At RCL FOODS, we believe in cultivating what truly matters – nourishing lives, fostering growth, and creating a legacy of excellence. Our purpose, "We grow what matters," drives us to make a positive impact in the lives of both our consumers and our team members.
RCL FOODS Pet Food and Beverage Business Unit is at the forefront of innovation and quality in the food industry. As a dynamic and forward-thinking organization, we are on a mission to shape the future of pet food and beverage, bringing joy and well-being to pets and their owners alike.
Based in Randfontein and reporting to the Groceries Commercial Executive, we are seeking a talented individual to join our team in a pivotal role. As a Commercial Executive you will play a key role in driving strategic commercial support and insights for the Executive team.
The job holder will be responsible for :
Strategic Commercial Support: Provide strategic insights and commercial support to the Executive team, contributing to informed decision-making and ensuring the sustained success of our business.
Matrix Organization Engagement: Drive robust commercial engagement with the wider business in a matrix organization, ensuring seamless collaboration and alignment of goals.
Profitability Assurance: Assure the delivery of enhanced business profitability through comprehensive information and analysis. Identify areas of improvement and contribute to strategic decision-making processes.
Leadership Excellence: Harness and demonstrate leadership skills by cultivating a high-performing team, driving innovation, and fostering a culture of excellence within the organization.
Strategy Contribution and Execution
- Key support to the Operating Unit Managing Executives of the Pet Food and Beverages businesses.
- Participation on the OU Exec team to deliver growth and business performance.
- Provide strategic leadership and expert advice on the commercial/financial strategies required to drive profitable growth
- Coordination of the 5-year operating unit strategy process.
- Consolidate and package insightful strategic plan presentations.
- Ensure that assigned and agreed strategic targets are operationalized and tracked.
- Engaging and maintaining relationships with various functions in the organization and acting as the Commercial Business Partner for the business (matrix organization)
Operational Finance, Reporting and Analysis
- Management of commercial teams and partnering with various cross-functional teams to deliver accurate and on-time financial results.
- Management and presentation of the annual and quarterly forecasts
- Reporting (Flash, Monthly Pack) and presentation of monthly results
- Review monthly expenses and margins.
- Review monthly yields and consumption variances and implement corrective actions and processes.
- Ensure accounting standards are accurately applied.
- Ensure Best in Class cost control and reviews (vs plan and bench marketing) are conducted, and the implementation of savings/cost efficiencies are executed by the various teams.
- Tracking of key Strategic Actions to ensure the business performance is on track.
Revenue management
- Track and support NRM (Net Revenue Management) initiatives to unlock margin opportunities and influence improved contributions.
- Continuous review of cost drivers and implementing selling price increases when required.
- Support Sales team with pricing and deal requests
New product development
- Review the commercial feasibility for each gate in the NPD process (customer, channel and product specific), including analysis vs strategy.
- Review and question Payback evaluations where significant investment required to launch.
- Post launch evaluations
Profitability Insights and Analysis
- Analysis and reporting of product, customer, channel and category profitability performance of the business.
- Regular analysis and review of profitability status and providing insights to the business.
- Implementation of corrective actions and/or strategy change where required.
- Ensure profitability systems are maintained by the team.
- Tracking and analysis of customer and marketing spend to assess the return.
Capital Investment
- Review of business Capex budget submitted by the business to ensure prioritizing has been done based on the return on investment, risk and ensuring that investment is in line with strategy.
- Review and the approval of all capital motivations and investment opportunities submitted by operational/engineering teams.
- Conducing and reporting of post-capex reviews to determine if payback was achieved.
- Compiling of necessary presentations and motivations.
Governance and Risk
- Ensure business compliance to all relevant policies.
- Engagement with internal auditors, and external auditors where required.
- Review of internal audit reports and recommendations as well as management review commentary.
Team leadership
- Develop and manage high performance teams.
- Lead by example and display the required leadership capability to inspire.
- Build a strong team and create depth in talent pipeline.
Qualification:
CA(SA) or CIMA
Skills and Experience
More than 10 years’ experience, including operational/commercial finance, and people management of senior teams.
Experience in complex processing and/or manufacturing environments
