Finance Business Analyst at Syngenta

Role purpose

Syngenta Global is a global company that produces crop protection products and seeds and is based in Basel, Switzerland. Syngenta is one of the world’s largest crop chemical producers as is also a leader in seeds and biotechnology sales.

MRI Seed Zambia, a subsidiary of Syngenta Global, is in search of a Finance Business Analyst to assist the Financial Controller;

• To support short, medium and long term financial planning and monitoring, and facilitate the effective and efficient delivery of business goals with sound financial analysis and advice.
• To support in timely and robust reporting practices by the team (month-end, half-year; year-end).
• To actively participate in financial decision making processes and focus the organization on the key operational constraints (financial budget, resources and timelines).

Accountabilities

• Inventory Management
• Monitoring of WIP costs of inventory and realisation into finished goods
• Supporting production and supply staff to ensure accurate inventory numbers are reported
• Review of inventory related accounts on a monthly basis and ensure that they reported correctly
• Work with the Reporting Manager to ensure inventory is accurately reported in the global reporting systems
• Review of COGS Clearing, GRIR and GIT accounts
• Financial Controlling of R&D and Production Costs
• Report to key stakeholders on a monthly basis actual costs against budget
• Advise on corrective action to be taken in the case of substantial deviations

Budgeting

• Analytical support in R & D and Production budget process
• Support in preparation of Budget Review presentation
• Support to the Financial Controller to create various budget templates

Product costing

• Assist in the annual preparation of standard costs for crop protection and seed inventory
• Variance analysis of deviations from standard costing

Capital Sanctioning Support

• Provide support to users to raise Capex requests
• Review of capital project completion and recommend for capitalization

Knowledge, experience & capabilities

Critical knowledge

• Full ACCA/CIMA/ZICA and degree in Accounting is an added advantage
• Advanced level in Excel and PowerPoint
• Understanding of financial flow in the income statement and balance sheet

Critical experience

• Previous controlling experience
• Previous experience working with a global multinational
• Previous experience with Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
• Reviewing, anticipating and reporting financial performance
• Working understanding of the budget process
• Understanding of manufacturing accounting concepts, standard costing and deferred variances.
• Critical technical, professional and personal capabilities
• Analytical background, conceptual thinking combined with strong implementation skills
• Proactive, creative and pragmatic approach underpinned by strong analytical skills
• Fluent in English is a must, other African languages is a plus
• Cultural awareness, interpersonal communication skills and presentation skills

Critical leadership capabilities

• Set direction
• Communicates effectively
• Provides comfort on delivery to stakeholders
• Create edge
• Build trust
• Develops a personal opinion and defends it in a compelling way opposite peers and superiors
• Drive results
• Achieve goals
• Carefully plans, organizes and reviews progress to meet deadlines of assignment at highest quality standard in the most effective way
• Liberate potential
• Develops self
• Actively seeks challenges and feedback to ensure continuous technical / behavioural development

Critical success factors & key challenges

• Strong analytical and communication skills
• Naturally enthusiastic, displaying a ‘can do’ attitude
• Learn and understand quickly new activities / tasks
• Effective teamwork
• Strong skills with Excel and PowerPoint
• Ability to work to tight deadlines

Qualifications

Knowledge, experience & capabilities

Critical knowledge

• Good understanding of local Generally Accepted Accounting Policies
• Good understanding of legal entity governance framework
• Good understanding of business end to end processes and internal controls necessary to safeguard the Company’s assets.
• Experience in working in multi national organizations (ideally with matrix structure) with emphasis on communicating and decision making with demonstrated ability to work under pressure.

Critical experience

• Qualified Accountant i.e. CIMA, ZICA, ACCA, CPA or equivalent
• Last level accounting profession as above with experince will be considered
• Minimum 3-5 years experience in relevant roles
• Keen demonstrated strengths in unquestionable integrity and trustworthiness.
• Experience in working in multi national organizations with emphasis on communicating and decision making with demonstrated ability to work under pressure. Must be motivated by interdependency.

Critical technical, professional and personal capabilities

• Credible with local senior management and comfortable with expressing his views or putting alternate point of view in a constructive way.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills