Description:
Our iconic household brands (like Colgate, Sanex, Palmolive, Ajax, Softlan and more), dedicated employees, and sustainability commitments make us a company passionate about building a future to smile about for our employees, consumers, and surrounding communities. The pride in our brand fuels a workplace that encourages creative thinking, champions experimentation, and promotes authenticity which has contributed to our enduring success.
Job Purpose
- Act as a key business partner providing financial service and guidance to the Customer Development & Consumer Experience Teams, providing operational recommendations and advice, financial planning and analysis.
- Actively participating in account planning and monthly commercial reviews;
- Proactively assisting the Customer Development Managers (CDMs) to manage Account performance.
- Strict controlling of Gross To Net spending process (accruals, analysis, reconciliations).
- Proactive monitoring Accounts Receivable, and ensuring timely resolution of all Customer deductions.
- Ensuring that the financial processes in the UK comply with Colgate Financial Policies and local laws.
Main Responsibilities
- Providing financial direction and leadership to the Customer Development Team (CDT) by leveraging financial analysis in order to enhance demand through Colgate customers in a cost effective way.
- Deduction validation and approval above a specific threshold, ensuring customer claims are valid and adhere to documentation requirements.
- Working closely with the Colgate Business Service (CBS) centre and the Customer Development teams to ensure timely resolution of all customer deductions.
- Monthly review of Trade payment accruals and proactively manage customer claims, to ensure adequate provisions exist.
- Work with Customer Development organisation to determine the Account profitability and recommend appropriate changes for improvements.
- Support during month end closing, ensuring completeness of rebates for GTN, adjusting where needed.
- Complete monthly SOX testing requirements, as well as provide support during audits (internal & external).
- Provide Customer Development teams with appropriate accounting treatment for different types of promotional spend.
- Monitoring Risks & Opportunities (Volume/ASP/Margin) against the Account budgets, proactively proposing solutions. Working with individual CDMs to analyse and resolve Account issues.
- Ensure effective internal controls are in place and monitored, for all customer related spend/discounts.
- Leading role within the monthly commercial controlling process to present latest estimates & ensure appropriate financial rigour.
- Work closely with CDMs and Consumer Experience to ensure that brand strategy is followed in a consistent and correct manner.
- Maximise financial return through promotional effectiveness analysis, proposing adjustments based on Pre & Post ROI evaluations.
- Support the Customer Development team in Customer negotiations & on-going evaluation of trade spend.
- Perform other duties as assigned, and be an active member of the Hub Finance team.
Personal Attributes
- The role is highly team based and requires highly developed interpersonal skills that enable a good team performance.
- It requires strong leadership skills to challenge and influence commercial teams.
- Strong communicator (verbal and written) and presentation skills.
- The role requires an ambitious, proactive, gregarious, innovative change agent capable of challenging all levels within the organisation.
- With many conflicting demands and aggressive timetables, the role requires a professional, planned, organised and prioritised approach to work, along with an objective and pragmatic manner.
- There is a requirement to “roll the sleeves up” and accept that, alongside the strategic work, there are day to day tasks to be completed.
- Credibility of the Team is generated by consistently accurate financial plans requiring attention to detail.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance (ACCA/CIMA/equivalent qualification preferred)
- Minimum 4 years relevant Accounting/Financial experience (Commercial Finance experience is preferred)