Lead Finance Analyst - Brand Building Investments

About the Role

The Lead Analyst, Brand Building Investments (BBI) is responsible for the efficient management and analysis of marketing investments to ensure optimal use of resources and alignment with organizational financial goals. This position plays a critical role in preparing, monitoring, analyzing, and optimizing budgets related to brand-building initiatives, providing actionable recommendations to enhance performance and ROI. The role requires collaboration with cross-functional teams to deliver financial insights and drive strategic planning.

Key Responsibilities & Expectations

Budget Management

• Develop and manage Central BBI budgets for brand building and marketing expenses, ensuring accurate forecasting, allocation, and tracking.
• Monitor actual spend against Central budgets, investigating variances and presenting recommendations to stakeholders.
• Partner with marketing/ commercial and procurement organization and finance teams to implement cost-saving strategies and process improvements.
• Handle forecast loading into OneStream (or other financial systems) for marketing expenses and brand-building investments.
• Partner with relevant stakeholders to update projections, recharges and refine forecast accuracy.
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting of COA and marketing investment performance, including monthly, quarterly, and annual results.

Month-End Close Activities

• Complete all month-end close responsibilities related to Central marketing expenses, ensuring accurate and timely accounting entries.
• Reconcile marketing-related accounts, including accruals, prepayments, and variances, to ensure accurate financial reporting.
• Validate and post necessary adjustments to the general ledger for marketing spend.
• Prepare detailed reports summarizing month-end results and variance analyses for review by senior management.
• Collaborate with finance teams to ensure compliance with internal controls and financial policies during the close process.

Stakeholder Collaboration & Communication

• Serve as the key financial partner for the marketing & Commercial team, ensuring alignment of investments with financial goals.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Marketing, Procurement, and Commercial Finance, to support decision-making and long-term strategy.
• Deliver regular updates on budget performance, investment highlights, and risks to senior management and marketing leads.
• Translate complex financial data into clear, actionable recommendations for non-financial stakeholders.

Governance & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with company policies and financial governance frameworks in all marketing spend-related activities.
• Maintain accurate documentation and audit-ready records for all marketing transactions.

Continuous Improvement & Ad Hoc Analysis

• Contribute to improving processes, systems, and tools for managing marketing investments efficiently.
• Support ad hoc projects and analyses to address urgent business needs or strategic initiatives.
• Stay updated on industry trends, benchmarks, and innovations in marketing spend management and budget optimization.

Knowledge & Experience

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field (Master’s degree or MBA preferred).

Experience:

• Minimum 3-5 years of experience in finance, accounting, or budget management, with demonstrated expertise in forecasting and cost allocation in a global or regional context.
• Experience with financial systems such as OneStream, SAP, Oracle, Ariba or equivalent tools.
• Familiarity with marketing spending and brand-building initiatives in industries like FMCG, Retail, or similar sectors is advantageous.

Technical Skills:

• Advanced Excel skills (financial modeling, pivot tables, etc.) and proficiency in financial systems for budgeting, forecasting, and reporting (e.g., OneStream).
• Expertise in forecasting processes, variance analyses, and cost allocation/recharge mechanisms across multiple markets.
• Solid knowledge of accounting principles and month-end close activities.

Soft Skills:

• Strong analytical skills with a detail-oriented approach to problem-solving.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills for both financial and non-financial stakeholders.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborative mindset with a commitment to working effectively across teams and regions.