Strategic Operations Finance Lead – AME in Southampton

BAT is evolving at pace into a global multi-category business. Our purpose is to create A Better Tomorrow™ by Building a Smokeless World. To achieve our ambition, we are looking for colleagues who are ready to join us on this journey! Tomorrow can’t wait, let’s shape it together!

ROLE SUMMARY

What are the key objectives and expectations from this role?

• Managing a team of 1 direct report, the jobholder is the senior regional Finance Business Partner to the Operations function for AME across all sub-functions (SNO, Procurement, Product, Logistics).
• The jobholder works in partnership with the Operations function, Region, and End Markets to:

• Drive delivery of savings, controls, efficiencies and working capital improvement across Regional Operations.
• Provide on-going financial support and advice to Regional Procurement Managers, Regional Head of Logistics, Regional Head of Planning, challenging operational business cases and decisions based on insights.
• Manage and coordinate the provision of structured and insightful analysis of financial and non-financial data to influence and enable strategic financial decisions.
• Drive updates and reporting requirements for GPC by ensuring functional guidance is reported in financial forecasts, variances and key drivers are understood.

What is the direct impact of this role on the team or organisation?

• Reports to Commercial Finance Controller – AME Operations
• Number of Direct Reports: 1

Core Relationships

Internal:

• Senior Operational Finance Partners
• Global Procurement Managers
• Global Product team
• Global Business Services Leads
• Regional Head of Logistics
• Regional Procurement Europe & Americas
• Regional Finance teams
• DRBU Operations Directors & teams
• BAT Exports finance team and GBS service lines

External:

• External Service Providers (e.g. Suppliers / Agencies etc.)

Geographic Scope: Regional

Travel Required: Occasional travel to Globe House

ROLE DUTIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Acting as senior business partner to Operations, contributing directly and indirectly to all commercial and non-financial performance related decisions.
• Providing high quality financial and commercial information to the business.
• Enabling high quality evidenced based decision making and advice to the business.
• Sharing insightful financial analysis showing the financial implications of decisions and helping the business unit get approval for commercially viable business cases, budgets and investment proposals.
• Acting as the key interface between the finance function and Operations function to agree financial plans, initiatives, and policy in order to meet business objectives.
• Building strong financial and commercial awareness within areas supported and challenging business managers to improve performance.
• Delivering insightful and easy to understand presentations of financial results, highlighting priority areas and providing an action plan to address issues to ensure that corrective actions are delivered on a timely basis and to ensure revenue and efficiencies are optimised for the long term.
• Defining and implementing standard process planning and control techniques in line with business need.
• Recruiting, developing and managing a highly motivated, capable, and adequately resourced team, developing talent and a performance management culture that drives value through employee engagement and successfully meets or exceeds all strategic objectives.

Key focus areas:

• Driving and elevating the function by identifying and supervising the implementation of continuous improvement activities to ensure ongoing improvements in business performance;
• Productivity and Indirect Savings management;
• Driving the working capital agenda;
• Understanding and managing inflationary pressures, driving cost mitigation activities.
• Enabling robust COGs forecasting by ensuring clear guidance is in place for DRBUs for inflationary impacts and savings target delivery.

EXPERIENCE, SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE

ESSENTIAL Experience Required

• Significant experience in global FMCG or similar dynamic multinational operating environment;
• A strong understanding of manufacturing and supply chain processes;
• Ability to handle large data sets and to quickly see patterns and important features;
• Strong financial modelling skills, as well as the ability to simplify complex situations and synthesise, communicate, and present complex information;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build strong relationships with both financial and non-financial senior partners;
• Thorough understanding and knowledge of relevant finance tools and systems (i.e., SAP / BI / BPC).

Technical / Functional / Leadership Skills Required

• Strong Influencing, leadership, and interpersonal skills;
• Experience in leading a team and managing senior stakeholders.

Education / Qualifications / Certifications Required

• Degree educated with relevant professional qualification (CA / ACCA / CIMA / CPA / MBA);

BENEFICIAL

• Experience (commercial or operations) of working with new categories as well as combustibles;
• Experience managing peers and senior stakeholders across multiple markets;
• Experience driving business change through implementation of new controls or processes.

What we offer you?

We offer a market leading annual performance bonus (subject to eligibility). Our range of benefits varies by country and includes diverse health plans, initiatives for work-life balance, transportation support, and a flexible holiday plan with additional incentives. Your journey with us isn't limited by boundaries; it's propelled by your aspirations. Join us at BAT and become a part of an environment that thrives on internal advancement, where your career progression isn't just a statement – it's a reality we're eager to build together. Seize the opportunity and own your development; your next chapter starts here. You'll have access to online learning platforms and personalized growth programs to nurture your leadership skills. We prioritise continuous improvement within a transformative environment, preparing for ongoing changes.

WHY JOIN BAT?

We’re one of the few companies named as a Global Top Employer by the Top Employers Institute – certified in offering excellent employee conditions. At BAT, we champion collaboration, inclusion, and partnership as the bedrock of our values. We wish to foster an environment where every individual can thrive, irrespective of factors such as gender, sexual orientation, marital or civil partnership status, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, disability, age, skills, experience, education, socio-economic and professional background, as well as diverse perspectives and thinking styles. We recognise that our strength lies in embracing talent from all walks of life, empowering us to develop our culture of inclusivity and better achieve our business objectives. We view career breaks not as obstacles but as opportunities and encourage everyone, without hesitation, to apply. Through our Global Returners program, we provide support to professionals seeking to re-enter the workforce after an extended absence, be it for family care, parental leave, national service, sabbatical, or starting their own venture. Come bring your difference and see what is possible for you at BAT. Learn more about our culture and our award winning employee experience here. We take pride in being a Disability Confident Employer. If you need any reasonable adjustments or accommodations to be made during the recruitment process to support you performing at your best, please inform the recruitment partner who will be in touch should your profile be selected for the role you applied for. We are wholeheartedly committed to optimising your prospects of success by making suitable arrangements so that you may showcase your full potential.