Finance Business Partner

Experience in a senior leadership/management position within the Commercial Finance arena

Strong commercial acumen and strategic expertise

Proven track record in creating value and driving operational efficiencies within the Dairy industry

Our Co-operative

Fonterra’s strength is in the collective

We are a Co-operative created and owned by Aotearoa New Zealand dairy farmers. Our rich history is built on farming families working together to share the natural goodness of our dairy with the world.

Collaboration, innovation, and passion are the cornerstones of our creation and something we continue to value today through our commitment to care for the land, our animals, and every drop of milk. Our milk creates goodness through nutritious food with safe, quality ingredients that are loved here in New Zealand and around the world.

About the opportunity

The Finance Business Partner is part of the Finance team charged as a trusted co-pilot of business, providing the business with robust commercial and strategic thinking to achieve the company’s financial and strategic objectives. They base these insights on analysis of operational performance, industry dynamics, competitor landscape, and development of business plans together with the support of the insights team.

Key Accountabilities

Performance Management & Decision-Making Support

1. In conjunction with the Insights Team, establish key financial performance measures for the function and lead regular performance review and management processes.
2. Analyse financial and non-financial data (e.g., market share, category growth, secondary sales, DFA, etc.) to develop insights into performance with the support of the Insights Team to influence decision making.
3. Analyse and provide commentaries to Business Lead to drive business performance and support decision-making by providing the following:

• Objective, transparent challenge and support to the function.
• Review spends of trading terms & Advertising & Promotion spend (ROI) effectiveness and ensure the business operates within policies and guidelines.
• Deeply understand gross margin variances and run various cost models.
• Run scenario planning and build models for new investments/new product propositions.
• Actively participate in monthly IBP meetings, and together with the demand planner build forecasts with the support of the Insights & analyst team.

Development of strategy and business plans

1. Drive planning and forecasting activities for the business, including working with the various sub-divisions in aligning business unit timelines to the Company timelines with the Planning & Insights manager.
2. Build and coordinate preparation of annual budget/forecast with the Business Lead and support to build the strategy and plans for the Budget & 3-year business plan.
3. Together with the business and operations build monthly/rolling forecasts.

Others

1. Work in conjunction with Financial Controller, and Planning, performance, insights Team to apply best practices to local jurisdictions and ensure compliance with policy.
2. Participate in Business initiatives to improve processes across the business.
3. Together with Finance Director and Planning & Insights Manager, provide a positive role model by demonstrating the Fonterra Values and providing a working environment that drives high performance and attracts and retains talent, building individual and team capability through coaching and mentoring.

What you’ll bring to the role

To be successful in this role, you will possess the following:

1. Tertiary qualification in a field relevant to Commercial.
2. Masters or Ph.D. in a field relevant to Commercial or Accounting preferred.
3. Minimum 10 years of experience in a senior leadership/management position within the Commercial Finance area.
4. Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with business partners at a senior level.
5. Strong commercial acumen and strategic expertise.
6. Proven track record in creating value and driving operational efficiencies within the Dairy industry.
7. Knowledge of commercial opportunities and threats within the Dairy Industry.
8. Strong skills in relationship and alliance building, influencing, and managing business partnerships.
9. Personal accountability, collaboration, and a willingness to challenge and be challenged.
10. Ability to manage complexity, value diversity, and strive for real outcomes.
11. Well-established Commercial Industry networks.
12. Strong commercial acumen and strategic expertise.
13. Bias towards action, ownership, high achievement, flexibility, and resilience.
14. Ability to build strategic partnerships and advocate for initiatives.
15. Knowledge of revenue maximization, capital efficiency, and operational efficiency within the Dairy industry.

Fonterra is a global dairy nutrition company owned by 10,000 farmers and their families, united by a fundamental belief in the power of dairy to make a difference.

We’ve built our expertise on the legacy of the thousands of farmers who have made New Zealand a world leader in dairy.

With a can-do attitude and a collaborative spirit, we're a world leading dairy exporter – shaping the industry in quality and innovation. We share the goodness of dairy nutrition with the world through our brands, farming and processing operations across four continents. Our shared values enable us to combine our personal strengths with those of others to make Fonterra stronger, more innovative and more successful.