Lead, Financial Planning

The Lead, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) oversees a team of analysts supporting enterprise-wide budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and performance analysis. The role ensures accurate financial plans, reliable reporting, and insightful analysis to support strategic and operational decision-making.

Reporting to the Group Lead, FP&A, the position converts finance strategy into operational excellence—ensuring standardization, compliance, governance, and continuous improvement across the FP&A processes. The Lead guides the team to deliver high-quality analytics, maintain process discipline, leverage systems effectively, and partner closely with business stakeholders.

The Lead fosters a culture of accuracy, accountability, and collaboration, building capability and ensuring the team consistently meets service, quality, and reporting expectations.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:

Financial Planning & Budget Management

• Lead the development and prioritisation of FP&A strategic initiatives.
• Oversee creation and maintenance of the OPEX budgeting framework.
• Ensure timely preparation, consolidation, and review of annual and periodic budgets.
• Approve budget submissions and validate key assumptions.
• Review budgeted vs. actual variance analyses with clear driver identification.
• Approve variance reports ensuring accuracy, clarity, and actionable insights.

Forecasting & Financial Modelling

• Guide data collation and preparation for inventory, production, revenue, expense, and other forecasting models.
• Oversee execution of forecast models and approve consolidated forecast reports.
• Lead the preparation, review, and approval of rolling forecasts.
• Provide strategic insights and challenge assumptions to ensure realistic projections.
• Approve uploads of forecast data into financial systems.

Management Reporting & Performance Analysis

• Define reporting requirements, templates, and standards for FP&A outputs.
• Ensure timely preparation and review of management reporting packs, trend analyses, comparative financials, and ad-hoc reports.
• Review and approve first-level commentary, ensuring quality and business relevance.
• Finalize reporting packs and analysis workings for leadership distribution.
• Partner with Business/Finance teams to gather strategic insights and resolve reporting issues.

Governance, Policies & Financial Controls

• Develop, publish, and maintain accounting and reporting policies and procedures.
• Review and approve policy and procedural changes ensuring alignment with FP&A workflows.
• Provide direction on how policy adjustments impact processes, systems, and financial reporting.
• Maintain strict adherence to governance, compliance, and documentation standards.

Master Data & System Administration

• Review and approve master data structures, updates, and maintenance activities.
• Ensure accuracy of master data required for FP&A processes and reporting.
• Oversee validation, processing, and system uploads of financial data.
• Ensure data integrity and alignment across ERP, FP&A, and reporting tools.

Month-End Close Support

• Oversee preparation and approval of month-end close calendars and guidelines.
• Monitor month-end deliverables including accruals, journals, reconciliations, and reporting.
• Review & approve recurring and ad-hoc journal entries prepared by the team.
• Review trial balances, variance analyses, and roll-forward schedules.
• Approve intercompany elimination entries and system period close activities.

Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Drive FP&A process improvements across planning, forecasting, and reporting cycles.
• Lead digital finance initiatives, automation projects, and workflow optimisation.
• Conduct root-cause analysis on recurring issues and implement corrective actions.
• Strengthen standardisation and documentation maturity across FP&A activities.

Stakeholder Management & Team Leadership

• Mentor and develop FP&A analysts through coaching, reviews, and performance development plans.
• Set clear expectations, monitor accuracy, and ensure timely delivery of outputs.
• Collaborate with Business Partners, Controllers, and Global Finance stakeholders.
• Manage escalations effectively, providing timely updates and resolution paths.
• Foster a high-performance culture grounded in discipline, quality, and ownership.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES:

• Financial Accuracy:
  Zero critical errors in budgets, forecasts, and reporting.
• Cycle Timeliness:
  Adherence to budgeting, forecasting, and month-end timelines.
• Insight Quality:
  Action-oriented commentary and well-supported financial insights.
• Process Efficiency:
  Improved turnaround times, reduced rework, and stronger controls.
• Stakeholder Satisfaction:
  Consistent positive feedback from corporate and business teams.
• Compliance & Documentation:
  100% adherence to policies and audit requirements.
• Team Capability:
  Higher accuracy, skill development, and independence across analysts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in finance, Accounting, Commerce, or related field.
• Professional certifications (CPA, CMA, CA) preferred.
• Training in Financial Modelling, FP&A, or Process Improvement (Lean/Six Sigma) advantageous.

Experience

• 7–10+ years' experience in FP&A, Corporate Finance, or Business Finance roles.
• 3+ years leading or supervising a finance/FP&A team.
• Advanced experience in budgeting, forecasting, modelling, and management reporting.
• Experience with Shared Services/GCC/BPO environments preferred.
• Experience in financial governance, policy, and digital finance initiatives is beneficial.

Technical / Functional Skills

• Strong proficiency in financial modelling and advanced Excel.
• Working knowledge of ERP/FP&A systems (SAP, Oracle, Anaplan, Hyperion, etc.).
• Ability to interpret financial data, identify trends, and provide insights to leadership.
• Strong understanding of accounting concepts, journal entry processes, and reconciliations.
• Ability to manage master data governance and financial system workflows.

Leadership & Behavioural Skills

• Analytical and strategic, with high attention to financial detail.
• Strong communicator with ability to influence senior stakeholders.
• Resilient and adaptable in high-pressure, deadline-driven environments.
• Collaborative, transparent, and committed to continuous improvement.
• Demonstrates high integrity, discipline, and accountability.