Job Description

Role Overview Lead the Finance function with strong commercial insight into how a fast‑moving FMCG business operates. Go beyond compliance and accounting by interpreting financial results in a commercial context, advising management on next steps, and supporting profitable growth. Provide clear, actionable financial information to the CEO/COO, while building a capable, analytical, and commercially aware Finance team. Key Responsibilities Commercial Financial Management : Develop deep understanding of revenue models, product portfolios, channels, and markets. Analyse performance by business drivers, identify risks/opportunities early, and support decisions on pricing, promotions, margins, and market expansion. FMCG Business Understanding : Assess revenue, gross margin, distributor margins, trade spending, marketing investments, product launches, and inventory dynamics. Recognize that certain expenditures are strategic investments in brand and growth, not just costs. Management Reporting : Report directly to CEO/COO with clear, commercially meaningful insights. Explain performance trends, highlight strengths alongside risks, and recommend actions. Ensure reporting reflects true business momentum. Revenue & Expense Classification: Maintain discipline in classifying revenue, COGS, trade spend, marketing, and operating expenses. Ensure financial presentation provides management with meaningful visibility while remaining compliant. Budgeting & Forecasting : Lead budgeting and forecasting based on commercial assumptions. Compare actuals vs. budget vs. forecast, explain variances, and recommend solutions proactively. Business Partnering : Act as senior Finance partner to department heads. Collaborate across revenue, brand, marketing, trade, operations, procurement, and product teams to improve decision‑making and challenge assumptions constructively. Margin & Profitability Analysis : Monitor margins by product, SKU, customer, channel, and promotion. Identify leakage, analyse mix changes, and recommend corrective actions. Inventory & Working Capital : Balance cash efficiency with operational needs. Monitor stock cover, ageing, and working capital, ensuring sufficient inventory to support growth without excessive cash strain. Finance Team Leadership : Build and develop a high‑performing Finance team. Move beyond transactional processing to analysis, forecasting, and business partnering. Coach team members, delegate progressively, and develop successors to ensure sustainable capability. Decision Support : Provide financial analysis for new products, markets, customers, distributor agreements, pricing, promotions, and capital commitments. Prepare scenario analyses to guide management decisions. Financial Control & Governance : Maintain strong controls, compliance, audit readiness, and governance. Ensure timely and accurate reporting while keeping Finance a business enabler, not just a control function. Requirement Degree in Accounting/Finance; professional qualification preferred. Strong accounting foundation with commercial acumen. Experience in FMCG, consumer goods, retail, or distribution environments. Skilled in management reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and commercial analysis. Strong Excel and financial modelling capability. Proven leadership and team development experience. Clear communicator able to translate numbers into actionable insights.