Planning and Modelling Manager

Silver Fern Farms Ltd; Dunedin; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Silver Fern Farms Ltd is seeking an experienced FP&A professional to own and evolve financial models that underpin forecasting, budgeting and long-term planning. You will translate uncertainty into insight and challenge assumptions to support strategic decisions at the highest levels.

You will collaborate across Supply, Operations, Sales, Technology & Data, building trusted partnerships to keep modelling robust and fit for purpose, while serving as the go-to expert for complex modelling

Qualifications

• Significant experience in FP&A or analytical finance environments.
• Advanced financial modelling capability, with driver-based and scenario models.
• Forecasting, budgeting and long-term planning expertise.
• Translate complex commercial problems into clear financial outcomes and insights.
• Experience with planning tools such as TM1, IBM Planning Analytics or Power BI.

Responsibilities

• Owning and continuously improving the financial models that support forecasting, budgeting, long-term planning and strategic decision-making.
• Developing sophisticated driver-based, scenario and sensitivity models to evaluate opportunities, risks and outcomes.
• Building and evaluating business cases, investment proposals and strategic initiatives for capital allocation decisions.
• Providing independent challenge and validation of forecasts, assumptions and financial outcomes.
• Acting as the subject matter expert for financial modelling best practices and governance.
• Supporting evolution of planning systems and analytics capabilities, including Planning Analytics and related platforms.

Skills

FP&A experience

Financial modelling

Advanced Excel

Stakeholder engagement

Communication skills

Data analysis

Scenario modelling

Planning Analytics

Power BI

Tools

TM1

IBM Planning Analytics

Power BI

Job description

Te Tūranga | About the Role

Reporting to the Head of Planning & Performance, you'll play a pivotal role in shaping how critical business decisions are assessed, challenged and supported across the organisation. This is a highly influential individual contributor role where your expertise, judgement and commercial insight will be valued at the highest levels of the business.

You'll own the development and evolution of the financial models that underpin forecasting, budgeting, long-term planning, business cases and strategic decision-making. At the same time, you'll work closely with teams across Supply, Operations, Sales, Technology & Data, as well as other functions that utilise modelling and planning tools. Rather than replacing these, you'll build trusted partnerships that ensure modelling approaches remain robust, aligned and fit for purpose, while becoming the go-to expert for complex modelling challenges, reviews and enhancements.

You'll translate uncertainty into insight, challenge assumptions with confidence, and help leaders understand the financial implications of opportunities, risks and key business decisions.

This role can be based at either of our Dunedin or Christchurch Hubs.

What You'll Be Responsible For

• Owning and continuously improving the financial models that support forecasting, budgeting, long-term planning and strategic decision-making.
• Developing sophisticated driver-based, scenario and sensitivity models that enable leaders to evaluate opportunities, risks and alternative outcomes.
• Building and evaluating business cases, investment proposals and strategic initiatives to support informed capital allocation decisions.
• Providing independent challenge and validation of forecasts, assumptions and financial outcomes across the business.
• Acting as Silver Fern Farms' subject matter expert for financial modelling best practice, governance and analytical frameworks.
• Supporting the ongoing evolution of planning systems, forecasting tools and analytical capabilities, including Planning Analytics and related performance management platforms.

Why This Role Matters

Quality decision-making relies on quality analysis.

As we continue to evolve within our complex operating environment, there is a growing need for sophisticated financial modelling and scenario analysis that helps our leaders understand both opportunity and risk before decisions are made – this role, done well, delivers this.

You'll provide the financial insight and analytical rigour that helps shape strategic investments, major business initiatives, commercial decisions and long-term planning. Your work will influence how the organisation assesses uncertainty, evaluates alternatives and prioritises opportunities.

Ōu Pūkenga | About You

We're Looking For Someone Who Brings

• Significant experience in FP&A, Commercial Finance, Corporate Finance, Transaction Services, Strategy or other highly analytical finance environments.
• Advanced financial modelling capability, with proven experience building integrated, driver-based and scenario models from the ground up.
• Deep expertise in forecasting, budgeting, long-term planning, business case development and investment evaluation.
• The ability to take complex commercial and operational problems and translate them into clear financial outcomes, insights and recommendations.
• Advanced Excel modelling skills and experience working with planning and performance management tools such as TM1, IBM Planning Analytics, Power BI or similar platforms.
• Experience working with large, complex and often imperfect data sets to identify trends, risks, opportunities and key performance drivers.
• Outstanding stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence decisions and build credibility across a broad range of business functions.
• Confidence to challenge assumptions constructively while maintaining strong working relationships and trust.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial concepts in a clear and practical way.
• A continuous improvement mindset and passion for building analytical capability and modelling excellence.

Silver Fern Farms welcomes people from all backgrounds and walks of life. We are proud to have a diverse and inclusive environment and are committed to providing equal opportunities for all team members and applicants. Come and create goodness together with us.