Business Line Finance Officer

SOLEVO; Johannesburg; Hybrid; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Full time

Job summary

An international chemical distribution leader is looking for two Business Line Finance Officers mainly based in Geneva, but Johannesburg is an option. This role requires a postgraduate degree in Finance and 3-5 years of relevant experience. Candidates will support strategic decision-making, work closely with finance teams and play a crucial role in shaping the company's long-term strategies. Excellent analytical and presentation skills are essential, along with a flair for managing multiple stakeholders in a complex environment.

Benefits

Opportunities for professional development

Dynamic international work environment

Exposure to strategic decision-making

Qualifications

• 3 to 5 years of experience in Transaction Services, Investment Banking, Private Equity, or M&A.
• Fluency in English; French is a plus.
• Proven ability to operate in complex, multicultural environments.

Responsibilities

• Act as the interface between the Business Line Director and finance team on budgeting.
• Support the Business Line Director in defining strategy and budget targets.
• Coordinate the budgeting process at the Business Line level.

Skills

Business acumen

Analytical skills

Problem-solving skills

Presentation skills

Education

Postgraduate degree in Finance, Business, or Engineering

Job description

Join Solevo: Empowering Progress Across Africa

At Solevo, we connect communities and industries with the solutions they need to grow, thrive, and transform. From supporting agricultural self‑sufficiency to driving industrial innovation, we are shaping the future of Africa’s life sciences and industrial sectors.

Who are we?

SOLEVO is the leading specialty chemical distribution platform in Africa, one of the fastest‑growing specialty chemicals markets globally. SOLEVO serves B2B customers and is active in 11 countries, exporting to more than 20 additional markets across the continent.

The Group focuses on two high‑margin segments: Life Sciences (Agriculture, Food & Care) and Industrial Applications. SOLEVO operates one of Africa’s most comprehensive chemical distribution networks, combining strong physical infrastructure with advanced digital capabilities. The platform includes over 1,100 employees, 80+ warehouses, 26+ laboratories, 11+ blending facilities, and access to 11+ strategic ports.

Over the past five years, SOLEVO has significantly strengthened its platform, achieving resilient organic and inorganic growth across market cycles. Revenue and EBITDA have increased by more than 3.5x, and the Group has expanded geographically with four new countries added since 2022.

What are we looking for?

To support this strong growth, we are currently seeking two Business Line Finance Officers, covering:

• Life Sciences – Agriculture
• Life Sciences – Food & Care and Industrial Applications

The positions are preferably based in Geneva, although locations in Africa (such as Abidjan or Johannesburg) may also be considered.

What do we expect from the candidate?

The Business Line Finance Officer will act as the right hand of the Business Line Director, supporting the definition, implementation, and monitoring of SOLEVO’s short‑, medium‑, and long‑term strategy.

The role involves close interaction with multiple internal stakeholders, including central finance teams and country‑level business teams. The successful candidate will play a key role in balancing long‑term value creation with short‑term performance and budget achievement.

Functional reporting line to the Group CFO; Dotted‑line reporting to the Business Line Director.

The key responsibilities:

Strategy, Planning and Reporting

• Act as the interface between the Business Line Director, Group CFO, and Central Finance team on budgeting and reporting
• Support the Business Line Director in defining strategy and budget targets
• Coordinate the budgeting process at Business Line level in collaboration with Central Finance
• Work closely with Senior FP&A to provide strong analysis and business insights for weekly (flash) and monthly performance reviews
• Support the preparation of Board packs, executive dashboards, and external reporting materials
• Define and monitor a comprehensive set of operational, commercial, and financial KPIs to assess business performance from a value‑creation perspective

Steering the Business

• Support the Business Line Director in steering overall business performance
• Interact with Regional Business Line Managers and Product Managers to provide insights on performance
• Perform in‑depth variance analysis (macro and micro) and propose corrective actions
• Organize and contribute to regular business performance reviews (monthly, quarterly)
• Participate in business meetings and monitor action plan execution
• Provide financial and strategic analysis to support decisions on new segments, customers, or markets
• Constructively challenge business decisions to ensure value creation

Business Analysis

• Work closely with Senior FP&A to improve and automate segmentation analysis
• Develop tailored analyses and reports to support strategic and operational decision‑making
• Ensure data integrity, including regular data cleaning and updates

Market Analysis

• Assess market data availability at country, regional, and group levels
• Formalize data collection processes using internal and external intelligence
• Develop IT tools for market data collection when needed
• Conduct regular analysis of market dynamics, benchmarking SOLEVO’s position and identifying risks and opportunities
• Support the implementation of CRM tools

Other Responsibilities

• Provide strategic decision support related to investments, cost optimization, and growth initiatives
• Support the S&OP process, including forecast accuracy and demand analysis
• Contribute to ad hoc strategic and financial projects as required

If you possess…

Must‑Have:

• Postgraduate degree in Finance, Business, or Engineering
• 3 to 5 years of experience in Transaction Services (Big 4), Investment Banking, Private Equity, or an M&A boutique
• Strong business acumen with the ability to translate complex data into clear insights
• Proven ability to operate in complex, multicultural environments
• Excellent analytical, structuring, and problem‑solving skills
• Strong presentation skills with high attention to detail and formatting
• Fluency in English (French is a plus)

Nice‑to‑Have:

• Experience in fast‑growing or emerging markets
• Exposure to Life Sciences or Industrial sectors
• Strong interest in digital tools, data automation, and performance dashboards

If you are…

• Commercially minded, people‑oriented, and comfortable managing multiple stakeholders
• Highly energetic, driven by growth, and proactive
• Passionate about value creation and long‑term business development
• Structured and methodological, with an intrapreneurial mindset

Why join SOLEVO?

• Join a fast‑growing leader in chemical distribution across Africa
• Work in a dynamic, international, and entrepreneurial environment
• Be exposed to strategic decision‑making at group and business line levels
• Take part in a platform that combines growth, impact, and operational excellence
• Enjoy opportunities for professional development and career progression

Then, this job is for you!

How to join us?

If you are excited about this opportunity, we encourage you to submit your resume detailing your relevant experience and join us on SOLEVO’s growth journey.

What’s next?

If your profile matches our search, you will be contacted by our HR team for an initial discussion.

Please note that your profile may be retained for future professional opportunities within SOLEVO.