Finance Head and Managing Director at Bayer CropScience

Role purpose

As Head of Finance

• Will direct, oversee & be accountable of the financial activities of the entity
• Direct the preparation of current financial reports and summaries
• Create forecasts predicting future growth and assess risk in investment.

As Managing Director

• Steer the Nigeria Country Leadership team and contribute as a permanent member to the WCA West Central Africa Country Group Leadership Team
• Manage the legal entity in Nigeria and facilitate best solutions in Nigeria for the good of the BAYER group in a business-orientated, apolitical, pragmatic and timely fashion based on the Bayer AG Corporate Strategy and Governance. Represents the Bayer-Group within Nigeria towards all relevant external institutions (government, tax authorities, chambers of commerce, associations, NGOs etc.
• Is legally responsible for compliance with country and international legal requirements and for the implementation of internal regulations.

Key responsibilities and tasks

As Head of Finance

• Direct the preparation of all financial statements, including income statements, balance sheets, tax returns, and governmental agency reports
• Forecast monthly, quarterly and annual results
• Approve or reject budgets
• Conduct risk management
• Supervise the accounting team
• Allocate resources & manage cash flows
• Conduct profit & cost analysis
• Develop & secure procedures to maintain confidential information
• Ensure all accounting activities & internal audits comply with financial regulations
• Recommend cost reducing solutions
• Compare sales and profit projections to actual figures and budgeted expenses to actual expenses
• Make or oversees any necessary adjustments to future projections and budgets
• Review planning process and suggests improvements to current methods
• Analyzes operations to identify areas in need of reorganization, downsizing, or elimination
• Study long-range economic trends and projects their impact on future growth in sales and market share
• Accountable for all financial tasks of the company and ensure that capital & resources are used beneficially
• Responsible of the reliability of the books in his/her scope of responsibility allowing a certification by external auditors
• Oversees Accounting department, budget preparation, and audit functions
• Works with other department heads to monitor each department and make recommendations.

As Managing Director

• Be instrumental in the PASS strategy (incl PGA, CSE activities and partnership with FIDSON) in close alignment with the One 4 Africa Pass strategy
• Contribute to the divisions success in elaborating and implementing a sustainable distribution network for the divisions
• Support the organization in developing a Performance culture aligned with the transformation@ Bayer goal
• Contribute to elaborate and implement the appropriate process backbone in close alignment with the cross divisional ERP strategy
• Represents the Bayer-Group and is the guardian of the group interests internally and externally in Nigeria
• Ensure full implementation of all governance rules and corporate guidelines including Corporate Compliance
• The position includes personal legal responsibility under the local law incl signing of balance sheet and other official documents) to the supervisory authorities of the country
• Actively facilitates the functioning of the multiple interfaces (vertical and horizontal) between regional functions, divisions, service companies and within the country organization
• Is accountable for all legal activities in the country/country group (quality and cost), including business partnering, compliance, litigation, general legal services (contracts, Intellectual Property/patents, labor, regulatory, product safety, promotion, approvals (products/manufacturing), cooperation (commercial/strategic) and external legal advisor contacts
• Protects the assets and reputation of Bayer and ensures compliance with all applicable local country laws and regulations including those pertaining to all foreign subsidiaries of the company (unless within the scope of responsibility of the local in-house counsel in that country)
• Act as an interface for the Senior Bayer Representative and the line management (all Bayer businesses) in the country group
• Central addressee for Bayer in all questions and issues relevant from country perspective to ensure a coordinated approach within the country organization
• Identify and develop local talents
• Contribute to the divisions success and is a valuable promoter of group interest.

Value added to the success of the company – main objectives of the function

As Head of Finance

• Comply with Bayer standard Financial Steering processes and its timelines (divisional and non-divisional)
• Operational rollout, implementation and change management of defined planning process and planning tools
• Manage cross functional programs with colleagues to identify and implement efficiencies, cost savings, synergies, and other value-added activities
• Foster evolution of Bayer Nigeria towards becoming an A company by contributing to further improve backbone ERP related processes
• Ensure the accuracy and the good quality of financial data
• Ensure avoidance of legal, finance and tax risks.

As Managing Director

• In close coordination with the WCA LPC function, ensure full compliance with internal rules and external laws and regulations for the organization in the country
• Support off-shore/ above Country R managers of the NIGERIA organization to further improve transparency and cross-functional synergies
• Coordinate the development of local talents in cooperation with divisions
• Enable divisional growth and support PASS capacity building in Nigeria
• Provide legal and corporate services that create the framework for to maximize the impact on the sales and profitability for the business in West and Central African countries
• Ensure company policies and legal guidelines are clearly communicated
• Assess, manage, and resolve problematic developments and situations
• Develop and execute business strategies to achieve short and long-term goals
• Maintain positive and trust-based relations with business partners, shareholders, and authorities.

Experience, Skills and Qualifications

• University degree or equivalent from an accredited management school (Finance, Business Administration, Management or equivalent)
• Hands on approach for Finance processes in an evolving ERP environment
• Experience in a multinational environment (a minimum of 7 years of legal experience gained from progressively responsible positions)
• International working experience is preferred in Finance and/or PGA activities
• Language skills: English fluent (must)
• Good Leadership skills and experience in leading cross-functional teams
• Good interpersonal awareness and strong social skills to drive an organization with 50% of staff managed from above country
• Strong internal and external networking to foster country capacity building
• Ability to build capacity in close coordination with the PASS Strategy, incl PGA and CSE activities
• Good communication skills and abilities in lobbying
• Strong internal and external networking 
• Able to look at other industries and apply gathered insights internally
• Organizational awareness