Commercial Finance Manager - Operations & Supply Chain

• CA/CPA/ACCA/CIMA with senior finance experience within commercial operations in a manufacturing setting
• Demonstrated success in driving operational efficiencies and creating value in a corporate environment
• Strong financial and commercial acumen

Role Purpose

The primary purpose of this position is to act as the Lead Finance Business Partner to the Director Supply Chain & Operations and the Food Safety and Quality Director in supporting leadership teams to drive profit through site performance & assessment and management of commercial risks and opportunities.

Key financial and commercial focus areas and decision support include, but are not limited to, investment in operating and capital expenditure, COGS optimization (via factory performance/procurement/quality/S&OP/3rd Party Manufacture), operational efficiency in supply chain and operations. This accountability extends to performance management and analysis of cost information such as product costing, yields and budget/forecasting to ensure return on investment and overall profitability and on-target performance of the Malaysian operations. Accountability also includes Supply Chain (Warehousing and Distribution costs).

Role Accountabilities

Annual Planning, Budgeting, and Forecasting:

• Support annual planning and budgeting processes for manufacturing sites and distribution.
• Leads budgeting and forecasting for Operations & Supply Chain.
• Drives alignment on business plans to deliver financial targets.
• Supports improvement of Working Capital.
• Develops proposals for capital plans and initiatives.
• Establishes reporting mechanisms for ROI evaluation.

Business Performance Management/Performance Accountability:

• Collaborates on reporting for Operations & Supply chain performance.
• Improves accuracy of Yields reporting.
• Delivers monthly financial results and manages balance sheet items.
• Monitors performance against plan and recommends risk management strategies.
• Supports inventory management.
• Coordinates financial accounting information for Operations.
• Ensures visibility of financial performance drivers.
• Oversees warehousing and distribution results.
• Ensures a strong control framework across Operations.

Asset Management:

• Maintains asset register and manages depreciations.
• Manages Capex forecast delivery and results.

Commercial Pricing:

• Engages with commercial teams to factor cost drivers into product development.
• Manages financial relationships with 3rd Party Manufacturing.
• Ensures product costs are updated and manages Bill of Material charges.
• Assists with product profitability analysis.

Cost Accounting:

• Ensures standardized activity-based costing methodology.
• Applies standard ABC costing basis to manufactured SKUs and products.
• Provides input for product costing changes.
• Provides input for sourcing opportunities.

Inventory Management:

• Analyzes inventory across Malaysia and optimizes inventory management.
• Manages inventory valuation and ensures compliance.
• Collaborates with S&OP for inventory allocations.
• Explains valuations and revaluations to stakeholders.
• Forecasts revaluation and statutory adjustments.

Profitability Analysis:

• Supports analysis to optimize EBIT.
• Identifies opportunities to improve COGS and asset utilization.
• Ensures financial considerations in product gate processes.
• Establishes performance metrics for product profitability.
• Partners with commercial Finance leads to understand product drivers.

Business Partnering:

• Provides commercial support to leadership teams.
• Partners with Commercial Finance Managers on volume opportunities.
• Provides commercial support to Quality and Claims Management.
• Collaborates on asset utilization and third-party engagements.
• Collaborates with Costing COEs for governance standards.

Operational Excellence:

• Identifies process optimization opportunities.
• Manages or contributes to projects for key business initiatives.

About You

• Professional accounting qualification (CA/CPA/ACCA/CIMA) or a tertiary degree in commercial/financial management or a related business discipline.
• Minimum of 10 years of senior finance experience within commercial operations in a manufacturing setting.
• Demonstrated success in driving operational efficiencies and creating value in a corporate environment.
• In-depth understanding of revenue maximization, capital efficiency, and operational efficiency within the dairy industry.
• Proven ability to manage complex situations, foster diversity, and achieve tangible results.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen.
• Proactive, results-oriented, adaptable, and resilient.
• Excellent communication skills, capable of engaging effectively with senior personnel stakeholders.

Our Co-operative

Te Mātāpuna toa takitini

Fonterra’s strength is in the collective.

We are a Co-operative created and owned by Aotearoa New Zealand dairy farmers. Our rich history is built on farming families working together to share the natural goodness of our dairy with the world.

Collaboration, innovation, and passion was the cornerstone of our creation and something we continue to value today through our commitment to care for the land, our animals, and every drop of milk. Our milk creates goodness through nutritious food with safe, quality ingredients that are loved in New Zealand and around the world.

