Director Market Finance (m/f/d)

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:

• Be financial consultant for assigned markets by giving recommendations to enable and drive fact-based decision-making.

• Support and steer the business to achieve financial as well as strategic targets based on the analysis of a set of relevant specific KPI’s related to assigned Markets.

• Creation of transparency about business performance by controlling the business of an assigned set of Markets.

• Support and facilitate efficient and speedy decision process at HQ in all matters related to assigned Markets.

Key Responsibilities:

• Be the first and „one-face“ contact person for assigned markets for all financial and business related matters

• Act as a business partner for Senior Management Corporate Controlling and local Finance Directors/~ teams in assigned Markets to secure achievement of Market Finance financial performance targets (focus: target achievement of assigned Markets) by evaluating/recommending/implementing/ tracking adequate solutions.

• Drive speed/transparency for business analysis (all Market P&L and Balance Sheet items). Lead by example cross-functional collaboration. Ensure strong communication lines/permanent information flow between the Markets & Market Finance including visiting the subsidiaries as appropriate.

• Lead large-sized market-related projects, implement findings and ensure sustainability of achievements. Develop and implement adequate communication packages to present derived results, recommendations and solutions. Participate in (international) project teams on demand. Support implementation of strategic group initiatives (e.g. Integrated Business Planning) within Corporate Controlling and Markets

• Drive execution and implementation of business strategies and vision. Take actions to secure part of the corporate targets.

• Drive state of the art controlling/analytical tools/techniques/ KPI‘s into Market Finance and Markets to present a fair/reliable overall financial picture. Identify significant improvement potential through variance analysis, derive alternatives/solutions and facilitate/take related decisions. Manage analyses based on standardized report data and ad hoc requests for assigned Markets, validate periodical report data & all other relevant information and ensure that the Sr. Director Sales Finance is constantly updated/informed about all critical issues & developments. Specifically ensure accuracy/reliability/completeness/ timeliness of Market forecasts/Risks&Opps reports.

• Recommend SBP/Budget targets (coordinated with the rest of the Corporate Controlling team) for assigned Markets, which secure overall Global Sales growth/bottom line objectives. Contribute with market expertise to an aligned process which fulfills information needs for all relevant business partners (e.g. Global Sales Management, Corporate Controlling, Group Finance) including related Board presentations. Review Market submissions for assigned markets & identify options for closing any gaps to targets.

• Process Ownership for evaluation of strategic and tactic wholesale initiatives/business cases submitted by assigned Markets.

• Transfer best practice procedures/processes across Sales Finance and assigned Markets via internal/external benchmarking. Provide comprehensive, cross-functional expertise on all market-specific and market-related matters, related systems and processes towards assigned Markets as well as selected HQ functions/other CPM/Global Sales commercial team functions and ensure smooth operation of the business by taking on ownership for related actions.

• Drive compliance with Group Finance Manual, Group Policies Manual, etc. & ensure accounting/data consistency/standardization across assigned Markets. Ensure that assigned Markets’ internal controls are adequate/reliable (GCSA questionnaire), weaknesses identified/rectified.

Key Relationships:

• Assigned Market Finance Director’s & Market Finance Teams

• Sales Finance – Channel Finance

• Corporate Controlling Teams

• Global Sales Management Team

• Global Finance Teams (Sales, Brand, Corporate Solutions, Corporate, GOPs)

• Taxes

• Treasury

• Investor Relations

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• In depth knowledge on

o Financials (e.g. strategic plan, budget, forecast, Actual/ToGo, target adjustments/achievement, detailed analyses, profit levers)

o Business (e.g. Sales Mgmt. Hierarchy details, latest market and customer trends, IBP, business plans…)

o Project Management (e.g.,office moves, GBS initiatives, warehouse initiatives…)

o Market Structure/Specifics (e.g. assigned Countries/Country deep dives, Distributors (yes/no), Franchising Models (hard/soft)

• High degree of customer orientation

• Ability to maneuver in consistently changing environment

• Ability to operate cross-functionally and understanding of external business drivers

• Thorough understanding of the complexity, interactions and dynamics within an international company

• Very good experience in Project Management

• Excellent communication and negotiation skills for persuasion and convincing others both internally and externally

• Business fluency in English (written and spoken)

• Ability to drive implementation of strategy for assigned areas

• Excellent analytical skills, managing large data quantities from multiple sources

• Possess a strong set of skills acquired through advanced training, study and experience

• Comprehensive understanding of system landscape

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:

• University degree in Business Administration/Finance/Controlling

• 10+ years of relevant job experience

• Market experience required