Business Finance Partner, SSA
- South Africa - Sandton
POSITION SUMMARY
As the Business Finance Partner, you will partner closely with business leaders and other key stakeholders within Sub Sahara Africa (SSA), providing insightful analytics of the P&L and high-quality decision support to drive business performance and improve financial position. The candidate is expected to be an independent thinker, capable of working and thinking autonomously, and able to clearly articulate financial insights to colleagues at all levels. This role will provide leadership on various financial matters, lead the Revenue planning for monthly estimates/ Quarterly Estimates/ budgets & Long-range forecasts, working collaboratively with other colleagues within Finance support functions, and always upholding our values of integrity
The candidate will coordinate / lead the advanced planning, reporting and analysis process and will provide high-quality financial information and insights, contributing towards the success of the business whilst always upholding our values of integrity.
POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead operating plan, forecasting, and month-end/planning cycle deliverables, including timely and accurate submission of financial data into core systems.
- Provide monthly performance reporting, analysis, and commentary on net revenue, cost of sales, operating expenses, receivables, and other key balance sheet items, ensuring accuracy and consistency.
- Lead review of Gross-to-Net initiatives to improve planning and reporting accuracy for sales deductions.
- Provide decision support to leaders through clear presentations of financial performance and position, highlighting key risks, opportunities, and recommended actions.
- Partner with stakeholders to optimise inventory levels through monthly reviews, including expiry monitoring and obsolescence assessments.
- Collaborate with Finance Operations, Order-to-Cash, and other functions to optimise accounts receivable and cash flow performance.
- Deliver periodic analyses, including pricing, profitability, and inventory mark-up reviews.
- Prepare ad hoc reporting and analyses for the Business Finance Director and support local SSA projects as required.
- Participate in, and where appropriate lead, MERA-wide Business Finance projects and other enterprise initiatives.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- Financial qualification required (e.g., Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business, or a related analytical discipline).
- Minimum 5 years experience in management accounting and/or business finance; pharmaceutical or manufacturing experience preferred.
- Professional qualification (e.g., CIMA, CA(SA), CPA, ACCA) is an advantage; with 1/2 years post-qualification experience will be added advantage
TECHNICAL AND BEHAVIOURAL SKILLS REQUIREMENTS
Technical Skills
- Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills; detail-oriented with the ability to draw strategic insights from data.
- Advanced computer literacy, including working knowledge of financial accounting software and ERP systems.
- Strong MS Office skills, particularly Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
- Experience with inventory and/or manufacturing accounting is an advantage.
Behavioural Skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, with the ability to engage effectively at all levels of the organisation.
- High sense of accountability, with the ability to exercise independent judgement and confidently propose recommendations.
- Continuous improvement mindset with a strong desire to learn and develop.
- Collaborative and flexible working style, with a strong orientation to team goals and stakeholder needs.
- Strong planning and organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise and manage multiple deadlines.
- Ability to work effectively in a global and multi-cultural environment.
Pfizer is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable equal employment opportunity legislation in each jurisdiction in which it operates.
Finance & AccountingBreakthroughs that change patients’ lives
Research confirms what intuition tells us: that purpose-driven companies perform better, are more innovative, attract and retain the best people, and know how to unleash the power of those people. Pfizer’s purpose—Breakthroughs that change patients' lives—fuels everything we do and reflects our passion for building on our legacy as one of the greatest contributors of good to the world.
Each word in our purpose has meaning and reflects the value we strive to bring to patients and society:
“Breakthroughs” - These are the innovations, scientific and commercial, that we seek to deliver every day. All colleagues, regardless of role, level or location, strive for breakthroughs every day.
“Change” - We want to do more than simply improve patients’ medical conditions; we want to dramatically change their lives for the better.
“Patients’ lives” - We consider not only patients, but everyone they touch—including their families, caregivers, and friends—and everything they love to do. It’s an intentionally holistic view.
Our purpose ensures that patients remain at the center of all we do. We live our purpose by sourcing the best science in the world; partnering with others in the healthcare system to improve access to our medicines; using digital technologies to enhance our drug discovery and development, as well as patient outcomes; and leading the conversation to advocate for pro-innovation/pro-patient policies.
Every decision we make and every action we take is done with the patient in mind—and to nurture an environment where breakthroughs can thrive.
Our Values
To fully realize Pfizer’s purpose, we have established a clear set of expectations regarding “what” we need to achieve for patients and “how” we will go about achieving those goals.
The “how” is represented by four simple, powerful values—courage, excellence, equity, and joy—that define our company and our culture.
Courage: Breakthroughs start by challenging convention, especially in the face of uncertainty or adversity. This happens when we think big, speak up, and are decisive.
Excellence: We can only change patients’ lives when we perform at our best together. This happens when we focus on what matters, agree who does what, and measure our outcomes.
Equity: We believe that every person deserves to be seen, heard, and cared for. This happens when we are inclusive, act with integrity, and reduce healthcare disparities.
Joy: We give ourselves to our work, but it also gives to us. We find joy when we take pride, recognize one another, and have fun.
Benefits at Pfizer
Pfizer offers competitive compensation and benefits programs designed to meet the diverse needs of our colleagues. Our Pay for Performance Philosophy and Practices reward colleagues based on the contributions they make to our business.
Our Competitive Benefits Programs help our colleagues by:
- Promoting Health and Wellness to help colleagues maintain and improve their physical and mental wellbeing. Pfizer offerings include health and disability insurance, preventative health programs, medical screenings, free or reduced-cost vaccinations, discounts on Pfizer products, mental health support, nutrition and fitness counseling and more.
- Strengthening Colleagues’ Financial Security by providing company contributions to retirement plans, life insurance and financial planning education to help colleagues achieve their financial goals.
- Providing Benefits and Time off for the Moments that Matter to ensure Pfizer colleagues have the time away from the office to recharge, recover and return to work as the best version of themselves. Vacation, Holiday time and Sick time are just the beginning, with a 12 week parental leave policy for both parents of a new born, 10 day of caregiver leave for those times when your family needs you whether it’s a child, spouse or parent, bereavement leave, and additional country-specific programs.
- And so much more, depending on your country and site, Pfizer offers childcare facilities or discount programs, on-site health and/or fitness centers, movement and mindfulness solutions, “Log in for your Day” work flexibility and so much more.
For U.S. based jobs, view an overview of Pfizer’s U.S. benefits program (opens in a new window)