Supply Chain Finance Cost Management Lead

Unilever is currently hiring for a Supply Chain Finance Cost Management Lead

Function: Finance
Reports to: SC Finance Director

Scope: Southern Africa
Location: Johannesburg/Durban travelling between Factories & 3P Manufacturing sites
Terms & Conditions: Local terms. Full time, Permanent

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.

JOB PURPOSE
This role is required to maintain strong accounting controls aligned with the Unilever’s Global Financial Controls Framework (GFCF).
Output from this role will impact SC P&L and Balance sheet lines for all Southern Africa. This role is a member of the SC Finance Leadership team and drives the controls and savings agendas for SC with a primary focus on production sites.

The purpose of the role is to:
• Support the production team (factories and 3P) with financial insights to deliver key projects and business cases aligned to business targets to drive a cost competitive agile Supply Chain organisation. This role drives Sourcing Unit cost optimisation, delivering the Net Productivity agenda and driving down waste at the factory and 3P sites.

• To build and manage relationships with key stakeholders in the Supply Chain organisation and wider Unilever business and at third parties.


WHAT WILL YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES BE
Assess adequacy of existing controls in SC, especially factory and 3P operations, in relation to identified business risk. Develop efficient controls, adequate to address identified risk in line with GFCF.
• Maintain robust material usage controls for factory sites across Unilever South Africa.
• Engage with operational teams and site LTs to drive actions to address material usage variances and drive accountability.
• Monitor 3P stock losses to ensure timely claims for losses above annual thresholds.
• Ensure robust forecasting and controls over savings uploaded and reported on savings system (SRS/ Prism)
• Drive delivery of timely and accurate reporting requirements
• Ensure Unilever Standard Chart of Accounts compliance
• Ensure stock controls compliant with SOX
• Ensure journals, write offs and provisions are done in accordance with Schedule of Authority.
Drive a cost competitive agile Supply Chain organisation through Sourcing Unit cost optimization
• Drive delivery of reduction in Cost Per Ton (Net Productivity) across all SC costs
• Deliver the business waste reduction programme for factory and its 3P
• Review, challenge and monitor Capital Expenditure proposals (CEP) per the annual budget.
• Participate in transformation project squads/ teams. Assisting with financial insights required to deliver key projects in line with business targets.
• Assist in benchmarking activities to ensure competitiveness of SC costs.
• Lead continuous improvement and automation initiatives in Supply Chain Finance and at production sites to improve efficiency and ensure cost optimisation.
Provide insights on production spend by supplier.
• Ensure robust monitoring of production spend by supplier across production sites.
• Analyse production spend by supplier against SLA to ensure compliance to contract terms and monitor pricing movements.
• Check supplier costings across Unilever sites to ensure cost optimisation.
• Variance analysis of budget/forecast over and under spends done monthly.
• Ensure SAP stock errors are understood and corrected.
Talent development
• Oversee SC Cost management accountant.
• Support SC cost management accountant in prioritisation of tasks and unlocks on barriers.
• Driver talent development agenda in SCF as a member of the SCF LT.
• Contribute to strategic direction of SC organisation as a member of the SCF LT.
Steer Business Performance and provide Decision support
• Provide accurate and relevant business insights by analysing available information using designated best practice tools
• Drive and coordinate the forecasting process to help the business make reliable decisions, includes budget, financial forecasts, etc
• Guide and support the delivery of key projects in the pipeline, whilst actively ensuring that all appropriate government incentives are maximised on.
• Report on monthly variances giving key insight in what areas need focus and where factory performance was not great.

Experiences & Qualifications & Skills
Qualification: Professional qualification in accountancy – CA or CIMA
Experience:
• Experience in Supply Chain or Factory Finance required
• Financial Acct qualification or good progress toward CIMA OR a CA required
• Strong analytical capabilities with bias to drive action
• Agility and proactivity
• Ability to prioritise effectively and communicate clearly
• Ability to manage upwards
• Ability to steer conversations and influence
• Understanding or ability to quickly grasp financial principles in the end-to-end Supply Chain, identify and drive relevant value-creating choices and decisions
• Ability to handle and work under pressure, individually and collaboratively, to meet tight deadlines
• Advanced Microsoft Excel, SAP PM/FI and PA knowledge desirable
• Digital native
• Stakeholder Management, strong work ethic, great attitude, self-starting & proactive mind-set, resilience in the face of pressure, strong team player


Leadership
• You are energized by delivering fantastic results. You are an example to others – both your results and your resilience. You are constantly on the lookout for better ways to do things, engaging and collaborating with others along the way.

• As an individual you are the one responsible for your own wellbeing and delivering high standards of work. You must also focus on the Consumer and what they need. You are humble and have your head up, looking around to interpret evidence and data smartly, spot issues and opportunities to make things better.

• Critical SOL (Standards of Leadership) Behaviors
o PERSONAL MASTERY: Sets high standards for themselves. Has emotional intelligence to take feedback, manage mood and motivations, and build empathy for others.
o 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.
o 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.
o PURPOSE & SERVICE: Has humility, understanding that leadership is service to others, inside and outside Unilever.
o CONSUMER LOVE: Invests time inside and outside to understand the needs of consumers.
o BUSINESS ACUMEN: Creates sustainable growth with purpose, engaging different partners across the system for change.

Unilever is an equal opportunities employer and committed to diversity and inclusivity in the workplace.  We are intentional in employing the best talent that reflects the demographics of our country and which will help build representation of currently under-represented groups. We therefore invite applications from all candidates representing diversity of age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief. When appointing potential candidates, the South African Employment Equity and Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Legislation will be considered.

We are required by law to verify your ability to work lawfully in South Africa. If you are applying as a foreign national, please note that you may be requested to provide supporting documents supporting this.

This is an office-based role in Durban OR Johannesburg and requires 100% of time attendance on site.

We are required by law to verify your ability to work lawfully in South Africa. If you are applying as a foreign national, please note that you may be requested to provide supporting documents supporting this.

ARE YOU INTERESTED?
Please apply via this portal as e-mail applications will not be processed. By applying to this role, you are confirming that you have informed your Line Manager and that you are at a point in your career with Unilever where it is appropriate for you to be applying for other positions.  

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to provide a positive, barrier-free recruitment journey.

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.