Business Finance Advisor

Where you fit in

This exciting role reports to the South Africa Business Finance Manager and is part of the pool of Finance advisors responsible for delivering Finance support across the Downstream business in South Africa.

The Shell World Class Finance ethos of allocating resources based on value and risk will allow the successful candidate to leverage and showcase their strengths while giving them the opportunity to sharpen their development areas by working with other experts in both local and regional projects. The role will have exposure to the Trading Supply and Operations business and involves attending and contributing to team meetings, developing a deep understanding of the business, and using Management Information (MI) to provide business insights to support decision making. There will also be opportunities to mentor and coach junior team members to develop indirect leadership skills and drive an end-to-end mindset in all decisions by providing relevant financial information and business insight to multiple stakeholders.

What’s the role?

As a Business Finance Advisor, your role includes the assurance of an appropriate business control framework, management information, business analysis and decision support, as well as involvement in a wide range of projects that can be found in a large multinational company (e.g. trading, FMCG, retail and logistics). The role will form a key part of the Finance skill pool and will expose the successful candidate to a wide range of challenges and learning across the Downstream business to develop a well-rounded finance professional.

Furthermore, your more specific duties include:

• Be a strong business partner, finding the right balance in supporting the business goals while providing challenge from a profitability, risk and compliance perspective.
• Promote a mindset of integrated value and trade-offs in the business to deliver maximum value to the enterprise.
• Challenge for continuous improvement on cost management (Opex) through a flawless performance and appraisal process and regional challenge.
• Provide Finance input and support for projects to ensure value growth in line with business strategy and goals.
• Support and review investment proposals and focus on operational excellence.
• Demonstrate organizational and functional leadership by ensuring country alignment with finance objectives and actively promote accountability and teamwork behaviours.
• Provide clear and consistent business analysis that allows for timely decision making for the business in South Africa.
• Participate in the planning process as required with special focus on the operationalization of the agreed plan at local level.
• Ensure proper input from the country to the Business Assurance Committees and annual Business Assurance process.
• Interface with Mobility, B2B business, Aviation, Marine and Lubricants, as well as Corporate team.

What we need from you?

We’re keen to hear from qualified Finance professionals with a minimum of 7 years’ experience in finance or accounting, a background in FMCG, Retail or Oil & Gas industry and someone who has worked in a multinational company.

Beyond that, we’d hope to see as many of the following as possible on your CV:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Economics or BCom.
• Professional qualification such as CA, CFA or CIMA is not mandatory.
• Must have at least 7 years of relevant experience.
• Experience in the Oil and Gas industry.
• Experienced in financial modelling and analysis.
• Experienced in MI and reporting.
• Demonstrated ability in planning, target setting and budgeting.
• Knowledge in performance management, appraisal, stock and credit management.
• Team player with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to motivate and deliver through others both in the finance and the business organization.
• Ability to gain the confidence of various internal and external parties, building on strong knowledge and understanding of the business drivers, value and risk.
• Maturity and authority to decide when to involve other parties and effectively play the independent Finance role.
• Problem-solving mindset with the courage to ensure professional financial rigor is applied to the commercial decision-making process and risk management bringing analytics and insights to the table.
• Project management skills and flexibility given support across multiple activities/assets.
• Ability to rapidly understand the specific business or function context for which activities in the pool concept are linked to.
• Awareness of Price Risk management including hedging techniques and related accounting, hedging systems.

Scam warning

Shell does not request monetary payments for employment. Individuals who are interested in opportunities within the Shell Group will find open positions listed on the company websites in the careers section when available. Shell does not make use of employment forms; the recruitment process is conducted through proper Shell websites and approved recruitment consultants. All successful applicants who receive an offer of employment from Shell will go through a formal and transparent recruitment process. To learn more about Shell’s recruitment process please visit the careers page.

Shell is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Company description

An innovative place to work

There’s never been a more exciting time to work at Shell. Everyone here is helping solve one of the biggest challenges facing the world today: bringing the benefits of energy to everyone on the planet, while managing the risks of climate change.

Join us and you’ll add your talent and imagination to a business with the power to shape the future – whether by investing in renewables, exploring new ways to store energy or developing technology that helps the world to use energy more efficiently.

An inclusive place to work

To power progress together, we need to attract and develop the brightest minds and make sure every voice is heard. Here are just some of the ways we’re nurturing an inclusive environment – one where you can express your ideas, extend your skills and reach your potential…

• We’re creating a space where people with disabilities can excel through transparent recruitment process, workplace adjustments and ongoing support in their roles. Feel free to let us know about your circumstances when you apply, and we’ll take it from there.
• We’re closing the gap – whether that’s through action on equal pay or by enabling more women to reach senior roles in engineering and technology.
• We’re striving to be a pioneer of an inclusive and diverse workplace, promoting equality for employees regardless of orientation or identity.
• We consider ourselves a flexible employer and want to support you finding the right balance. We encourage you to discuss this with us in your application.

A rewarding place to work

Combine our creative, collaborative environment and global operations with an impressive range of benefits and joining Shell becomes an inspired career choice.

We’re huge advocates for career development. We’ll encourage you to try new roles and experience new settings. By pushing people to reach their potential, we frequently help them find skills they never knew they had, or make career moves they never thought possible.

Disclaimer: We occasionally amend or withdraw Shell jobs and reserve the right to do so at any time, including prior to the advertised closing date. Before applying, you are advised to read our data protection policy. This policy describes the processing that may be associated with your personal data and informs you that your personal data may be transferred to Shell/Shell Group companies around the world. The Shell Group and its approved recruitment consultants will never ask you for a fee to process or consider your application for a career with Shell. Anyone who demands such a fee is not an authorised Shell representative and you are strongly advised to refuse any such demand. Shell is an Equal Opportunity Employer.