Financial Controller at Syngenta

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 Financial Controller to assist the Finance Lead:

• To support short, medium and long term financial planning and monitoring, and facilitate the effective and efficient delivery of business goals with sound fact based 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).

Dimensions

• Financial: Revenue$, Budget $
• People: No of direct reports: 3, No of indirect reports: 3
• Geographic Scope: No of countries :1

Accountabilities

Trade Finance and Credit Management

• Guiding the AR team on prudent debt collection strategy
• Enforcing local and global trade finance and credit management policies
• Supporting the Commercial Unit on service delivery to customers

Financial Reporting and Business Controlling

• Report to key stakeholders on a weekly and monthly basis actual costs and sales against budget
• Review monthly reports and understand material deviations from strategy and forecasts. Recommend remedial options
• Co-ordinate with the Finance Operations Manager in actual and forecast sales submissions in systems
• Co-ordinate expense and accrual allocation in various cost centres
• Support month-end reporting of sales and accounts receivable accounting
• Identify projects ongoing in the Commercial organization which either have significant impact on achieving the forecast (e.g. sales, profitability, functional expenses) or are important for compliant operations

Budgeting and Generating Business Cases

• Direct analytical support in generation of the annual organisational and product costing budget process
• Oversee the annual preparation of standard costs for crop protection and seed inventory
• Generate and support the building of business cases to support the commercial unit on pricing, customer incentives and other key business decisions

Qualifications

Knowledge, experience & capabilities

Critical knowledge

• Fully qualified ACCA/CIMA/ZICA Accountant and degree in Accounting is an added advantage
• Masters in a Finance/Business related field
• Advanced level in Excel and PowerPoint
• Understanding of financial flow in the income statement and balance sheet

Critical experience

• Previous controlling experience
• Previous experience in managing accounts receivable and cross functional support.
• Previous experience working with a global multinational or regional business group.
• 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
• Fluency in English
• 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 meet tight deadlines

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