Associate Manager - Finance

Overview

 

• The primary purpose of this role is to lead the cost planning, forecasting, and reporting processes for the Business Unit (BU), ensuring financial accuracy, transparency, and strategic insight. This includes executing the Annual Operating Plan (AOP), monthly and quarterly forecasts, and close processes, while performing deep-dive analytics and challenging assumptions to ensure robust financial submissions.
• The role is responsible for presenting ingredient cost variances to senior finance leadership, identifying risks and opportunities, and partnering with procurement and supply chain teams to validate rate variances and ensure corrections are made before costs impact the P&L. It also involves recommending changes to standard costs and PIRs based on thorough investigation and understanding of financial implications.
• Additionally, the role collaborates closely with plant finance teams to ensure timely and accurate reporting, supports year-end cost roll activities, and acts as a subject matter expert in costing for COGs-related projects. A key aspect of the role is championing the finance agenda across operational teams and driving improvements in cost planning and reporting processes.

Responsibilities

• Responsibility for executing the BU AOP, Monthly & Quarterly deepdive Forecast process, performing analytics and challenging assumptions before reviewing the submission with the local COGs Finance Manager and highlighting key variances
• Responsibility for the execution of the monthly close processes for BUs, ensuring that results are delivered RFT and on time. 
• Present on a monthly basis the BU Ingredient variances to the FP&A Director and the Global COGs FP&A Manager providing insight into results and timely identification of risks and opportunities versus latest FY financial outlook 
• Partner local procurement and supply chain to review the rate variances for BU ensuring that all variances are understood and corrections are made in advance of costs being included in the P&L.   Identify where trends are not consistent with AOP/latest forecast
• Recommend changes to standard costs/ PIRs where an investigation proves it is warranted - clear understanding of impacts on financials must be understood in advance
• Collaborate closely with Plant Cogs teams to ensure planning and reporting process is accurate and timely.  Understand on a monthly basis what variances are being booked and impact on FY Financial Outlook.  
• Champion the finance agenda with local Procurement and Supply Chain teams, ensuring training is provided when required
• Participate in COGs projects as SME in Costing
• Own AOP standards process for BU, validating changes in indices year on year and recommending changes to standards where appropriate.
•  Support the year end Cost roll providing data where required

Qualifications

• Experience managing a P&L
• 3+ years of experience in finance, planning and/or accounting
• MBA / CA / CMA preferred
• Experience in financial systems & programs (BOBJ, Essbase, PowerBI, Excel, SAP)
• Able to work independently and takes initiative
• Detail-oriented; organized in approach in document maintenance
• Strong leadership skills and capabilities
• Consistently shows urgency, courtesy and patience
• Exceptional communication skills. Proficiency in English language
• Stakeholder management across different geographies
• Excellent working knowledge of COGs processes a distinct advantage
• Demonstrated Track record of academic success and career progression