Head of Commercial Finance at Diageo

Dimensions

Market Complexity: The role is Kenya based for KBL with working partnerships with regional & global teams

Leadership Responsibilities:

An inspiring leader in the business:

• A key business partner to the Functional Directors (Commercial & Marketing)
• Key member of the KBL Extended Leadership Team
• Provide leadership and coaching to the Commercial Finance Team (5 direct reports) on a day to day basis. 
• Work closely with the Finance teams at Kenya Breweries Ltd and at EABL Group Level.

Functional Responsibilities

Technical Competence

• Strong Accounting background.
• Sound Strategic and Budget Planning knowledge in a multi-product multinational.
• Sound knowledge of Evaluation Techniques, and their interpretation.

Strategic Penetration

• Brings financial understanding to business decisions by ensuring that alternatives are thoroughly evaluated to arrive at optimum business decision.
• Work constructively with others to evaluate strategic alternatives and synergies to develop opportunities.

Consumer Insight

• Identifies key consumer issues and ensures penetrative consumer understanding and insights are applied to drive financial planning and projects evaluation.
• Strong interpersonal relationships with leadership team and colleagues / business partners to understand the strategic importance of market / customer strategies.

Excellence in Execution

• Strong in challenging the status quo and delivering results using identified step changes that can raise the GAME
• Delivers high quality results, including speed to execution & cost management.

Commerciality

• Uses performance measurement & sound financial management, balancing short & long term, to build the brands.
• Balances commercial, customer & consumer motivations to deliver outstanding results
• Very good in application of ‘Managing For Value (MFV)’ techniques and inspire team / others to develop value maximising strategies.

Top Accountabilities

• To support the Commercial & Marketing Directors and their respective leadership teams in providing rigorous analysis for decision making through business partnership & intelligent application of established tools & techniques. 
• Own the development and roll-out of financial processes focused on excellence in pricing strategy and efficiency and effectiveness through A&P management
• Providing financial and commercial input to Investments and Resource allocation decisions, including pre and post evaluation of all major projects and business initiatives.
• Drive the execution and realisation of business strategy - developed in GAME plan, Innovation gates and in recent projects
• Support the development of financially robust Strategic plans for the relevant brands in the Portfolio that will deliver the company objectives
• Serve as the Finance Co-pilot to the Commercial and Marketing Directors and their respective Leadership Teams providing financial advice to ensure sound financial and operational decisions.
• Support strategy definition and implementation, developing and evaluating longer term strategies, forecasts and investment plans.
• Improve, and ensure compliance with internal processes and implement necessary control procedures to ensure achievement of business objectives. Instil strong cost control and planning discipline to assist in effectively managing costs.
• Act as an internal consultant, creating an open environment in which excellent teamwork with other departments is fostered and which helps to improve procedures and flows of information.

Qualifications and Experience Required:

Qualifications:

• Degree in a relevant field
• Qualified or part Accountant (ACCA, CPA (K))

Experience:

• + 8 years working experience, 3 of which are at senior management level at an International FMCG
• Strong analytical & communication skills at all levels of the organisation
• Good interpersonal skills & proactive approach with an ability to influence without formal authority Proven ability to persuade, influence and build credibility cross the functions.
• People leadership experience
• Ability to work autonomously and engage cross-functionally
• Strong commercial acumen.
• Analytical and logical
• Provide context to enable others to think, decide and act
• Ability to manage projects, prioritise and work to deadlines
• Ability to move between the big picture and detail

Barriers to Success in Role:

Inability to…

• Work collaboratively across the organisation
• Build and motivate others to consistently deliver great performance
• Develop plans to deliver against these
• Build relationships with a diverse range of internal and external partners and stakeholders
• Work flexibly and respond with agility to unforeseen challenges / opportunities at short notice