Please Note: The deadline for applying is 23.59 the day before the job posting end date.
Job Title: Foods Finance Director UKI, Poland, Italy and EU Condiments & Mini Meals
Location: Kingston, UK
Work Level: 3X
Reporting to: Foods Europe CFO
JOB PURPOSE
This role is an exciting opportunity to join the Foods BU for Europe, with an annual turnover of ~€2.3bn and comprising 6 strategic markets (UK, Benelux, Germany, France, Poland & Italy) and 3 Global Categories (Condiments, Mini Meals & Cooking Aids). The Foods Europe BU has a clear focus on driving sustainable, volume driven profitable growth through powerful brands & innovation and an agile mindset towards managing channel dynamics.
This role has P&L responsibility for Foods UKI, Poland & Italy and is part of the cross functional Leadership Team for the UKI Foods business. It is a great opportunity to work directly with the cross functional business team, giving you valuable ‘hands on’ FMCG experience. It is an opportunity to grow your leadership skills, both in the finance agenda and the business agenda. Requiring a strong drive on business performance, internal and external, by working with and motivating others, taking them on the journey to success.
This role is also responsible for the strategic partnering of the Europe Mini Meals and Condiments Platforms.
This is a high exposure role, providing a unique opportunity for an experienced and high potential WL3 to gain a deep understanding of both the strategic and commercial end-to-end challenges of operating in highly competitive markets.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Performance Management
- Deliver in-year financial performance vs. targets by partnering with General Managers.
- Set and deliver in-year financial and operational targets, including the monthly performance cycle and strategic interventions to maximize business performance.
- Ensure the accuracy and central bias of monthly financial forecasts and planning, managing strategic opportunities and risks.
- Establish a clear strategic pricing framework and drive Net Revenue Management (NRM) across all levers to maximize pricing effectiveness and impact.
- Drive Gross Margin across all levers, working closely with Supply Chain (SC) finance to leverage cost savings and portfolio optimization across categories.
- Implement rigorous Brand Marketing Investment (BMI) analytics to maximize return on investment and spend effectiveness.
- Manage short and long-term risks and opportunities through strategic, operational, and tactical means.
- Oversee Customer finance to ensure maximum effectiveness of investment and portfolio choices.
- Lead the annual planning process with the cross-functional team to build strong activity plans supported by dynamic resource allocation.
Strategy & Commercial Partnering
- Develop the Financial Growth Model for the long-term, aligning it with the company's strategic priorities.
- Partner with General Managers to achieve strategic and operational objectives through positive challenge and balanced leadership support.
- Collaborate with Europe Category leads to develop long-term innovation, supply chain, and commercial strategies that deliver a step change in performance.
- Influence innovation plans to ensure they deliver grounded financial metrics and are based on sharp consumer insights.
- Provide leadership and decision-making support to achieve business results, mitigate risks, and unlock opportunities.
- Partner Customer Development to ensure strong return on investment and effective choices.
Leadership
- Provide active leadership support to the General Managers and cross-functional leadership teams.
- Be an inclusive motivator, fostering an environment of high challenge, high support, and a passion for winning together.
People & Talent Development
- This role leads a team of 7 reports (WL2s and UFLP).
- Own personal development and career progression for direct reports, and sponsor talent development across the Foods BU in Europe.
Key Stakeholders
- Foods UKI General Manager
- Foods Poland General Manager
- Foods Italy General Manager
- Foods Europe CFO
- Mini Meals & Condiments Europe Category Leads
ALL ABOUT YOU
Professional skills and experience
- Professional finance qualification (equiv. to CA, CIMA, ACCA) with +10 yrs experience
- Excellent engagement, presentation, and communication skills.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to make the complex simple
- Experience of working effectively in cross functional teams
NOTES
Please apply via this portal as e-mail applications may not be processed and include your Future Fit Plan if possible.
By applying for this vacancy, you are confirming that you have made your Line Manager aware of your application and that you are at a point in your career with Unilever where it is appropriate for you to be applying for other positions.
Should you require additional information or reasonable adjustments to allow you to present your best self during this process, please contact your Talent Partner Chris Carr on Chric.Carr@unilever.com
What we offer
Whilst the role is advertised on a full-time basis, we would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options and what this may look like for you. We strive to achieve a family-friendly and inclusive workplace and to, above all, create possibilities for all.
Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities and growing together for better business performance. We embrace diversity in our workforce. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. We are also more than happy to provide reasonable adjustments during our application and interview process to enable you to be present your best self. To find out more, including about our Employee Resource Groups, please click here Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (unilever.com).
Relocation to the UK
Please be aware if you are applying for this role from outside the UK, if successful, your application will be treated as a self-initiated Change Location Outside of Country (CLOC) transfer. This means any relocation costs must be self-funded with the potential to reclaim some specific pre-approved expenses up to £5,000. Please speak to your Talent Partner if you have any questions.
