Job Purpose:

Seeking a commercially minded and analytically strong Manager to lead the FP&A and Business Partnering agenda for Indirect Costs and IT spend across all brands and markets. This role owns the end-to-end budgeting, forecasting, reporting and cost-control cycle for indirect and IT expenditure, leads a small team of analysts, and acts as the key finance partner to the IT/Digital, corporate and support functions. The successful candidate will drive visibility, governance, automation and cost optimization in a fast-paced, multi-brand, cross-border environment.

Responsibilities:

FP&A, Planning & Reporting

Own the budgeting, forecasting and long-range planning process for indirect costs (utilities, maintenance, operating supplies & smallware, travel, licenses, insurance) and IT spend across all brands and markets.
Drive a zero-based budgeting (ZBB) culture across indirect spends and deliver budgeted cost-to-sales targets and absolute spend numbers.
Prepare and review monthly and quarterly management reports, Board/BRM updates and dashboards highlighting KPIs, risks and opportunities.
Perform variance analysis (GL scrutiny) versus budget, forecast and prior periods, driving cadence with key stakeholders.

Cost Control, Governance & Compliance

Control IT and indirect expenses within approved budgets and monitor spend in owned cost accounts with proper periodic accruals.
Own the contract-coverage and compliance tracker for all indirect spend; document supplier spend and drive visibility on spend.
Review BPAs, contracts and RFPs to ensure financial and policy compliance in procurement decisions; enforce a BPM/PO-first culture and minimize delayed reporting of expenses.
Support the IT project approval and business-case governance process, validating financials, ROI and budget alignment.

Business Partnering

Act as the finance business partner to the IT/Digital, corporate and support functions, enabling cost-conscious decision-making.
Partner with the IT function (Infrastructure, Applications, Cybersecurity, Digital) to understand project requirements and financial implications, and support post-implementation reviews.
Collaborate with country and brand finance teams to ensure accurate cost allocations, accruals and consistent reporting.
Support procurement and vendor negotiations with financial insight, ROI analysis and benchmarking.

Vendor Management & Reconciliations

Lead IT vendor reconciliations, resolve legacy outstanding balances and reconcile vendor open items against accrual balances monthly.
Standardize vendor invoice submission and approval processes and define SOPs for systematic IT invoice processing (CAPEX & OPEX).
Drive accrual-versus-expense reconciliations, including utilities and maintenance accruals against vendor statements of account (SOA).

Automation, Analytics & Team Leadership

Drive automation of recurring reporting and analysis using Power BI, Python and planning tools (e.g., dashboards for maintenance, IT, operating supplies and smallware spend).
Lead, coach and develop a team of assistant managers, analysts and data analysts, building future finance talent.
Maintain strong internal controls and ensure compliance with financial policies and procedures.

Qualifications & Experience

CA / CPA / CIMA / MBA desired.
7+ years of progressive experience in FP&A, finance business partnering or commercial finance, including team leadership – preferably within QSR, FMCG, retail or multi-country operations.
Strong understanding of indirect cost drivers, IT cost management and cost-control methodologies.
Proven experience working with cross-functional teams in a matrix, multi-brand organization.

Skills & Competencies

Advanced Excel and financial modeling; hands-on proficiency with Power BI and planning/consolidation tools (e.g., Oracle Hyperion / EPM, SAP).
Exposure to automation tooling (Python) and a strong digital obsession / process-improvement mindset.
Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence senior and executive stakeholders.
Analytical, proactive problem-solver with strong governance orientation and attention to detail.
Effective people leadership, collaboration and stakeholder-management capabilities.

Financial Planning and Analysis Manager