Commercial Finance Graduate

Lindt & Sprüngli (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 300,000 - 420,000; Full time

Job summary

Lindt & Sprüngli (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd in Johannesburg invites applications for a Commercial Finance Graduate to support the Commercial Finance team with financial analysis, forecasting, reporting, business intelligence, and decision support in a dynamic FMCG environment.

You will gain practical exposure to all aspects of Commercial Finance while developing analytical, technical, and business partnering capabilities for a future finance career.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Commerce, Mathematics, 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.
• Strong attention to detail and data accuracy.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Knowledge of SAP, IBM Cognos, Power BI, or similar reporting tools advantageous.
• Strong time management and organisational skills.
• Commercial acumen and interest in financial planning and analysis.

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.
• Ensure accuracy and integrity of financial data and reporting outputs.
• Support the monthly sales forecasting process.
• Assist in rolling forecasts, Latest Estimates, and annual budgets.
• Consolidate inputs and validate forecast assumptions.
• Monitor actuals against budget and forecast targets.
• Support Sales & Operations Planning through analysis and reporting.
• Assist with pricing analysis and price increase evaluations.
• Support product managers with costing for new developments.
• Prepare customer, brand, and retail contribution analyses.
• Evaluate promotional activities to determine ROI.
• Support ad hoc financial modelling and projects.
• Develop proficiency in SAP, SAC, Excel, Power BI, and other tools.
• Extract and interpret data from multiple systems for reporting.
• Support reporting automation and process improvements.
• Maintain reporting databases and dashboards for the business.
• Build effective relationships with Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, Retail, and Finance.
• Participate in cross-functional planning and business reviews.
• Support the Commercial Finance Manager with analyses and business cases.
• Communicate financial information clearly to finance and non-finance stakeholders.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Excel proficiency

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Business partnering

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance/Accounting

Tools

SAP

IBM Cognos

Power BI

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.

Looking to grow your career in a dynamic, international setting?

Join the Lindt & Sprüngli Group!

Together, we thrive to achieve our bold ambitions, powered by our purpose and unique culture of community and mutual support – rooted in a proud tradition, yet always evolving to stay ahead and set new standards. Across our diverse local teams, we think globally and act locally – empowering people to grow, take ownership and shape a sustainable future together. We are a responsible “employer of choice” who provides an inspiring people experience. Together, we build trust, drive innovation, and grow – as individuals and as a business. Lindt & Sprüngli has been enchanting the world with chocolate for over 180 years. The long-established Swiss company with its roots in Zurich is a global leader in the premium chocolate category. Lindt & Sprüngli produces quality chocolates today at its 12 factories in Europe and the USA. Its products are sold by 41 subsidiaries and branch offices in around 620 of its own stores as well as via a network of around 100 distributors around the globe. With around 15,500 employees, the Lindt & Sprüngli Group reported sales of CHF 5.92 billion in 2025. Our commitment to contributing to a sustainable tomorrow is a key element driving the company’s actions and ambitions. Since 2008, the Lindt & Sprüngli Farming Program has been our Responsible Sourcing Standard for cocoa.