Commercial Finance Graduate

Ghirardelli Chocolate Company; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 180,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

Ghirardelli Chocolate Company in Cape Town is seeking a Commercial Finance Graduate to support the finance team with financial analysis, forecasting, reporting, business intelligence, and commercial decision support. This entry point into Commercial Finance focuses on building performance management skills in a dynamic FMCG environment.

You will collaborate with Sales, Marketing, and Supply Chain, contribute to pricing and product costing analyses, and develop expertise in SAP, SAC, Excel, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Finance/Accounting/Economics/Commerce/Math/Statistics or related field.
• 0-2 years of relevant work experience.
• Strong numerical and analytical skills.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel or ability to learn quickly.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Prepare daily, weekly, and monthly financial and commercial performance reports.
• Support month-end reporting and variance analysis processes.
• Analyse sales, margins, pricing, costs, and profitability trends.
• Assist in identifying key business drivers and provide actionable insights to stakeholders.
• Ensure accuracy and integrity of financial data and reporting outputs.
• Support the monthly sales forecasting process and annual budgets.
• Contribute to pricing analyses, product costing for new developments, and ROI evaluations.
• Develop proficiency in SAP, SAC, Excel, Power BI, and other reporting tools.
• Build relationships with Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, Retail, and Finance teams.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Excel proficiency

Data interpretation

Communication skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Finance or related field

Tools

SAP

IBM Cognos

Power BI

Excel

Job description

Are you a born ENTREPRENEUR who loves to INNOVATE or do you prefer driving COLLABORATION with a sense of RESPONSIBILITY and a touch of EXCELLENCE? If you answered yes, then we want to hear from you.

Position Purpose

The Commercial Finance Graduate supports the Commercial Finance team through financial analysis, forecasting, reporting, business intelligence, and commercial decision support. The role provides practical exposure to all aspects of Commercial Finance while developing the analytical, technical, and business partnering capabilities required for a future career within Finance & Controlling.

The role serves as an entry point into the Commercial Finance function and is designed to build a strong understanding of business performance management within a dynamic FMCG environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Financial Reporting & Analysis
  • Prepare daily, weekly, and monthly financial and commercial performance reports.
  • Support month-end reporting and variance analysis processes.
  • Analyse sales, margins, pricing, costs, and profitability trends.
  • Assist in identifying key business drivers and provide actionable insights to stakeholders.
  • Ensure accuracy and integrity of financial data and reporting outputs.
• Forecasting & Business Planning
  • Support the monthly sales forecasting process.
  • Assist in the preparation of rolling forecasts, Latest Estimates, and annual budgets.
  • Consolidate business inputs and validate underlying forecast assumptions.
  • Monitor actual performance against budget and forecast targets.
  • Support the Sales & Operations Planning process through analysis and reporting.
• Commercial Finance Support
  • Assist with pricing analysis and price increase evaluations.
  • Support product managers with costing calculations for new product developments.
  • Prepare customer, brand, and retail contribution statement analyses.
  • Evaluate promotional and commercial activities to determine return on investment.
  • Support ad hoc financial modelling and commercial projects as required.
• Business Intelligence & Systems
  • Develop proficiency in SAP, SAC, Excel, Power BI, and other reporting tools.
  • Extract, analyse, and interpret data from multiple business systems.
  • Support reporting automation and process improvement initiatives.
  • Maintain reporting databases and dashboards used by the business.
• Business Partnering
  • Build effective working relationships with Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, Retail, and Finance teams.
  • Participate in cross-functional planning discussions and business reviews.
  • Support the Commercial Finance Manager with presentations, analyses, and business cases.
  • Communicate financial information clearly to both finance and non-finance stakeholders.

Personal Characteristics

• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability.
• High attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Proactive attitude with a willingness to learn.
• Collaborative team player who builds strong relationships.
• Methodical and structured approach to work.
• Ability to prioritise and manage multiple deadlines.
• Commercially curious with an interest in understanding business drivers.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced FMCG environment.

Skills and Competencies

• Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Commerce, Mathematics, Statistics, or a related field.
• 0-2 years of relevant work experience.
• Strong numerical and analytical skills.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel or demonstrated ability to learn quickly.
• Strong attention to detail and data accuracy.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Knowledge of SAP, IBM Cognos, Power BI, or similar reporting tools would be advantageous.
• Strong time management and organisational skills.
• Commercial acumen and interest in financial planning and analysis.