About Unilever

Unilever is a global leader with products used by 3.4 billion people in over 190 countries every day. We are dedicated to making a positive impact on the world through our beloved brands and by improving the lives of our consumers and communities. Driven by our purpose to make sustainable living commonplace, we believe that conducting business ethically leads to superior performance. Our people are our greatest asset, and we foster a collaborative, inclusive, and flexible work environment. At Unilever, your career will be a unique journey, with support and resources to help you shape your future.

Job Purpose

As the FET Lead Finance Manager, you will play a pivotal role in driving business performance, strategic planning, and financial management. You will work with innovations across the organization, working with global leaders and colleagues in a diverse culture. Key responsibilities include overseeing corporate management accounting systems, budgeting, planning, reporting & insights, and performance management.

Key Responsibilities

Business Performance & Leadership

• Drive and shape business performance through analysis and interventions to achieve financial targets.
• Provide leadership and decision-making support on strategic planning, target setting, and resource allocation.
• Influence senior stakeholders and lead teams to deliver results.
• Manage monthly, quarterly, and year-end close processes, ensuring accurate reporting for local and global requirements.
• Operate financial controls in line with the Global Financial Controls Framework (GFCF).
• Prepare variance analysis, board materials, and executive presentations.
• Consolidate CEO updates and maintain integrity of historical data.
• Develop robust business planning and performance monitoring processes for enhanced analysis, modelling, and forecasting.
• Maintain alignment across reporting systems (SAP, BW, GCUT, Ifinance).
• Build and maintain effective relationships with business partners globally and within Southern Africa.
• Update financials for income statement commentary and variance analysis.

Business Planning & Forecasting

• Lead engagement with divisions and global teams on targets, Annual Operating Plan, and financial forecasts.
• Prepare monthly and quarterly forecasts, supporting analysis, and participate in reviews with leadership teams.

Performance Management

• Drive growth and gross margin improvement.
• Lead project Symphony and optimize returns from marketing investment.
• Implement pricing strategies using NRM/NRR.
• Deliver 5S targets and identify risks and opportunities for target achievement.
• Develop corrective actions to close gaps and make significant adjustments to forecasts as needed.
• Enhance resource allocation and budget setting decisions.
• Partner with divisions on active portfolio reviews to delivery the long term business strategy.
• Own and manage the end-to-end budget process, and driving performance improvements.

Talent & Team Leadership

• Provide leadership and development for team members.
• Interface with and influence leads.
• Champion diversity and inclusion, integrating these values into recruitment and development.

Information & Analytics (I&A)

• Lead simplification and automation initiatives to advance the Finance Digital Agenda.
• Collaborate with I&A, offshore teams, and partners to accelerate digital, RPA, and cognitive capabilities.
• Deliver monthly insights to business leaders, providing accurate and timely performance and forecast packs.

Reporting

• Ensure accurate submissions of actuals and forecasts to local and Global teams, maintaining high reporting standards.
• Oversee timely and accurate delivery of board materials, including performance commentary.
• Provide GMVA reporting and commentary variance analysis.

Ad Hoc Responsibilities

• Conduct customer-level CD reporting and manage year-end restatements.
• Resolve reporting system issues (BW, GCUT, Ifinance).
• Provide information for decision support and prepare P&L reports for auditors.

Overheads Management

• Prepare and submit annual overhead forecasts for Southern Africa.
• Increase visibility and accountability for overheads, promoting efficient spending in line with Zero-Based Budgeting (ZBB).
• Align processes with Global Overheads FET Team objectives
• Prepare and communicate phased overhead forecasts and performance updates.
• Maintain standard operating procedures for Finance
• Drive continuous improvement, simplification, and standardization in overhead management.
• Ensure monthly accruals and provisions,
• Benchmark for efficiency improvements and perform ad-hoc analyses.
• Coordinate data cleansing and SAP IO maintenance.

Experience, Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor’s Degree plus a professional finance qualification (CA, CIMA, or equivalent).
• 12-15 years’ experience in various finance roles with strong business partnering credentials.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders and teams not directly reporting to you.
• Solid understanding of finance disciplines, including controllership.
• Active networking and relationship-building capabilities.
• Confident leadership and immediate stakeholder impact.
• Proven project and process management skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment with flexibility.
• Strong organizational and prioritization abilities.
• Experience working with multi-geographical and multicultural teams is desirable.
• Head office and factory finance experience is advantageous.
• Strong influencing and leadership skills, with the ability to motivate and inspire.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience with SAP; proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Proven effectiveness in complex environments and driving business performance.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills.
• Objectivity, integrity, resilience, and courage under challenge.
• Ability to manage multiple senior stakeholders and drive change management initiatives.
• Skill in presenting complex information simply and explaining finance concepts to non-finance stakeholders.
• Direct responsibility for budgeting, forecasting, and quarterly reporting.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to communicate findings both verbally and in writing.
• Initiative and the ability to work independently and under pressure, especially during month-end reporting.
• Experience with SAP, GCUT, and Ifinance systems.

Leadership Attributes

• Motivates and develops teams, fostering an inclusive and passionate work climate.
• Balances individual performance with team leadership and coaching.
• Understands business context and demonstrates emotional intelligence to motivate others.

Critical Standards of Leadership (SOL) Behaviors

• Personal Mastery: Sets high standards, demonstrates emotional intelligence, and builds empathy.
• Passion for High Performance: Motivates teams to deliver results swiftly and takes accountability.
• Talent Catalyst: Invests in coaching and empowerment, creating an inclusive climate.
• Purpose & Service: Leads with humility and a service-oriented mindset.
• Consumer Love: Engages with consumers to understand their needs.
• Business Acumen: Drives sustainable growth, collaborating with partners for systemic change.

Diversity & Inclusion Commitment

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 and requires 100% of time attendance on site.

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.