Company overview:

Our client is a market leader in the manufacturing and distribution of sustainable animal nutrition, with a global presence in 100+ countries. They are committed to transforming the feed-to-food chain, driving positive change from farm to plate.

The business is expanding further in South Africa and looking for a Financial Planning and Analysis Manager to join the team in Johannesburg.

About the Role:

The Financial Planning & Analysis Manager is responsible for the financial planning and forecasts submissions in accordance with the holding company’s accounting policies and procedures and supports decision making from a financial perspective analyzing in a wide variety of business processes from various perspectives, such as costs, revenues, profitability etc. and assists in preparing proposals regarding CAPEX projects.

He / She works closely with the Opco Controller on financial planning, forecasts, all accounting, reporting, and financial disclosure matters and consults often with relevant stakeholders, and confers with his / her peer Tax Manager, Treasury Manager as well as the Business Control Managers.

Key Role and Responsibilities:

Financial Planning, Analysis & Reporting

• Manages financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting processes and submissions.
• Creates variance analysis reports and financial models.
• Leads real-time financial performance monitoring.
• Escalates any financial issues to management.
• Sets and tracks key performance indicators (KPIs) and objectives.
• Completes market research and comparable company or OpCo analysis.
• Recommends strategies for increasing financial performance.
• Prepares detailed monthly financial reports for management.
• Uses popular financial planning and analysis tools.
• Collaborates with senior members of the accounting and finance teams.
• Prepares ad-hoc analysis as required from time to time.

Data collection and insight generation

• Uses data and analysis in problem identification (bottlenecks, efficiencies, insights, etc.) continuously searching for data sources to conduct analysis valuable to the company, continuously enhancing the problem analysis / identification in terms of relevance, quality and insights based on business requirements,
• Collects, analyses, coordinates and selects internal and external data and research for further analysis, to have an optimal set of data and research results available, which provides the relevant business area with desired information and/or further analyses or reporting.
• Discovers ways in which business value can be drawn from analysis and develops trusted information with true insights.
• Visualizes the analysis and transforms the analysis into valuable and relevant insights for business.

Advice

• Proactively advises colleagues and management on data and insight analysis, opportunities and market developments,
• Optimally informs and advises internal stakeholders and customers about analysis and related insights,
• Acts as a liaison with managers, advises and supports them concerning all finance related matters, formulates and presents possible solutions

Planning & Control cycle

• Supports the business with the planning & control cycle, including the preparation of the 3-year development plan and annual budgets, and the reporting of actual results:
• Communicating guidelines and instructions, and creating templates to facilitate the planning and reporting processes
• Participate in the financial review process between the OpCo(s), Division and Corporate
• Performing financial analysis of actual performance compared to plan and last year
• Preparing management information, such as monthly reports and presentations on various topics
• Assisting in the preparation and analysis of annual financial reports.

Market Developments / Investments

• Assesses market developments using analytics and data insights, so that knowledge and insight of developments in area of expertise is up-to-date and ensured in the long term
• On request of the business, performs analysis of capital expenditures, credit applications, divestment proposals and other events with a major financial impact, by:
• Performing investigations and analyses in line with corporate guidelines
• Preparing cover notes and presentations

Analysis / Analytics

• Conducts and merges complex internal and external analysis. Carries out structural and ad hoc analysis and advanced analytics to transform data and research into useful information, which offer useful insights and recommendations to the designated business area.
• Develops and provides ad hoc financials analysis that add value to the business and contribute to the delivery of the Divisional strategy.
• Assists functional counterparts in the OpCo as required on matter involving cost determination issues, valuation, distribution of overhead, treatment of costs and product pricing,
• May conduct special studies and analysis such as cost impact of proposed changes in facilities, systems and processes.

Compliance / Governance / Audits

• Supports and promotes the Division wide compliance to corporate policies, especially relating to the Finance and Administration functions,
• Ensures that systems and procedures are in compliance with company policies, the reporting & accounting strategy and with accounting standards, and applicable rules & regulations.
• Follows all IFRS developments closely and implements new or revised accounting policies and procedures, if necessary,
• Contributes to further professionalizing the (Finance) function, including signaling of areas of improvement and implementing solutions,
• Responsible for the overall control of the financial administration, monitors enforcement of guidelines and guidance of all administrative processes of the entity, to achieve full compliance with all relevant (financial) standards,
• Supports and prepares (financial) audits, ensures all relevant financial information is available for internal and external Auditors.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting
• CA / CIMA Qualification advantageous
• 6+ years’ working experience
• Manufacturing industry background
• ERP System experience, Unite M3 would be advantage,
• Professional skills in Microsoft software (especially MS Excel and PowerPoint) and Power BI
• HFM / OneStream knowledge
• Technical knowledge of IFRS, General Accounting and Tax legislation

Skills and Competencies:

• Attention to detail
• Interpretation and analytical skills
• Timeliness, accuracy and reliability of all periodic and ad-hoc reporting and management information
• Level of compliance / non-conformities
• Demonstrates excellent financial and quantitative skills.
• Communicates effectively and has strong presentation skills.
• Collaborates well with colleagues using adept social skills.
• Works independently using project management skills.
• Builds strong working relationships and has good leadership skills.
• Learns quickly and has strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills

Local candidates are invited to apply for this position. If you’re interested in becoming the next FP&A Manager in South Africa, please submit your application via the link below.