Job Openings at DSM-Firmenich

Job Purpose

Develop and maintain a profound knowledge of the client’s organization, structures, processes, and decision makers for the Home & Personal Care Category at the Regional Innovation Centre Durban.

Job Responsibilities

• Have an in-depth understanding of Unilever’s brands in the AMET South region and disseminate this information to the relevant people in the dsm-firmenich network.
• Manage briefs/projects on Home & Personal Care brands in close collaboration with HPC Creative Brand Fragrance Manager
• Stay up-to-date on global Home & Personal Care projects within dsm-firmenich through category fragrance development managers, constant evaluation of fragrance submissions and existing perfume portfolio, promotion of latest adoptions.
• Enter Action Reports and manage projects internally in coordination relevant functions fragrance development managers, CI, Marketing.
• Manage appropriate MR if needed, together with the Marketing and CI team
• Proper management of Project Master, including M&L notices, closeouts, etc., close contacts to client regarding launches and delistings.
• Commercial Support, eg. Updating price lists, monitoring of Account receivables.
• Support on evaluation sessions, ordering oils, monitoring client base availability, support for brand servicing.
• Interact with the internal Unilever dsm-firmenich team, especially the two Fragrance Managers within AMET, to ensure effective communication and possible synergies.

You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree or diploma in Sciences/Commercial
• Experience in Flavour & Fragrance business
• Minimum 5 years working experience in sales and or business development within the Fragrance industry or other relevant experience.
• Ability to develop and maintain good long-term working relationship with clients
• Reflecting & proactive approach to marketing solutions
• Driven and motivated by the commercial aspect and the proactive sales
• Opportunistic with entrepreneurial mindset and agile in a complex matrix organisation

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Key Responsibilities:

Business Support

• This position is the “single point of contact” for the Plant management team in providing the necessary business support required in all aspects of supply chain related activities such as management of expenses, investments/ divestments, working capital optimization, cost savings, productivity improvements and other local initiatives and strategies.

Financial Planning & Analysis

• Perform the scorecard analysis review with the regional supply chain management.
• To provide the performance on a detailed monthly variance analysis (COGS + all variances). 
• To monitor the monthly inventories trend evolution and support the local Plant management team in identifying issues and executing the actions plans identified / agreed so as to optimize or reduce the plant inventories holding.
• Ensure timely and accurate Budget and Forecast data feeding for consolidation at affiliate level
• To review and set the annual standard costs and to ensure compliance with the Standard Rules & Guidelines on standard costing.

Financial Accounting

• Pertains to the support rendered to the accounting community in relation to the monthly period-end closing activities and audit preparation.
• Participate to Period End Closing (PEC), particularly on Cogs and inventories provision.
• Ensure proper internal control environment and ensuring compliance to all corporate policies.
• Propose continuous improvement on plant processes and information systems (SAP mainly)

We Value:

• Professionally qualified (CPA, CIMA) or University Degree in Accounting/Finance.
• 7 + years’ work experience in Manufacturing cost accounting / controlling / Plant Finance with relevant experience in product cost accounting.
• Strong business acumen with analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong interpersonal & communication skills, with ability to build rapport and collaborative working relationship with all levels.
• Ability to challenge, to lead discussions, influence ideas and convey opinions at Executive meetings.
• SAP CO knowledge and experience is mandatory.