Finance Business Partner
full-time
Job Purpose
The Finance Business Partner (FBP) serves as a trusted advisor to designated business units, providing commercial insight, financial analysis, and strategic support to drive performance, profitability, and operational excellence.
The role is responsible for translating financial information into actionable business intelligence and ensuring leaders make datadriven, financially sound decisions.
Purpose of the Role
Delivering highquality financial insights, forecasting, and business performance analysis.
Challenging and supporting operational and commercial decisions to optimise cost, margin, and revenue outcomes.
Strengthening financial controls, governance, and compliance at a business-unit level.
Partnering with business leaders to co-develop budgets, strategic plans, and improvement initiatives.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Business Partnering
Act as primary finance partner to operations and functional leadership for the assigned portfolio.
Translate business unit strategies into financial implications, KPIs, and improvement plans.
Support profitability enhancement through pricing insight, cost optimisation, and margin analysis.
Participate in strategic planning discussions and provide financial challenge and guidance.
Identify commercial risks and opportunities to support proactive decision-making.
Budgeting, Forecasting & Financial Planning
Lead the budgeting and forecasting processes for the designated business area.
Review and challenge business submissions for accuracy, reasonableness, and alignment to strategy.
Develop forwardlooking financial models to aid decision-making.
Support capex and investment decision evaluations (ROI, payback, sensitivity analysis).
Performance Reporting & Insight
Support compliance with IFRS, tax guidelines, internal policies, and procurement frameworks.
Strengthen financial controls within business operations.
Support and engage with internal and external audit requirements.
Identify and escalate financial risks and ensure mitigation plans are in place.
Stakeholder & Relationship Management
Build strong relationships with business leaders, operational heads, commercial teams, and shared services.
Provide clear, concise communication of financial matters to nonfinancial stakeholders.
Partner with cross-functional teams to support strategic and operational initiatives.
Continuous Improvement & Digital Enablement
Promote best practice in analytics, modelling, and financial reporting.
Leverage digital tools (BI, dashboards, automation) to improve efficiency and insight quality.
Share knowledge and contribute to capability building within the FBP team.
Ensure compliance with stock count procedures.
Key Relationships
Internal
Operations managers
Financial managers
Commercial and Supply Chain teams
Extended management teams
Head of FBPs and central Finance functions
External
Legal representatives
Auditors
Qualifications, Skills and Experience Required for the Job
Qualifications and Experience
BCom (Finance / Accounting) or equivalent
Professional certification advantageous (CIMA, CA(SA) - optional based on level)
Minimum 5+ years financial and analytical experience, preferably in a commercial or operational finance role
Experience in business partnering highly advantageous
SAP or similar ERP experience beneficial
Exposure to budgeting, forecasting, and performance management processes
Skills and Competencies
Advanced Excel and financial modelling
Analytical and numerical proficiency
Report writing and presentation
Business case development and feasibility assessment
Communication and stakeholder engagement
Logical problem solving and decision-making
Ability to interpret complex financial information
Ability to leverage technology and BI tools
Financial accounting principles and practices
Tax, VAT, legislation (working knowledge)
Budgeting, forecasting and financial planning
Business operations, commercial processes, and systems
KPIs, cost drivers, and business levers
Detail-oriented yet strategic thinker
Resilient and able to work under pressure
Proactive, curious, and solution-driven
Able to influence at all levels
Strong planning and prioritisation skills
High level of integrity, diplomacy, and professionalism