UFS Finance Manager - SA

Unilever; Umhlanga Rocks; On-site; ZAR 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A global consumer goods company is seeking a passionate Finance Manager in Umhlanga Rocks, South Africa. The role includes full P&L ownership, supporting business growth, and managing financial performance. Ideal candidates will have over 5 years of experience and relevant finance qualifications, with strong analytical and communication skills. Join a diverse team committed to sustainable living and impactful innovations.

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience in financial, operational and business partnering roles.
• Excellent analytical and communication skills with ability to respond under pressure.
• Strong relationship building skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead innovations for business growth.
• Ensure accuracy of monthly financial forecasts.
• Manage P&L to achieve business targets.

Skills

Financial data analysis

Problem-solving

Stakeholder management

Commercial acumen

People management

Education

MBA, CA, CIMA, or ACCA

Job description

Overview

Function: Finance

Work Level: 2A

Reports to: UFS Regional Finance Head

Scope: UFS South Africa

Location: Durban, South Africa

Terms & Conditions: full time, local term

About Unilever

With 3.4 billion people in over 190 countries using our products every day, Unilever is a business that makes a real impact on the world. Work on brands that are loved and improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us. We are driven by our purpose: to make sustainable living commonplace, and it is our belief that doing business the right way drives superior performance. At the heart of what we do is our people – we believe that when our people work with purpose, we will create a better business and a better world.

At Unilever, your career will be a unique journey, grounded in our inclusive, collaborative, and flexible working environment. We don’t believe in the ‘one size fits all’ approach and instead we will equip you with the tools you need to shape your own future.

Category/Function Introduction

Unilever Food Solutions (UFS) is a significant player in the global foodservice market, with world-class power brands, such as the Unilever Food Solutions brand, Knorr Professional and Hellmann’s. UFS ambition is to reach €5bn by 2030, establishing the largest global platform for professional chefs in the Foodservice industry. UFS mission is to be a world class force for good in foodservice, by leading in AI-powered customer experience, being the best solution provider in the industry, and a winning talent engine. Our purpose is to “free you to love what you do”. UFS leads the way in culinary trends and inspirational recipes, offers professional support and training to chefs around the world, and creates products that stand out in taste, convenience, and health and continuously meet the very high standard of professional chefs. This all can only be achieved through impactful innovations, superior products and technology, and a strong focus on developing future-fit talent.

We are searching for a passionate Finance Manager to serve as the Finance Head for FS South Africa. You will have full P&L ownership and accountability, as well as partner in delivering the financial growth model's in-year targets. Additionally, you will commercially shape the medium- to long-term strategy and direction of FS South Africa business growth.

Job Purpose

Find your purpose at Unilever. You will lead innovations, big and small, that will make our business win and grow. You will learn from brilliant business leaders and colleagues in a truly global and diverse culture to ultimately become a better you. If you are passionate to gain end to end P&L management experience and excited to take challenges under uncertainties, then this role is just for you.

What will your main responsibilities be

The FS country finance manager, as one of the key players in the local UFS South Africa leadership team, is expected to support and identify business opportunities; facilitate key business decision making process, drive investment efficiency and well manage P&L to a healthy/sustainable shape.

• Ensure accuracy of monthly financial forecast by leading and ensuring a robust Country S&OP financial forecast.
• Managing month end closing, forecasting and reporting activities; following up actions for financial performance
• Partner with UFS South Africa leadership and teams to drive business delivery to achieve financial targets.
• Partner with Marketing teams on in-market projects (innovations, renovations) to support growth
• Provide insight and analysis to all relevant stakeholders (Country and BU LT) on monthly results and forecasts
• Analyze financial results and key trends, assess current and future business risks, and communicate results to Leadership Team.
• Facilitate and crafting financial strategic planning and risk management for the country.
• Be responsible to proactively manage the entire P&L for FS South Africa to achieve business targets.
• Develop progressive plans and initiate necessary actions with the business to capture growth opportunities and GM improvement opportunities.
• Use in depth insights and analysis to do dynamic resources allocation and budget management.
• Drive investment efficiency (TTS,BMI,OVH) and build ROMI mindset in the business.
• Identify major risks and opportunities and manage with leadership team.
• Ensure FS related financial controls are well managed and mitigation actions in place.
• Well engage with regional/local finance share service teams or Service Hubs to ensure sufficient support to drive FS business.

What you will need to succeed

Experiences & Qualifications

• Professional finance qualification MBA, CA, CIMA, ACCA is preferred.
• Have experienced multiple subfunctions in Finance Unilever with 5+ years experience in financial, operational and business partnering roles.
• Problem-solving skills, ability to make reliable judgments and conclusions
• Excellent analytical and communication skills with ability to respond under pressure
• Excellent commercial acumen & strong business partnering skills.
• Owner’s mindset towards business challenges. Ability to tackle complex situations, evaluate alternative courses of action, and provide fact-based solutions.
• Local internal talent is preferred

Skills

• Strong professional skills in financial data and analytics.
• Problem-solving ability, strategic negotiation, and influencing
• Solid experience in business partnering functions and business leaders
• Proven and Strong People Management and Stakeholder Management
• Strong relationship building skills and an ability to engage clearly and effectively with all stakeholders.
• Fluent English with excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Leadership

• You are an inclusive motivator of people. Your team deliver with real passion, growing and learning from each other whilst delivering quick wins.
• You are still responsible for your own results and as a manager, you also need to motivate others to deliver with passion, creating an inclusive and engaging climate around you. You can balance challenge with support and coaching. You understand the wider business context and you are emotionally intelligent enough to motivate people to deliver what is needed.

• Critical SOL (Standards of Leadership) Behaviors
  • PERSONAL MASTERY: Sets high standards for themselves. Has emotional intelligence to take feedback, manage mood and motivations, and build empathy for others.
  • PASSION FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE: Generates intensity and focus to motivate people to deliver results at speed. Takes personal responsibility and accountability for execution and results.
  • TALENT CATALYST: Invests in people – coaches individuals and teams to realize their full potential. Creates an inclusive climate, empowering everyone to be at their best.
  • PURPOSE & SERVICE: Has humility, understanding that leadership is service to others, inside and outside Unilever.
  • CONSUMER LOVE: Invests time inside and outside to understand the needs of consumers.
  • BUSINESS ACUMEN: Creates sustainable growth with purpose, engaging different partners across the system for change.

Unilever embraces diversity and encourages applicants from all walks of life. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity.

Unilever is an organisation committed to equity, inclusion and diversity to drive our business results and create a better future, every day, for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their ‘Whole Self’ to work and this includes you. Thus if you require any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of your application so that we can support you through your recruitment journey.