Finance Transformation and Investor Relations Manager at Lafarge Cement

About the Job

The job holder is responsible for driving the development, implementation, and tracking of strategic initiatives at Lafarge Africa Plc as agreed with EXCOM. This includes annual strategy presentations, defining key performance indicators (KPIs), market research, and translating strategy into Medium-Term Plans (MTP).
The role involves working with the Functional Directors and/or their representatives to drive their respective transformation agendas and provide updates to the Operations Finance Director/ExCom
The job holder is also responsible for managing investor relations activities to ensure Investors; current and potential; have an accurate account of company affair while overseeing special projects as required.

What you'll be doing

1. Strategy & Research
   • Development
     • Lead the efforts for development of the annual strategy presentation of Lafarge Africa Plc reflective of the current business direction, across the 5 pillars of Growth, Decarbonization, Products & Solution, Operational Efficiency and People. Coordinating across all business functions to develop and consolidate the business strategy while ensuring timely submission to the Group.
     • Defining and working with stakeholders across functions to establish meaningful metrics that align with the strategic plans, and. ensuring Lafarge Africa preserves its deserved market share, healthy net sales, profitability, strengthened Logistics capability, stable production and improved sustainability.
     • Conducting extensive market research to gather critical insights about the industry, competition, consumer behaviors, emerging trends and operating environment to steer and guide key business decisions.
     • Provide relevant industry research news, related events, and publication summaries to Executive Management.
     • Translate the Strategy into Medium-Term Plan (MTP); Financials and non-financial KPIs; while ensuring this is submitted on time and accurately.
     • Maintaining a valuation model for the business to ensure there are no impairment risks in view.
   • Execution
     • Maintain a tracker of the separate strategic imperatives and identified KPIs and reporting on it monthly across different levels of the organization.
     • Collaborating with Functional Leadership teams to ensure delivery and execution of the strategic initiatives through continuous engagement and dedicated sessions to discuss progress and align next steps.
     • Hold a quarterly companywide review session on Strategy Implementation progress with EXCOM and Functional Leaders across the business.
     • Assessing key business decisions, projects and transactions to check alignment with Strategic plan.
     • Working with the Functional Directors and/or their representatives to drive their respective transformation as aligned to achieve the delivery of the Strategy
2. Special Project
   • Collaborate across all business functions to ensure prompt execution and delivery of “Special Projects” as defined by the Operations Finance Director.
3. Digital Finance Transformation
   • Creating a digital transformation map across the finance functions by working with all Finance Heads of Department and IT to define scope and evaluate types of solutions required.
   • Drive implementation of the agreed transformation map across all functions, amending the map as required and reporting on the progress monthly. Hands-on implementation of the solution and localizing solution to ensure agile and continuous implementation process.
   • Drive the digital transformation of the Finance function in conjunction with the Finance Leadership Team as the requirement for Finance has radically evolved over the last years. With the trend moving away from daily operations and repetitive functions to value management and strategic steering of the business which is made only possible through digital transformation of repetitive processes and report generation. iv. Build a density of skilled Finance professional across all functions to ensure continued success of the digital transformation project.
4. Investors Relations
   • Prepare presentations ahead of earnings releases, of Analyst calls, communications for Investment Analysts, Investors and regulators.
   • Developing and maintaining annual Company Investor relations plan.
   • Act as point person for credit proposals and deals in market, including responding effectively to questions from Investors and analysts.
   • Quarterly, Half-year and Yearly Benchmark review of Lafarge versus competition (Financial & Non-Financial) to identify areas where Lafarge is doing better than competition as well as key improvement areas. Developing action plans for validation/implementation
   •  Support the production of annual reports to ensure it accurately communicates the company affairs to the Investing Public.
   • Provide regular feedback to the CFO/CEO on Investor perception of the organization

Who you'll be working with 

• Internal
  • EXCOM, Finance Leadership, Finance Business partners, Functional Leads across other functions and other internal stakeholders
• External:
  • Investment analysts, Creditors and Service Providers.
• Key Performance Indicators 
  • Timely development and submission of Strategy and MTP document.
  • Execution of Strategic initiatives
  • Delivery on “Special Projects”
  • Achievement of agreed Finance Transformation map
  • Improvement in quality and speed of Finance reports and business
  • Improved stakeholder confidence reflected in Analysts’ consensus expectation of company

What we are looking for

• Degree in Finance, Economics, Accounting or related field with a Finance Post graduate qualification being an added advantage
• >10 years’ experience with at least 3 years driving Strategy development and implementation. Experience in multi-national companies is an added advantage.
• English as a working Language
• Strong Excel, PowerPoint, PowerBI, SQL and other Digital skills. Good knowledge SAP and SAP FC is a plus.
• Experience in multinational and multi-cultural environments
• Self-driven and motivated to go the extra mile
• Effective time management, planning and organization skills
• Passion for people development
• Distinctive analytical skills
• Project management skills
• Leadership and managerial abilities
• Mobility requirements: Office environment with occasional travels