Commercial Finance Director

A highly experienced and impactful Commercial Director will lead performance and control for the Southern Africa Commercial team of a global FMCG Company. This pivotal role involves partnering closely with the Business Leadership Team to drive strategic decisions that ensure business growth and profitability.

Key Responsibilities :

Strategic Business Partnering : Collaborate with the Performance Director and Head of Sales to achieve annual plans through dynamic resource allocation and in-year performance optimization (growth and cost of growth).

Financial Stewardship : Oversee terms negotiations, customer joint business planning, sales overheads, and pricing. Manage balance sheet items related to Trade Terms Spend (TTS), including accruals and claims.

Forecasting & Performance Management : Drive rigorous Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) to ensure accurate forecasts, lead monthly governance for actuals and forecasts, and identify and implement corrective actions for performance gaps.

Investment & ROI : Make informed investment choices across Commercial Department (CD) spend types and customers, leading the CD Return on Investment (ROI) agenda and ensuring its execution.

Compliance & Governance : Ensure adherence to compliance and governance standards within the CD, including Order-to-Cash (OTC) processes.

Team Leadership : Build and lead a diverse and inclusive team of three direct reports at management level, fostering talent development and succession planning.

Driving Growth Initiatives : Lead efforts in Nett Revenue Management (NRM), pricing strategy, and actively contribute to the growth agenda, including alternate Route-to-Market (RtM) strategies.

Qualifications :

Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Business, or a related field; professional qualification (CA / ACMA / CIMA or equivalent) is essential.

12-15 years of progressive finance experience, with a strong emphasis on business partnering and commercial finance.

8-10 years of leadership experience, demonstrating the ability to inspire, develop, and lead diverse teams.

Proven track record of driving business performance in a complex operating environment.

Exceptional communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.

Resilience, objectivity, and integrity, with the ability to navigate uncertainty and challenge effectively.

This role will suit a seasoned commercial finance leader who is experienced working in complex environments, leading people to excellence and working with multiple internal stakeholders to achieve business objectives.

This role can be based in KZN or Gauteng.