Senior Business Controller: Topline at Danone

JOB PURPOSE

To support the Commercial and Marketing and supporting functions in the following areas:

• Define the Topline team financial ambition, aligned to the BU ambition
• Identify the strategies and business cases to deliver the ambition
• Measure achievements, analyse variance vs targets, push for corrective actions
• The Topline controller is a key business partner and stakeholder of the CBU Commercial and Marketing Directors and their direct reports.
   

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Strategic Management

• Support the sales Senior team in developing the commercial strategy and analyzing the potential sales impact and profitability of different strategies (Pricing)
• Support the Marketing Director and Senior team in developing the Marketing strategy and assessing Commercial viability of these strategies locally and for exports
• Support of Management (GM and directors) in evaluating top line strategies from a financial standpoint.
• Lead the financial evaluation of new product launches and business strategies.
• Devise, analyze and make recommendations on business optimization and investment opportunities in consultation with other functions to maximize profitability
• Contribute to the overall profitability of the company
• Ensure that company spend and proposals are in line with Company and Group Strategy

Financial Analysis

• Monitor commercial spend vs YA / budget / Estimate.
• Month end closing - volume & net sales
• Monitor the sales performance vs budget / YA
• Monitor, Control and Report commercial spend. Implement mechanisms and tools to facilitate this
• Support the sales team by challenging the commercial strategy based on financial analysis
• Analyze the potential sales impact and profitability of different strategies
• Issue recommendations of investment in the current business in order to maximize profitability
• Customer & Channel profitability analysis
• Brand & Category Profitability
• Customer/Brand Profitability
• Trading terms planning & provisioning
• Trading terms analyses, monitoring & value improvement opportunities

Financial Planning and Management

• Control of Gross sales, commercial spend and Net net sales in G/L....
• New business profitability analysis/recommendation
• Manage and maintain the company financials to ensure that targets are met and exceptions are highlighted
• Monthly animation of the profit and loss in comparison with budgets and estimates
• Providing management with in depth analysis of business results versus targets and recommendations for appropriate actions where necessary
• Control and communicate the Commercial, Marketing & overheads spend
• Drive continuous review & improvement in processes & systems relating to Topline management & the RF process

Rolling Forecast

• Build the RF from volume to Net sales by customer/SKU
• Build and review Forecasts and Estimates for Marketing spend by Brand and spend type
• Quantify and communicate all risks and opportunities
• Manage & Co-ordinate the monthly rolling forecast process on Topline
• Lead the IR stream as part of the rolling forecast process

Reporting

• Manage & lead the reporting requirements of the Topline team, including communications & reporting to Group.
• Ensure strict reporting deadlines are met & adhered to.

Leadership and Management

• Staff supervision and mentoring

Training and Development

• Staff management, mentoring and motivation
• Completes operational requirements by scheduling and assigning employees; following up on work results
• Maintains financial staff by recruiting, selecting, orienting, and training employees
• Maintains financial staff job results by coaching, counseling, and disciplining employees; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results
   

INTERNAL CONTACTS

• Managing Director
• Financial Director
• Finance Production team
• CBS Finance
• R&I Director
• R&I Managers
• SSD Managers
• Marketing Director
• Marketing team
• Commercial Director
• Commercial Team
• African Expansion

Academic And Trade Qualifications

• Must have a Bachelor of Commerce or Accounting Degree
• CA(SA) or CIMA

Work Experience And Skills

• At least six years' experience as a Business Controller/Business Planning Manager for the sales and marketing division of a Fast Moving Consumer Goods company
• Should ideally have worked for a multinational company
• Must have managed a Finance team for at least 3 - 5 years
• Must have budget building and controlling experience
• Some experience in Auditing would be advantageous
   

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS AND BEHAVIOURAL TRAITS

• Strong interpersonal, communication and leadership skills
• Personal integrity
• Strong relationship builder
• Analytical thinking
• Strong Influencing skills
• Enthusiastic with a can do attitude

Competence

• Accounting & Financial Analysis
• Process Governance & Excellence
• Legal & Tax
• Treasury & Financing
• Information Systems
• Planning & Controlling
• Decision Support
• 8. Project Management & Performance Indicators
• 9. Strategy
• 10. Value Creation & Cash-flow