Finance Manager - Services and Central Costs

The Finance Manager – Services and Central Costs is responsible for delivering world-class financial management to the Central Services function, in alignment with the broader Finance vision, across areas such as planning, strategy, appraisal, assurance, accounting, reporting, economics, and project support. Acting as a key integration point, the role serves as the interface between Operating Unit Finance Managers and Controllers, as well as Tax, Treasury, Portfolio teams, and Vivo Energy Central Finance, ensuring alignment and cohesion across the finance community. The incumbent drives business performance through the development and implementation of effective financial policies, programmes, and controls, while playing a pivotal business partnering role. In addition, the role ensures that a robust, fit-for-purpose financial control and governance framework is maintained, meeting all internal and external requirements, and oversees the financial management, reporting, and recharging of Central Costs across the group.

Principal Accountabilities:

• Financial Leadership: 

·       Enable Central Services to deliver world class finance service to the Central Finance Function, including excellence in provision of specialist functional support (Tax, Treasury, Credit, Asset Accounting, Central Cost Recharging etc.).  

·       Optimize collaboration between the Central Finance team and the OU Finance teams. 

·       Be a key contributor as part of the Central Finance Accounting and Reporting Team, acting as a sounding board to and challenge the way things have been done in the past to find sustainable solutions for the future.

·       Build and maintain effective relationships within the OU Finance and Central Finance organization including the Central Corporate Finance, Central Legal, Central Tax, Central Internal Control and Central Accounting and reporting Teams. Enable effective budget holder engagement across all Central Functions to manage, report and recharge central costs.

·       Build Financial Leadership capabilities with the Central Services Finance teams to build a strong pipeline of Finance talent.

• Strategy and Business Planning: 

·       Input into the development of the Central Cost Recharging models, planning for Central cost recharging.

·       Planning for Key central Capex Budgets.

·       Be accountable for delivering the Central Cost Plan, ensuring business ownership and alignment with the FP&A Planning team.

·       Lead the planning process for companies under direct management and provide a supporting oversight role for companies with indirect management. Whilst ensuring business ownership and alignment with the FP&A Planning team.  

·       Management Information and Business Performance Appraisal including Variance analysis (Opex, capex and working capital drivers). (VE South Africa & Overall central Costs). 

·       Financial performance (actuals) - Ensure robustness of financial performance data provided by Services and Central cost Finance Controlling teams.

·       Prevent the creation of non-standard Management Information. 

·       Provide clear and consistent business appraisal and analysis that allows for timely decision making for the leadership teams. 

·       Participate in Central Cost Business Reviews.  

• Business Decision Support 

·  Contract management: Ensure proper management of purchasing contracts, with focus on value protection and enhancement.

·       Risk management: Ensure commercial and financial risks are properly assessed, quantified and mitigated in line with Business objectives, adhering to Group policy as appropriate. 

• Governance and Business Controls: 

·       Compliance (Finance Standards): Ensure all key control targets and standards are met in line with local country requirements and operated effectively across the interface. 

·       Audits (external/internal) and Business Control Reviews: Support internal/external audit requirements as appropriate. 

• Accurate financial reporting. 

·       OU and Central Finance departments in Vivo Energy are being pressed to improve the period end close and reporting process. Companies face increased pressure to provide higher quality information faster and more efficiently. Externally, market and regulatory bodies have accelerated reporting deadlines. 

·       Ensure timely and flawless IFRS reporting for VE group as well as Valid, Accurate and Complete transactional accounting.

·       Manage Intercompany reconciliations for Central Cost recharging.

·       Manage and comply with statutory reporting requirements as well as tax filings.  

·       Steer external year-end audit of statutory and IFRS group reporting (Where applicable)

·       Ensure adequate accounting and IFRS reporting knowledge within the Central Services finance teams.

·       Finance/Economics degree and a recognized professional accounting qualification. 

·       CA Qualification would be an advantage 

·       At least 10 to 15 years of experience in Finance and extensive knowledge of all relevant financial flows.

·       In-depth knowledge of IFRS and strong analytical skills.

·       Planning skills.

·       Several years of proven experience in a senior finance leadership role.

·       Strong communication, influencing and networking skills.

·       Focus on proactive delivery and prioritization.

·       Broad knowledge of finance processes within Vivo Energy or similar corporate environment are preferable. 

·       Strong communication (fluency in English), influencing and networking skills. 

·       Specific system skills & experience: Excel, PowerPoint, Word, SAP S4Hana

·       Ability to work in a team, and under pressure, in a virtual environment. 

·       In-depth knowledge of the ERP system (SAP)

·       Control Competencies - Accounting and Operating Principles

·       Reporting Skills - Management Information/Business Decision Support

·       Tax competence

·       Knowledge of contract and procurement management

·       Performance management skills

·       Knowledge of governance, risk management and internal control systems

·   Experience in Managing Intercompany Reconciliations, Central Cost Recharging.