Forecasting & Planning Manager at Unilever

Job type: R-17337

Background & Purpose of the Job

• Own and continuously improve the end-to-end financial forecasting process (including S&OP), MCO targets and Annual Plan (where applicable) from a Finance perspective
• Represent Finance in any process improvement initiatives across the financial forecasting process

Who You Are & What You’ll Do
Business partnering and insight:

• Provide challenge to S&OP process driving towards a high degree of alignment between volume and value and supporting the business with the identification of risks and opportunities
• Communicate and manage MCO targets at total level, and at category level

Process ownership and delivery:

• Lead engagement with Cluster Finance team on MCO targets, Annual Operating Plan, and financial forecast submissions
• Lead the MCO Annual Operating Plan process
• Lead working capital forecasting
• Prepare the total MCO forecast & individual category forecasts (assumptions, risks, opportunities, cash up) on a monthly / quarterly basis, prepare supporting analysis and participate in review of these forecasts with the relevant Marketing Leads and their Finance Leads and with the Country Leadership Team
• Act as the Finance champion of forecast bias and accuracy
• Build and actively use a network of finance peers across Unilever globally to both share and adopt good practices on Planning & Forecasting

What You’ll Need To Succeed
Education:

• Qualified Accountant or equivalent

Professional Skills:

• Strong team leadership skills (applicable to roles with direct reports)
• Strong analytical skills, Excel modelling skills and attention to detail
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills
• Strong engagement, presentation, and communication skills
• Ability to work fluidly with data and across systems that support the S&OP process (e.g. SAP, cash up tool)
• Ability to work collaboratively with other key stakeholders

Experience Required:

• Experience with identifying risks and opportunities
• Experience managing a large and complex set of stakeholders
• Experience in driving P&L performance improvements (e.g. closing gaps vs. target) and holding others accountable (particularly peers and senior leadership)
• Experience in presenting to and communicating with senior Finance and non-Finance stakeholders

Key Contacts
CCBT

• Work closely with CCBTs in different processes (S&OP cash up, gap closing, etc.)

Finance Business Partner:

• Interaction with FBPs on risks and opportunities in Financial forecast and advise on which Supply Chain
• Ensure full alignment on latest S&OP input and P&L implications via cash up

I & A:

• Continuously optimise information and analytics
• Work with I&A on any simplification initiatives

Finance Excellence Team:

• Work with FET lead to identify priorities
• Ensure alignment

Leadership Team:

• Provide outputs from the S&OP financial forecast / annual plan