Commercial Finance Manager

Job Title : Commercial Finance Manager

Level : 5A

About us

With over 200 brands sold in nearly 180 countries, Diageo is home to some of the world’s most iconic drinks. From Johnnie Walker and Guinness to Tanqueray, Smirnoff and Don Julio, we craft brands chosen for life’s moments — from everyday connections to landmark celebrations.

Bring your talent, curiosity and ambition, and strive for your personal best alongside people who challenge, support and learn from each other. Together, as one outstanding team, we keep learning, improving and setting the standard for our brands, our business and each other.

Join us and play your part in making life’s moments mean a little more.

Diageo Global Travel (“GT”) is one of the most dynamic markets in Diageo, accessing ~2bn potential consumers traveling internationally each year from every corner of the globe. As we emerge strongly from the pandemic, we have redefined our ambition and strategy: to make Spirits the most dynamic and fast-growing category in the travel retail space. 

We are a diverse, entrepreneurial, and agile organisation. Our unique channels include travel retail / ‘duty free’ sales across airport shops, border stores, on-board airplanes, cruises and international ferries. 

For GT to achieve its high-reaching growth and profitability ambitions, we need to transform the way we develop, plan and implement our commercial plans. There is a particular focus required on Commercial Finance (“CF”) to lead the performance agenda and driving balanced, quality growth. 

The Commercial Finance Manager reports directly to the Head of Commercial Finance (APAC and MENA) and has a dotted reporting line to the Account Controllers. The CF team is supported by other finance specialists including FP&A and Financial Control teams based in Budapest as well as an RGM team. 

Position overview 

This role maintains relationships with a range of business partners – including Commercial (and wider multi-functional selling) teams, Marketing, FP&A, Internal audit, Supply and our various DBS Shared Services teams across the world.

You will lead the performance agenda for your customers and support in promoting Diageo’s best interests in all regions and channels. This includes contributing to monthly cluster meetings, understanding the key dynamics of all functions within the business and holding business partners to account for strong performance in their areas of responsibility. 

Responsibilities

Key Business Partner to GTs Account Controllers and their respective commercial teams:

1) Performance Management: Embeds a strong performance culture within the team, tracking performance against the financial plan (NSV, Operating Profit, Cash) and other critical metrics (including market share and supply chain effectiveness) and proactively managing associated risks and opportunities. This entails: 

• Managing the BPM cycle with commercial business partners 
• Proactively driving commercial partners to understand external influences and trends and their impact on current/future performance 
• Driving possibility thinking in commercial discussions, and managing the development of new customer and brand opportunities
• Quantifying risks and opportunities to the Annual Operating Plan (“AOP”), and communicating these clearly to key stakeholders

2. Act as a key business partner to the Account Controllers (Commercial Team) to: 

·       Drive the commercial performance agenda including planning and customer negotiation strategy that will secure continued value-creating growth 

·       Drive an effective measurement and evaluation process for investment in the customer alongside the CP&A team 

·       Support the productivity agenda, including RGM and A&P effectiveness

3. Maintain an exemplary controls and compliance environment, working with the Account Controllers and Head of Commercial Finance to: 

·       Ensure accountability for, and ownership of, the controls environment across the customers

·       Ensure all globally mandated CARE requirements are adhered to

·       Ensure full visibility of risks and mitigation

Key functional capabilities

Commercial Competence and Decision Making 

• Ability to drive value through commercial knowledge/insight and understanding of the impact of decisions on the business

Strategic Analysis and Financial Modelling 

• Ability to develop, review and present financial analysis/models to address ongoing investment opportunities 
• Ability to create insightful analysis, develop/use pricing and margin tools and be a master in how to use these to create and protect value 

Business Performance Management 

• Ability to transition effectively between both operational detail and strategic goals in reviewing ongoing performance 
• Ability to identify and track key underlying performance trends – and assess the potential impact of these on performance commitments 

Qualifications and experience 

• Experience in commercial finance (5 years+)
• Qualified Accountant strongly preferred 
• Track record of defining and delivering commercially oriented strategies and plans 
• Strong commercial experience and financial competence 
• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills 
• Ability to influence critical commercial decisions.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with a cross-functional team.
• Able to manage multiple assignments and priorities simultaneously 
• Fluency in English is critical given the multi country focus