Finance Business Partner, Foods

Who we are?

On any given day, 2.5 billion people globally use Unilever products to feel good, look good and get more out of life. Many of our brands are well-known, household staples and old-time favourites including Dove, Rexona, Lynx, Vaseline, OMO/Persil, Surf, TRESemmé, Continental, Ben & Jerry’s and Streets. 

We have a long tradition of being a progressive, responsible business. It goes back to the days of our founder William Lever, who launched the world’s first purposeful brand, Sunlight Soap more than 100 years ago, and it’s at the heart of how we run our company today. In 2022 Unilever Australia & New Zealand became a Certified B Corporation™ (B Corp), joining a growing network of organisations committed to galvanising a stronger, more inclusive, equitable and regenerative economy for all.  

A job at Unilever is a career made by you, with development opportunities, benefits and a working culture that embraces diversity and is pioneering flexibility. There’s no better time to join our team! 

About us

Unilever is one of the world’s leading fast-moving consumer goods companies, with strong local roots in more than 100 countries. Locally, Unilever employs more than 1,800 people, and has offices and manufacturing facilities throughout Australia and New Zealand. Unilever Food Solutions is a dynamic and rapidly growing dedicated Foodservice division of Unilever seeking the best talent in the industry.

At Unilever Food Solutions, we help chefs all over the world serve tasty, wholesome meals that keep guests coming back for more.

We create ingredients that save precious prep time in the kitchen, without compromising on flavour or flair.  And constantly provide ideas and inspiration that keep your menu fresh and exciting. Our ingredients are some of the staples of professional kitchens in 74 countries around the world: Knorr, Hellmann’s and more.

We’ve been in food since the 1880s. We’re chefs ourselves. So we understand that critical balance between impressing your guests and making a profit. And how to keep your menus and recipes fresh and exciting, as times and tastes change.

Job Purpose

At Foods, we bring the taste everyone loves, to brighten every day.  Foods is a  core business in Unilever ANZ, serving customers and consumers with leading brands such as Continental and Hellmanns.  The role of Finance Business Partner has full responsibility for top and bottom-line delivery, and execution of the BU strategies to drive 4G Growth.  The main purpose of this role is to provide Finance leadership in the following areas: 

• Driving and shaping business performance. 

• Performance analysis and interventions for delivery of in-year financial targets.  

• Develop plans and actions with the business to achieve the multiyear BU strategy. 

• Provide leadership and decision-making support on the broader BU agenda around strategic planning, target setting and key resource allocation decisions. This includes functioning as designated business partner to the ANZ Nutrition CSP & Marketing lead and cross-functional team.  

• Providing leadership – influencing senior stakeholders to deliver results, leading and influencing teams (corporate centre, cluster and markets). 

Key Responsibilities:

Business planning and forecasting work with the ANZ team to build plans which are capable of delivering against the financial targets set for the BU.  

• Performance management  

• Drive growth delivery across the key Brands 

• Drive gross margin improvement  

• Drive Fuel for Growth (5S savings, NRM, ZBB and return on marketing investment)  

• Drive the pricing agenda, leveraging NRM 

• Identify major risks and opportunities to in-year target delivery 

• Develop corrective actions to close gaps to targets, undertake major performance interventions if needed 

• Drive better decision making around resource allocation and budget setting  

• Influence innovation business cases at key decision gates  

What you will need to succeed?

Experiences & Qualifications

• Professional qualification (CA/ACMA/MBA or equivalent).

• Strong experience in a variety of finance roles – prior commercial finance business partnering essential, with Supply Chain Finance experience valuable.

• Demonstrated project/process management ability.

• Able to thrive in a fast paced, results-oriented environment requiring a high degree of flexibility.

• Able to inspire and lead self and others to achieve challenging results .

Skills

• Commercial acumen & strong business partnering credentials with a proven track record on delivery. 

• Influencing others (especially those more senior and not reporting to you) Influencing skills to manage others who do not directly report to you is a key focus in this role – ensuring that you deliver the agenda with the help of others who may have competing time priorities. 

• Active networking and keeping networks growing, as they will help to drive sharing of best practice and unlock support when needed 

• Self-confident leadership with an ability to make an immediate impact with stakeholders. 

• Strong organizational and prioritization 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.

What awaits you at Unilever?

The core of Unilever’s culture is captured as Human, Purposeful, Accountable. You will be joining a dynamic, flexible, and inspiring work environment that truly cares about your wellbeing, values what you do and celebrates your success.

This is your opportunity to be part of a purpose-led business and a global community where you can progress your career both locally and internationally. You will also benefit from amazing discounts on external company products, attractive employee referral reward program amongst other benefits.

This is a great opportunity to work within an iconic and global organization. We have gained our reputation as one of the world's most admired employers by providing an environment where individuals can achieve their goals, both professionally and personally.

Make no mistake we expect a lot from our people as they do of us. So, if you can rise to the challenge, don't waste any time - apply now!

Unilever is an organization 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.

This means we encourage people with all backgrounds to apply, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Māori and Pacific Peoples, and people with disabilities. Interested in learning more, check out our Reconciliation Action Plan and Workplace Adjustment Policy on the Unilever webpage.

At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their ‘Whole Self’ to work and this includes you! We encourage you to advise us at the time of your application if you require any reasonable adjustment so that we can support you through your recruitment journey.