PA to Chief Financial Officer

Please Note: The deadline for applying is 23.59 the day before the job posting end date.

Job Title: PA to Chief Financial Officer

Location: 100VE

JOB PURPOSE

This is a critical role for an experienced PA who has previous experience of supporting at CFO or as a minimum, executive C-suite or equivalent level, interacting across global leadership teams and managing both internal and external stakeholders.  

This is a role for a highly trusted professional who supports the CFO in all matters relating to ULE and Board meetings and Corporate Governance Committees and engagements. The role is accountable for managing relationships with leaders, advisors and external networks appropriate for the role of CFO and also supporting the CFOs meetings internally in Finance. It supports diary management, meeting scheduling and travel itineraries and arrangements, to enhance efficiency and optimise the CFO’s time in line with priorities. This role requires the utmost discretion, high levels of integrity, excellent organisational skills, and the ability to manage complex tasks and communications effectively and sensitively with colleagues at all levels of the organisation. This role is often the first point of contact with external organisations and contacts and therefore representing the CFO office and Unilever with professionalism, discretion and confidentiality always is key. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Providing administrative support to the CFO including managing a complex diary, travel arrangements, visa applications and itineraries and tracking action items through to completion. 

• Preparing and collating all papers and pre-reads for meetings, collaborating with other PAs supporting the ULE, Office of the CEO, and Board members to ensure full alignment on timings, scheduling, pre-reads and agendas in good time. At all times being proactive, anticipating and reminding as to what is needed, from whom and by when. 

• Managing the setup of sensitive meetings and 1-2-1 connects with discretion and care. 

• Organising and maintaining rhythm and frequency of key meetings and ensuring pre-read and agendas are clear and shared in advance where necessary. 

• Ensuring CFO has access to relevant data and information on the team as needed, to ensure timely completions of reviews and ad hoc tasks as they arise throughout the year. 

• Working with IT and facilities teams to ensure right level of support both individually and for meetings for CEO and teams as needed. 

• Managing queries and internal and external requests, often on behalf of the CFO, connecting with relevant colleagues and departments as needed to minimise traffic and volumes of correspondence. Using judgement and discretion as to when CFO needs to be involved. It is important to build a strong network, leveraging knowledge of how the organisation works and who is the best source to pick up tasks, data, and information requests, demonstrating a deep level of organisational and business understanding to ensure things are done efficiently and effectively. 

• Leveraging tools and technology available, investing time to learn and get up to speed on systems and processes that can make their own and the lives of those around them easier. 

• Processing expenses and invoices using relevant systems, flagging any issues re budgeting and process to CFO as necessary. 

NOTES

About Unilever

Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Food, Home and Personal Care products with sales in over 190 countries and reaching 2 billion consumers a day. Unilever has more than 400 brands found in homes around the world, including Dove, Tresemme, Lynx, Lifebuoy, Shea Moisture, Persil, Domestos, Ben & Jerry’s, Magnum, Marmite, The Vegetarian Butcher, Graze and Pot Noodle.

Faced with the challenge of climate change and the need for human development, we want to move towards a world where everyone can live well and within the natural limits of the planet. That’s why our purpose is ‘to make sustainable living commonplace’ 

Location

In June 2020 we announced our plan to consolidate a number of Unilever’s offices across the South East of England into a new Unilever campus in Kingston-upon-Thames in or around early 2025. However, on the 08 August 2024 we announced to our existing staff our proposal to retain our central Head Office in London, 100 Victoria Embankment (“100VE”) until our lease expires in 2027. As a result of this new proposal, we will be consulting with our existing staff, and new joiners who join during this period of consultation at 100VE, on the proposal made in August 2024. During consultation we will clarify the future location of each team and function. This means your role will either be based in 100VE until 2027 or in Kingston-Upon-Thames from early 2025. As we are yet to commence consultation on the proposal you agree, until such a time when consultation has concluded, your normal place of work as set out in the enclosed Statement of Terms & Conditions will be 100VE. You agree that on the conclusion of the consultation your place of work will be 100VE or 100VE until early 2025 and then Kingston-upon-Thames ("the locations") and you will be notified of which of the locations will be your place of work after that consultation ends.

What We Offer

Not only do we offer a competitive salary and pension scheme, we also offer an annual bonus, subsidised gym membership, a discounted staff shop and shares. You’ll have the opportunity to work directly with our renowned and exciting brands in a flexible and hybrid working environment.

Whilst the role is advertised on a full-time basis, we would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options and what this may look like for you. We are a key advocate of wellbeing and offer a variety of support for our people including hubs, programmes and development opportunities. We strive to achieve a family-friendly and inclusive workplace and to, above all, create possibilities for all. 

Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities and growing together for better business performance. We embrace diversity in our workforce. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. We are also more than happy to provide reasonable adjustments during our application and interview process to enable you to be present your best self. To find out more, including about our Employee Resource Groups, please click here Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at Unilever | Unilever.

Recruitment Fraud

Cyber criminals advertise fake job adverts with prestigious employers as a way of stealing information or even defrauding individuals out of money. In the most sophisticated cases, they will set up fake websites, which have a similar address to companies like Unilever. They even conduct fake telephone interviews and then offer candidates a role with the proviso they pay a fee for background checks or to cover work visa costs. These types of attacks are becoming more common as more people are looking for employment in the economic climate.

How is Unilever tackling this?

Many of Unilever’s recruitment sites publish a warning to candidates about recruitment fraud. The Cyber Security team also proactively scan for signs of people setting up fake Unilever sites and act to close them down. 

What can I do?

If you become aware of potential recruitment fraud, spot fake Unilever recruitment adverts or fake LinkedIn profiles, report them via Una Live Chat. 

Unilever does not accept responsibility or liability for any candidates who are financially impacted by recruitment fraud. Your vigilance is key! 

ALL ABOUT YOU

• Need for absolute trust, confidentiality, and discretion in everything you do. 

• Enthusiasm and curiosity, investing time in learning new things. You can adapt quickly in demanding situations and are keen to search for ways to make your own work and work of team better and more efficient. 

• You stay connected to what is happening across the business and externally, showing a curiosity to learn more about the background of the needs of the team. This involves connecting the dots and translating this into finding the best way to support the team. Being resourceful, instinctively knowing how to get things done, being tenacious in getting to a solution or answers. Having confidence in own judgement and being able to advise and coach others.

• You will have the ability to cope calmly and authoritatively under pressure, responding to changing demands and priorities, knowing when to make judgement calls and when escalation is needed. 

• You will be used to working independently, being resourceful in approaching problems and challenges and enjoy building relationships, collaborating across stakeholders and their teams, and supporting others when needed. 

• At all times, you will have pride and professionalism in what you do