The primary role of the Business Team Finance (Brand Development) AFM is to provide decision support and financial insight to the regional category Brand Development Team. The AFM has primary responsibility for development of financial business cases in support of portfolio innovation through the Innovation Funnel process. The AFM will have a role in developing and monitoring spend for the Category Innovation Process budget (CIP). As a member of a cross-functional team, this position drives value creation and enhances the Go-to-Market strategy. After projects are launched, the AFM will assess regional performance against innovation objectives to assess whether delivery of Innovation is consistent with Business strategy and shareholder interests (i.e. value creation).

Position Responsibilities

• As the business partner to New Product Development, provides expert financial resource to the cross-functional team. Evaluate value creation opportunities and provide unbiased business cases for innovation.
• Evaluate and quantify business risk/opportunity profile, and contribute to the development of plans to manage project and business risks.
• Fully operational on tools and concepts including Brand health, probability analysis and Monte Carlo simulations, Share of Voice/Share of Market and market share.
• Financial team member at North America Category leadership team meetings (Innovation Gate process) to present financial case for projects.
• Member of regional Cross-functional process improvement teams.
• Prepare capital proposals for the N.A. Region in support of innovation projects.
• Solicit and provide input for In-Market Brand Building in the area of US financial objectives and hurdles, capital planning, funding and productivity, and cash management.

Challenges
• Ensure that the interests of the Unilever shareholder are represented on the Cross Functional Brand Development Team, providing an unbiased view of business risks and evaluating short-term trade-offs in the light of long-term business health.
• Influencing others - often more senior business people
• Gain consensus among and influence the decisions of marketing and brand building peers
• Ensure innovations reflect implications on cross-brand and business processes (total system perspective)

Skills & Competencies
Knowledge
Education Bachelors degree required. MBA strongly preferred. CPA and/or Consumer products experience is an advantage but not required.

Experience 3 – 5 years experience required

For more information, please visit our website at
www.unileverusa.com