Financial Controller - EASA

Syngenta Group is one of the world’s leading sustainable agriculture innovation companies, with roots going back more than 250 years. Our 53,000 people across more than 100 countries strive every day to transform agriculture through tailor-made solutions for the benefit of farmers, society and our planet – making us the world’s most local agricultural technology and innovation partner.

Syngenta Group is committed to operating at the highest standards of ethics and integrity. This is a commitment that we are making to investors, customers, society and employees. Syngenta Group is also committed to maintaining a workplace environment free from discrimination and Harassment.

Role Purpose 

• Accountable and responsible for end-to-end finance activities with focus on management accounting for across East Africa and Southern Africa and direct business countries finance operations activities (Including statutory and tax compliance).
• Partner with commercial leadership across East Africa and Southern Africa to drive business performance through strategic financial planning, analysis, and decision support, including direct business operations.
• Deliver forward-looking financial analysis and actionable insights that enable commercial teams to optimize profitability and growth opportunities while providing analytical rigor and technical excellence in business partnering activities.
• Manage local Finance operations while coordinating with European Finance Operation Centre (EFO), Global Finance Operation Centre (GFO), and external service providers, ensuring compliance with tax requirements, regulatory reporting, and group reporting standards.
• Drive adherence to company policies, internal controls, and legal requirements while maintaining high-quality accounting data for group, statutory, and tax reporting purposes, including monitoring and reporting any compliance deviations or risks.
• Note role will support multiple countries based on need within AME

Key Responsibilities

Financial Planning & Forecasting Support

• Support the annual budgeting process by consolidating input from Sales, Marketing, and cross-functional teams across East Africa and Southern Africa
•  Provide reliable and timely budgets and latest outlooks for P&L in scope
• Provide support and guidance to business managers and function cost owners on achieving budget targets
• Participate in strategic business planning and business processes by preparing financial budgets and rolling forecasts
• Build and maintain rolling forecast models with scenario analysis capabilities
•  Coordinate cross-functional data collection from S&OP, Supply Chain, and commercial teams to ensure integrated planning inputs
• Track and report forecast accuracy metrics and identify areas for improvement
•  Prepare forecast documentation, assumptions, and supporting analysis for review by Commercial Finance Lead

Performance Analysis & Reporting

• Build and maintain monthly performance dashboards, management reports, and analytical packs for commercial stakeholders
• Conduct detailed variance analysis (actual vs. budget/forecast) with clear explanations of key drivers
•  Perform in-depth analysis of margin performance, pricing trends, product profitability, and volume/mix dynamics
• Analyze key commercial KPIs including revenue growth, gross margin, EBITDA, and working capital metrics
• Full accountability for the analysis and commentaries to business stakeholders for variance analysis of function cost reports
• Prepare and collect insightful commentaries for robust reporting and analysis of variances
• Focus on reliable full year outlooks and risk/opportunity assessments (MBR process)
• Monitor commercial performance trends and flag emerging risks or opportunities

Commercial Analysis & Insight Generation

• Conduct profitability analysis by product, customer, channel, and market segment
• Analyze promotional effectiveness, trade spending efficiency, and customer investment returns
• Perform pricing analysis and assess impact of pricing decisions on volume and profitability

Financial Reporting & Data Management

• Standardize commercial financial reporting templates and processes across East Africa and Southern Africa
• Prepare reconciliations between statutory and management reporting with clear explanations
• Ensure data accuracy and integrity through validation, reconciliation, and quality checks
• Maintain comprehensive financial documentation and audit trails
• Support month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes with commercial finance inputs
• Coordinate with accounting to reporting team to ensure timely and accurate data flows for reporting and analysis
• Oversee financial reporting responsibilities including ledger accounting, statutory accounting, and tax reporting in compliance with IFRS and local GAAP requirements, while serving as the escalation point for GFO-supported activities for direct business countries.
• Manage relationships with auditors, stakeholders, and third-party providers and ensuring quality delivery of services from EFO/GFO teams
• Drive continuous improvement in processes and controls while maintaining up-to-date company records
• Support Board of Directors processes and finance operation projects while ensuring active cross-departmental communication and timely feedback.

