FP&A Manager - Cash Planning & Analytics

Job Description

Reporting to the Regional Head of FP&A, with the objective of maximizing the region’s cashflow extraction and EBITDA to cash conversion. As a genuine team-player, you’ll work across our regional, and school teams to manage liquidity, working capital, cash planning and analytics, with the Regional and School teams, to maximize cashflow from operations and extractions of cash to group. Your role will impact the organization by optimizing cash availability across the organization and to enable Corporate Finance to meet external funding obligations. You will also lead the development and implementation of the company's liquidity, cash flow planning and forecasting process and provide input into strategic creation and implementation of working capital management and extraction / conversion strategies.

Working Capital Management / Phasing Initiatives 

• Build and maintain accurate cash flow financial models to forecast operating cash flow from operating EBITDA, incorporating key drivers and other assumptions such as sales volumes, collection periods, and payment terms.
• Conduct in-depth analysis of working capital components (receivables/payables) to identify opportunities for optimization. Identify and assess potential cash flow risks and opportunities. 
• Collaborates with Finance teams (and where applicable Procurement teams) on working capital management / phasing initiatives.
• Develop and manage through capital planning, capital expenditure plans (maintenance and expansion), ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and cash flow availability (taking into account extraction / conversion strategies). 
• Collaborate with facilities and operations teams on capital planning initiatives. Track capital project progress and monitor budget adherence.

Extraction / Conversion Strategies 

• Partner with Tax and Treasury to identify and implement strategies that maximize what is available for extraction / conversion.

Drive Proactive Cash Flow Management 

• Prepare detailed cash flow reports and presentations, providing insightful commentary to senior management on key metrics and trends. Assist with the preparation of presentations to the Executive Committee and Board
• Conduct scenario analysis and stress testing to assess the impact of various factors on cash flow, such as economic fluctuations or changes in customer payment behaviour.
• Support in the management of full cycle of capital expenditure process; from approval of business case to delivery of returns, including control and reporting of spend
• Stay up to date on relevant financial market trends and regulations impacting cash flow.
• Lead the development and implementation of financial policies and procedures related to cash flow management and set the standards and processes for cash flow management within the company
• Manage and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders across the organization.

Improve Cash Focus and Skill Set Across the Organization  

• Training and development of Regional and School Finance Teams on cash forecasting and extraction

Business Partnering 

• Partnering with all functional group and regional colleagues, being the intersection of cash between functions to drive digitalization, efficiencies and effectiveness of cash and treasury forecasting and planning function

Required Skills/Abilities

• Experienced in FP&A, cashflow planning, forecasting and modelling
• Proven experience in geographically diverse multinational group, operating in multicultural environment across the world
• Knowledgeable and literate in ERP, Finance and Treasury, Cash Planning and Analytics
• Strong commercial background and understanding of drivers of trading performance
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Word and PowerPoint for producing reports and presentations.
• Good cross-cultural, interpersonal and communication skills to interact with diverse nationalities and cultures.
• Excellent analytical skills – with the passion and drive to demonstrate and quantify success.
• Results orientated with the ability to consistently map efforts against identified KPIs.
• Excellent time management skills and flexibility in dealing with multi-functional tasks.

Personal Attributes

As our teammate, here’s what we expect:

• You love being part of a team – it’s what gets you up in the morning.
• You’ll run it like you own it – you take huge pride in your work and your relationships.
• You’re resilient – you’ll speak up and speak the truth.
• You get the job done – to outstanding levels of quality, every time and always to the deadline.
• You’re humble – you’ll know what you’re great at and where you’re not quite so strong.
• You’re a listener – you’ll hear what people say so you understand what’s being asked.
• You’re calm under pressure – you’ll keep cool when the going gets tough and know when to slow down the thinking.
• Entrepreneurial – you’ll always find opportunities to do things differently and better.
• Good cross-cultural, interpersonal and communication skills to interact and collaborate with colleagues from a diverse range of nationalities and cultures.
• Strong stakeholder management and project management skillset focused on quality of outcome as well as the outcome itself, plus ability to manage competing priorities.
• Experience of managing and developing a team and influencing others.