Finance Business Partner Manager at Cell C

Purpose of the Job:


The Finance Business Partner Manager acts as a strategic advisor to business units within the Cell C.
Leading the finance business partner team in providing financial insight, analysis, and decision support to drive profitability, efficiency, and growth.
This role bridges the gap between finance, line of business and other functions, ensuring that financial considerations are embedded into business strategy, planning, and execution.


Main Responsibilities:
Strategic Business Partnering and Budgeting


Lead Cell C budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planning processes
Be the contact point for the department for all escalations
Ensure that all budgets are consolidated and discussed with line of business or functions
Translate business goals into financial plans and KPIs, ensuring alignment with corporate strategy
Provide proactive, data-driven insights to support investment decisions, pricing strategies, and cost optimization
Lead in the review of outputs and refine costing allocations (across various LOBs using Standard based costing) where necessary
Ensure that the company's budget is in line with the approved business plan (Income statement, Cash Flow, Balance Sheet and CAPEX)
Review the completed budget utilization and provide the necessary analysis for reporting and disclosure
Review of forecasts based upon historical performance and activity KPI
Assist and supervise the uploading of budget into the system and updating the system after each reforecast
Verify that Revenue, OPEX and CAPEX targets are met
Ensure that the correct procedures and controls are followed in the company
Ensure expense accruals are correct and accurate
Ensure financial information, is accurate and reliable and provided within the agreed timeframe to management and/or departmental heads, including monthly variance reports
Conduct customer / segment profitability, margin, and ROI analysis on products and services at a LOB level
Use BI tools (e.g., Power BI, SAP Analytics Cloud) to deliver visual, actionable insights


Analysis Function


Ensure ongoing analysis to efficiency to enable the business unit to make sound management decisions
Review input into the development of performance measures and KPIs at various levels of the business
Review the development and provision of financial data to business cases developed within units
Ensure ongoing support and direction on commercial, business and risk issues identified and render guidance into solutions
Drive compliance towards CAPEX governance processes
Review and approve insight and recommendations into improving revenue performance across segments
Supervise effective cost efficiency plans to reduce cost drivers
Provide early warnings to management as soon as material deviations are detected, identify for the attention of the business and relevant interventions
Support in the review and approval of business management cases


Finance Operations, and Office Management


Review and approve monthly journals processed for accruals raised by business partners
Analyse and approve monthly accruals and ensure that these accruals are in line with the approved budget
Analyse the monthly cost incurred compared to budget and the prior year and Identify trends and opportunities for cost saving
Prepare the analysis and report for the budget and forecast process
Provide input and review the budget before submission
Support internal and external audit as required


Process Creation / Maintenance


Create official processes / procedures and policies for the tasks under responsibility for implementation and maintenance
Assess yearly the adequacy of the written procedures/instructions with the need of the activity and eventually promote the updates on the system and enhanced automation of processes
Promote the reallocation of work and the improvement of accounting methodologies
Maintain robust governance and internal control environment
Work with the finance business partners to identify financial risks and opportunities and recommend appropriate actions


Reporting


Support recommendations analysis to the function to reduce business risk
Challenge operational teams to optimize cost-to-serve and improve EBITDA performance
Identify opportunities for automation or process reengineering
Develop and present dashboards and financial reports to senior leadership
Monitor financial performance against budget/forecast and provide variance analysis
Implement, Update and maintain KPI dashboards and management reports
Review and submit reports for Senior Manager addressing periodic activity, budget compliance, feedback and key departmental results to facilitate decision making
Prepare reports on operational performance and detailed reports on specific projects when required


Staff Management


Manage and develop a team of finance business partners
Build trusted relationships with internal stakeholders, balancing challenge and support
Act as the finance representative in cross-functional areas including strategic projects
Assign and direct work, oversee team developments, identify training needs and maintain staff competence
Establish with Senior Manager the Key Performance Indicators and evaluate them
Uphold HR policies and procedures including Labour Relations and all other corporate policies
Ensure Cell C values are adhered to
Conduct performance appraisals


Perform any other related duties as requested by Management


Lead in Ad hoc Projects as advised by CFO and Executives
Support strategic projects including mergers, partnerships, and outsourcing initiatives
Ensure meaningful commentary accompanies all reports, explaining financial drivers


Minimum Qualification


Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field
Honours Degree
CIMA, CA(SA), ACCA, or equivalent professional qualification is an advantage


Experience


9 - 10 years of experience in finance, with at least 3 years in a business partnering role
Experience in the telecommunications, technology, or digital services sectors is an advantage
Familiarity with IFRS, financial systems (SAP, Oracle, ThinkCell), and data tools (Excel, Power BI, SQL)
At least 3 years management experience