S&OP & Integrated Business Planning Support

• Provide analytical support for the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process
• Translate demand forecasts into financial projections and assess P&L implications
• Prepare financial analysis to support inventory optimization and working capital management
• Collaborate with Supply Chain on cost modeling and supply-demand balancing analysis

Master data management:

• Ensure proper master data maintenance (cost centre structure, delegation of authorities, headcount reporting)

Digital capabilities:

• Contribute to development and use of business intelligence tools, data visualization and predictive analysis techniques

Stakeholder Support & Collaboration

• Respond to financial queries and information requests from commercial teams in a timely and accurate manner
• Prepare briefing materials and analysis to support Commercial Finance Lead's business partnering activities
• Attend commercial meetings to understand business context and gather insights for analysis
• Build effective working relationships with Sales, Marketing, S&OP, Supply Chain, and SSC teams
• Support Commercial Finance Lead with preparation for business reviews and strategic discussions
• Contribute to cross-functional projects and initiatives with financial analysis and insights

Skills & Capabilities

Professional qualification

• Professional accounting qualification (CA/CPA/ACCA/CIMA)
• Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, or related field
• Key Technical Requirements:
• Advanced financial accounting and reporting expertise
• Proficiency in IFRS/GAAP standards
• Strong system knowledge (SAP, Oracle, or similar ERP)
• Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills
• Strong business analytics capabilities
• Strategic planning and forecasting expertise
• Advanced data visualization skills
• Commercial acumen and industry knowledge

Additional Desirable Qualifications:

• MBA
• Data analytics certifications
• Change management certification
• Industry-specific certifications

Critical experience

• 6 to 8 years working experience in Finance, Tax, Audit or Compliance
• Evidence of independence in work, ability to set objectives, deadlines and meet these.
• Experience in working with multiply teams, 3rd party providers.
• Process management and compliance knowledge within a complex, matrix organization and across different functions.
• Project management experience
• Experience with ERP / SAP in decentralised environment desired
• Good understanding of practical issues and trade-offs faced at country level, while still be able to communicate need to adhere to global standards and principles

Technical & Analytical Skills

• Strong financial modeling capabilities with advanced Excel
• Ability to work with large datasets, perform analysis, and extract meaningful insights
•  Working knowledge or willingness to learn SAC or similar visualization platforms
• Strong analytical skills including variance analysis, trend analysis, and profitability analysis
• High accuracy standards with strong quality control mindset
•  Logical thinking and ability to break down complex problems systematically
• Ability to work independently as well as within (cross-) functional teams
• High focus and energy, with a pragmatic mindset and solution-oriented approach

Commercial & Business Understanding

• Interest in and developing understanding of commercial drivers, market dynamics, and business models
• Solid understanding of P&L, margin analysis, and key commercial metrics
•  Willingness to learn about agriculture, or relevant industry dynamics
•  Ability to connect analysis to broader business objectives and strategy
•  Intellectual curiosity to understand the "why" behind the numbers and business context

Communication & Collaboration

• Ability to present financial information clearly in written and verbal formats
•  Developing ability to craft narratives from data and highlight key insights
•  Comfortable preparing and delivering presentations to various audiences
•  Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build effective working relationships
• Active listening to understand business needs and context
•  Timely and professional in responding to requests and queries

Personal Attributes

• Takes initiative, seeks out opportunities to add value, self-starter
• Comfortable with changing priorities and able to manage multiple tasks
• Collaborative approach, willing to support colleagues and share knowledge
• Focus on delivering quality outputs that meet deadlines and business needs
•  Quick learner, open to feedback, committed to continuous improvement
• High ethical standards, accuracy, and transparency in all work
•  Able to handle pressure during peak periods (budget, forecast, month-end)

ey Interfaces

Internal Stakeholders

Primary Reporting Line: Finance Operations Lead (Direct line manager, performance management, technical guidance, career development)

Dotted Line Reporting:

• Commercial Finance Lead East Africa and Southern Africa
• Day-to-day work direction, commercial finance priorities, business partnering support, commercial context, and guidance.

Key Collaborators:

• Sales Teams East Africa and Southern Africa - Data collection, revenue analysis, customer profitability insights
•  Marketing Teams - Brand performance, promotional analysis, marketing effectiveness
• S&OP Team- Demand planning data, integrated planning support, performance tracking
•  Supply Chain - Cost data, inventory analysis, operational metrics.
• Shared Service Centre (SSC) - Data validation, reporting coordination, query resolution.
• Country Finance Teams – Data consolidation, reconciliations, local insights
•  AME Business Partner - Regional reporting, best practice sharing, standardization initiatives
• Cluster Finance Team -Technical guidance, governance, cross-functional collaboration

External Stakeholders

• External Auditors  -Provide analysis and documentation as required.
•  Customers (indirect) -Through analysis supporting customer profitability and contract decisions.

Critical success factors & key challenges

• Ability to apply professional knowledge of accounting and financial reporting in supporting the business
• Ability to handle multiple stakeholders, priorities and deadlines
• Working in virtual teams
• Sound professional judgement and effective influencing skills

Location: Kenya / Zambia