• CA/CPA/ACCA/CIMA with senior finance experience within commercial operations in a manufacturing setting
• Demonstrated success in driving operational efficiencies and creating value in a corporate environment
• Strong financial and commercial acumen

Role Purpose

The primary purpose of this position is to act as the Lead Finance Business Partner to the Director Supply Chain & Operations and the Food Safety and Quality Director in supporting leadership teams to drive profit through site performance & assessment and management of commercial risks and opportunities.

Key financial and commercial focus areas and decision support include, but are not limited to, investment in operating and capital expenditure, COGS optimization (via factory performance/procurement/quality/S&OP/3rd Party Manufacture), operational efficiency in supply chain and operations. This accountability extends to performance management and analysis of cost information such as product costing, yields and budget/forecasting to ensure return on investment and overall profitability and on-target performance of the Malaysian operations. Accountability also includes Supply Chain (Warehousing and Distribution costs).

Role Accountabilities

Annual Planning, Budgeting, and Forecasting:

• Support annual planning and budgeting processes for manufacturing sites and distribution.
• Leads budgeting and forecasting for Operations & Supply Chain.
• Drives alignment on business plans to deliver financial targets.
• Supports improvement of Working Capital.
• Develops proposals for capital plans and initiatives.
• Establishes reporting mechanisms for ROI evaluation.

Business Performance Management/Performance Accountability:

• Collaborates on reporting for Operations & Supply chain performance.
• Improves accuracy of Yields reporting.
• Delivers monthly financial results and manages balance sheet items.
• Monitors performance against plan and recommends risk management strategies.
• Supports inventory management.
• Coordinates financial accounting information for Operations.
• Ensures visibility of financial performance drivers.
• Oversees warehousing and distribution results.
• Ensures a strong control framework across Operations.

Asset Management:

• Maintains asset register and manages depreciations.
• Manages Capex forecast delivery and results.

Commercial Pricing:

• Engages with commercial teams to factor cost drivers into product development.
• Manages financial relationships with 3rd Party Manufacturing.
• Ensures product costs are updated and manages Bill of Material charges.
• Assists with product profitability analysis.

Cost Accounting:

• Ensures standardized activity-based costing methodology.
• Applies standard ABC costing basis to manufactured SKUs and products.
• Provides input for product costing changes.
• Provides input for sourcing opportunities.

Inventory Management:

• Analyzes inventory across Malaysia and optimizes inventory management.
• Manages inventory valuation and ensures compliance.
• Collaborates with S&OP for inventory allocations.
• Explains valuations and revaluations to stakeholders.
• Forecasts revaluation and statutory adjustments.

Profitability Analysis:

• Supports analysis to optimize EBIT.
• Identifies opportunities to improve COGS and asset utilization.
• Ensures financial considerations in product gate processes.
• Establishes performance metrics for product profitability.
• Partners with commercial Finance leads to understand product drivers.

Business Partnering:

• Provides commercial support to leadership teams.
• Partners with Commercial Finance Managers on volume opportunities.
• Provides commercial support to Quality and Claims Management.
• Collaborates on asset utilization and third-party engagements.
• Collaborates with Costing COEs for governance standards.

Operational Excellence:

• Identifies process optimization opportunities.
• Manages or contributes to projects for key business initiatives.

About You

• Professional accounting qualification (CA/CPA/ACCA/CIMA) or a tertiary degree in commercial/financial management or a related business discipline.
• Minimum of 10 years of senior finance experience within commercial operations in a manufacturing setting.
• Demonstrated success in driving operational efficiencies and creating value in a corporate environment.
• In-depth understanding of revenue maximization, capital efficiency, and operational efficiency within the dairy industry.
• Proven ability to manage complex situations, foster diversity, and achieve tangible results.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen.
• Proactive, results-oriented, adaptable, and resilient.
• Excellent communication skills, capable of engaging effectively with senior personnel stakeholders.

Our Co-operative

Te Mātāpuna toa takitini

Fonterra’s strength is in the collective.

We are a Co-operative created and owned by Aotearoa New Zealand dairy farmers. Our rich history is built on farming families working together to share the natural goodness of our dairy with the world.

Collaboration, innovation, and passion was the cornerstone of our creation and something we continue to value today through our commitment to care for the land, our animals, and every drop of milk. Our milk creates goodness through nutritious food with safe, quality ingredients that are loved in New Zealand and around the world.