Location: Bryanston, GT, ZA
Company: DANONE
Danone Southern Africa (Pty), a subsidiary of Danone, is seeking for BUSINESS CONTROLLER: MARKETING South Africa (ZA) Bryanston Danone is a global food company the leading company in healthy food through its four businesses: Fresh Dairy Products, Early Life Nutrition, Waters, and Medical Nutrition. Its mission, providing health food to as many people as possible, embodies commitment to human progress and business success. It gives purposes
to the work of our 100,000 Danoners worldwide on a daily basis. For passionate people in search of an autonomy and exciting career opportunities, Danone definitely has something special for you.
This individual must be innovative and assertive as they need both to support and challenge top line functions from a financial point of view to make sure that targets are obtained.
Business partnership with the Marketing, Exports, R&I and Sales Strategy teams to create models and analyse complex P&L for innovations and renovations. Offer recommendations on business optimization/investment.
Monitor budgets vs. actuals spend and challenge the spend efficiency and adequation to the Marketing strategy. Help the team in identifying cost optimisation initiatives.
KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:
Strategic Management:
Assist the Marketing Director and Senior team in coming up with the Marketing strategy and assessing Commercial viability of these strategies locally and for exports
Lead the financial evaluation of new product launches
Offer insightful recommendation-based Profitability, brand, product and S&I insights
Come up with creative solutions to expand marketing proposals
Analyze and make recommendations on business optimization and investment opportunities in consultation with other functions to increase profitability
Make sure that all Marketing spend is in accordance to the company and Group strategy
Offer guidance, support and recommendations to make sure that that KPI’s are met
Financial Analysis
Assisting management with in depth analysis of business results versus targets and recommendations for appropriate actions where necessary
Profitability calculation on all innovations and renovations and how it affects the Brand and Company
Monitor the progress of innovation KPI’s post launch and indicate risk and opportunities to the Financial Director and Marketing Director
Business Planning owner of CO by brand and pack size: Working closely with Commercial Controller and COGS Business Planners to maintain brand and pack size CO profitability
Enforce mechanisms and tools to assist in the measurement of CO by brand by Month
Provide support and explanation on the Marketing spend by analysis
Investment suggestions to the current business in order to maximize profitability
Financial Planning and Management
CODEV (Product development, Innovation)
Work hand in hand with the Marketing team and R&I team on the management of different projects
Intermediate between SSD, R&D, Marketing and Commercial teams to make sure that consistency and clarity of presentations to the CODEV
Prepare business profitability analysis and scenario analysis and recommendation
Monitor and manage write-offs costs
Work closely with Marketing Director and Project leads to prioritize projects and keep all teams focused
Forecasting
Put together all inputs into a Marketing Forecast that is accurate and aligned
Build Forecasts and Estimates for Marketing spend by Brand and spend type
Quantify and show all risks and opportunities
Making sure that the forecasted spend is in line with company strategy
Management of Spend
Manage and maintain the company financials to make sure that targets are met
Custodian of the PO approval process for Marketing
Month end closing and variance analysis Actual vs. PY/ Forecast/ Latest Estimate
Analyse all variances with Marketing Managers
Reporting
Preparing of Forecast and other presentations to be communicated to Directors, Zone, and Head
On time Monthly Magnitude reporting: Marketing and brand related
Complete all reports for zone reporting
Help Head of Finance to manage the full company equation by helping to prepare mid-month Zone forecasts and prepare Zone call packs for month end flash calls.
Other
Responsible for all Financial local and Group initiated projects for marketing.
Assist the Commercial, Marketing and R&L team on Brand projects
ACADEMIC AND TRADE QUALIFICATIONS:
Bcom (Finance/Accounting) or CIMA or Other relevant qualification. 5 years’ experience
Bcom Honours, CA(SA), Innovation/Renovation experience and Business planning experience would be an added advantage.
WORK EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS:
In-depth professional knowledge and experience of Marketing and Innovation in FMCG
Should have worked for a multinational company
Strategic planning
Budget building and controlling experience
Project Management
Commercial savvy
Advanced Excel skills
Build costing models
PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS AND BEHAVIOURAL TRAITS:
Strategic vision
Innovative thinking / Out of the box: Creative in setting up proper/best cross-functional procedures
Deadline driven, prioritization
Autonomous & energetic
Pro-active
Strong interpersonal skills – ability to challenge at all levels.
Strong analytical, numerical and problem-solving skills.
Problem solving and solution orientated
Clear communicator verbal & written
Pragmatic, technical and concrete. Take actions and achieve results.
Drive and ambition
Analytical thinking
Strong Influencing skills
Enthusiastic with a can-do attitude
For more information about Danone, its people and its business, please visit danone.com
