Financial Planning and Analysis Analyst (Cluster Focus)

Business Unit Overview

The role of the Finance Team is to provide a high quality financial service to ensure business performance is optimized. The Finance business unit is responsible for the management of all financial aspects of the Africa business operations including the medical assistance centre, the flight desk and all other related activities 

Overall Purpose of the Job

The role of the cluster focussed Analyst is to communicate insight to influence decision makers at all levels of the Region objectively. The cluster focussed Analyst will provide business and support functions within the cluster with information that is relevant and will play a central role in analysing the impact of proposed decisions on preserving or creating value for the company. The Analyst is expected to be trustworthy business partner to the business and to act as the custodian of all financial data and financial systems in use within the cluster.

Planning

Provide input into the regional budget guidelines and drive the budget process at Cluster/Country level.

• Engage with all relevant stakeholders to develop detailed bottom up forecast and budgets in line with regional and corporate requirements.
• Consolidate and assess accuracy of data received from countries within the Cluster.
• Routinely perform scenario planning to inform management’s decisions about the Clusters strategy and the actions to implement the same.Keep detailed data plans to support the implementation of the budget and forecast.
• Be the gatekeeper to ensure that financial budgets and forecasts remain aligned to the strategy of the region.
• Coordinate collection, analysis, production and dissemination of information.
• Communicate budget and forecast targets timely to all stakeholders.
• Maintain a detailed working knowledge of the budget.

Reporting & Business Analysis

• Ensure the accurate analytical allocation of all accounting entries within the Cluster
• Work closely with the Financial Control team in each country within the Cluster to ensure the accuracy and completeness of all information reported for the Cluster
• Supervise the consolidation and ensure the accuracy of data loaded in Cognos for the Cluster.
• Perform detailed variance analysis of reported results against the budget, forecast and prior year by product type as well as by type and nature for General and Administrative expenses.
• Have a detailed understanding of the underlying and sustainable performance of the Cluster and articulate this through the submission of monthly reports to the region.
• Prepare the report for and actively participate in the Monthly Business Review within the Cluster.
• Provide cost center owners with monthly reports and ensure that all actions from the review of the expenses are completed and the effect monitored.
• Prepare Quarterly Business Reviews to support management’s presentation to the Business Line and the Group.
• Implement all cost savings initiatives within the Cluster, monitor and report on the efficiency of actions implemented or outstanding. Reconcile all reporting systems to one another on a monthly basis and ensure that any missing master data is updated to keep the systems in balance.

Investment appraisal

• Analyse the new business financial models and assist management to invest in projects that preserve or add value to the organization.
• Perform post implementation review with the Cluster sales team to ensure that business model is implemented as intended.
• Feed all changes back into the rolling forecast to ensure accuracy of future planning scenarios.

Process Improvements

• Continuously review work processes to ensure efficient workflow to maximize staff efficiency and quality of information flow with other departments.
• Optimise existing tools and systems to ensure reliability and productivity of reporting
• Streamlining reporting flow within the Cluster through standardization of processes
• Ensure data integrity (system and other data sources) to allow for accurate analysis and decision making.

Requirements

Required qualifications:

• CIMA (preferred).
• Bachelor in Accounting / Management Accounting.

Required Languages (Brief description of the language skills needed to perform the job)

• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Proven working experience in Business Analysis, post-graduation preferred, with strong background in management accounting/business management.
• Multinational Company experience in a fast pace service environment.

We reserve the right: 

• To call only the shortlisted candidates for interview. 

• Not to make any appointment following this advertisement nor to assign any reason whatsoever for accepting or rejecting any candidate.