end process and group month end closure
• Responsible for overall monthly forecasting and management of the team with regard to monthly submissions.
• Ad-hoc tasks as required by business.

Reporting    

• Board, EXCO and ad-hoc Financial Reports; 
• SAP & HFM reports; 
• Monthly Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Cash Flow and Capex; 
• Liaising with Internal & External Auditors; 
• Review of annual financial statements;
• Monthly variance analysis; 
• Monthly KPI/KFIs;
• Investment Committee presentations, report preparations & the implementation of the committee resolutions 
• Ad-hoc

Month-end processing

• Trial balance of group companies review;
• Balance Sheet reconciliations review; 
• Review of technical provisions (ECL, actuarial, etc);
• Review of accruals and provision journals;
• Accounts receivable assistance – invoicing, payments and processing;
• Accounts payable assistance – invoicing, payment and processing;
• Revenue recording and reconciliation of VAS and other services;
• Ad-hoc resolution of queries related to month-end processing

Cash flow    

• Review/monitor FCF and relevant ratios
• Transfers to & from investment accounts to get the best return & to meet the PA requirements
• Provisions for payments;
• Analysis of cash flow movements;
• Ensuring sufficient funds in various bank accounts for known large payments (prevent overdraft);
• prepare reports for the Investment Committee

Business Support and Statutory requirements  

• Review Insurance Quarterly and Annual Returns; 
• Complete quarterly Statistics SA returns for submission;
• Review Tax Department support on returns; 
• Support with product development and pricing (business cases); 
• Review IFRS compliance and ensure adhered to (initiate actions when necessary); 
• Risk identification and control implementation on all financial processes within the FS and DLS group.

Control and Governance

• Manage an effective operational control environment over financial items, identifying weaknesses and development and implementing solutions.
• Ensure business decisions are implemented and executed within the approved and accepted governance framework.

Operational Support    

• Manage interface, delivery and reporting deadlines & requirements from Financial Operations for month ends, various forecasts, presentations and commentary;
• Assist with Financial Model development

Other    

• Understanding of VIP (Vodafone Integrated Planning) and the submission of budgets and forecasts on this platform;
• Understand HFM (Hyperion Financial Management) reporting and the use thereof;
• Assist with business cases and ensure proper process is adhered to;
• Perform ad-hoc tasks and projects relating to Finance and/or Commercial issues.

The ideal candidate for this role will have:
Qualifications 

• CA(SA) – required
• MBA – advantageous 

Experience 

• Minimum 8-10 years senior financial experience - essential
• Financial services industry knowledge an advantage
• Previous ICT (Information and Communications Technology) industries experience an advantage.

Technical / Professional Expertise

• Finance experience gained in large, multi-national organization.
• Financial analysis & interpretation.
• Report writing.
• Understanding of systems and integration thereof into ERP.
• Business planning.
• Performance Monitoring.
• Understanding of accounting processes.
• Risk Assessment & Controls.
• Advanced skills in Excel, Word and PowerPoint .
• Presentation skills.
• Advanced ERP skills.
• Experience in financial and business analysis.
• Data extraction, transformation & manipulation skills.

Competency / Performance Drivers

• External perspective and appreciation of macro-economic environment.
• Business leadership and transformation.
• Adaptability.
• Time Management.
• Relationship Management.
• Diversity Management.
• Business & Commercial Acumen.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Problem solving. 
• Effective communication and influencing skills.
• Resilience.
• Ownership and drive for impact.
• Attention to detail & Quality conscious.
• Planning and Organising.
• Disciplined & Deadline driven.