Supply Chain Finance Cost Management Lead at Unilever

JOB PURPOSE

• This role is required to maintain strong accounting controls aligned with the Unilever’s Global Financial Controls Framework (GFCF).
• Output from this role will impact SC P&L and Balance sheet lines for all Southern Africa. This role is a member of the SC Finance Leadership team and drives the controls and savings agendas for SC with a primary focus on production sites.

The purpose of the role is to:

• Support the production team (factories and 3P) with financial insights to deliver key projects and business cases aligned to business targets to drive a cost competitive agile Supply Chain organisation. This role drives Sourcing Unit cost optimisation, delivering the Net Productivity agenda and driving down waste at the factory and 3P sites.
• To build and manage relationships with key stakeholders in the Supply Chain organisation and wider Unilever business and at third parties.

WHAT WILL YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES BE

• Assess adequacy of existing controls in SC, especially factory and 3P operations, in relation to identified business risk. Develop efficient controls, adequate to address identified risk in line with GFCF.
• Maintain robust material usage controls for factory sites across Unilever South Africa.
• Engage with operational teams and site LTs to drive actions to address material usage variances and drive accountability.
• Monitor 3P stock losses to ensure timely claims for losses above annual thresholds.
• Ensure robust forecasting and controls over savings uploaded and reported on savings system (SRS/ Prism)
• Drive delivery of timely and accurate reporting requirements
• Ensure Unilever Standard Chart of Accounts compliance
• Ensure stock controls compliant with SOX
• Ensure journals, write offs and provisions are done in accordance with Schedule of Authority.
• Drive a cost competitive agile Supply Chain organisation through Sourcing Unit cost optimization
• Drive delivery of reduction in Cost Per Ton (Net Productivity) across all SC costs
• Deliver the business waste reduction programme for factory and its 3P
• Review, challenge and monitor Capital Expenditure proposals (CEP) per the annual budget.
• Participate in transformation project squads/ teams. Assisting with financial insights required to deliver key projects in line with business targets.
• Assist in benchmarking activities to ensure competitiveness of SC costs.
• Lead continuous improvement and automation initiatives in Supply Chain Finance and at production sites to improve efficiency and ensure cost optimisation.
• Provide insights on production spend by supplier.
• Ensure robust monitoring of production spend by supplier across production sites.
• Analyse production spend by supplier against SLA to ensure compliance to contract terms and monitor pricing movements.
• Check supplier costings across Unilever sites to ensure cost optimisation.
• Variance analysis of budget/forecast over and under spends done monthly.
• Ensure SAP stock errors are understood and corrected.
• Talent development
• Oversee SC Cost management accountant.
• Support SC cost management accountant in prioritisation of tasks and unlocks on barriers.
• Driver talent development agenda in SCF as a member of the SCF LT.
• Contribute to strategic direction of SC organisation as a member of the SCF LT.
• Steer Business Performance and provide Decision support
• Provide accurate and relevant business insights by analysing available information using designated best practice tools
• Drive and coordinate the forecasting process to help the business make reliable decisions, includes budget, financial forecasts, etc
• Guide and support the delivery of key projects in the pipeline, whilst actively ensuring that all appropriate government incentives are maximised on.
• Report on monthly variances giving key insight in what areas need focus and where factory performance was not great.

Experiences & Qualifications & Skills

Qualification: Professional qualification in accountancy – CA or CIMA

Experience:

• Experience in Supply Chain or Factory Finance required
• Financial Acct qualification or good progress toward CIMA OR a CA required
• Strong analytical capabilities with bias to drive action
• Agility and proactivity
• Ability to prioritise effectively and communicate clearly
• Ability to manage upwards
• Ability to steer conversations and influence
• Understanding or ability to quickly grasp financial principles in the end-to-end Supply Chain, identify and drive relevant value-creating choices and decisions
• Ability to handle and work under pressure, individually and collaboratively, to meet tight deadlines
• Advanced Microsoft Excel, SAP PM/FI and PA knowledge desirable
• Digital native
• Stakeholder Management, strong work ethic, great attitude, self-starting & proactive mind-set, resilience in the face of pressure, strong team player