JOB TITLE: Brand Controller - Financial Planning

REPORTING TO Head of FP&A, SWM

LOCATION: Shanghai, China

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MAIN PURPOSE

The successful candidate acts as a business partner to Maisons’ management, providing financial insights to achieve business targets and realizing the Maisons’ strategy. 

He/She is also responsible for the financial planning function of a selection of Richemont Special Watches Maisons (SWM), and reports to the Head of FP&A, SWM.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND KEY POSITIONING

 Elaborate Forecasting and Own planning tools at all levels of outlook.

 Coordinate with business teams to construct and align yearly budget, with monthly phasing follow up.

 Ensure optimal resource allocation for working capital (stock, capex) in line with the development strategy of the Maisons, highlighting potential risks and opportunities for Maisons management, e.g. boutique investment requests.

 Prepare the deliverables according to guidelines from Maison HQ and Group Finance

 Constantly liaise with the Financial Controllers to ensure consistency between actual and forecasted performance.

• Trusted Advisor to local Maisons’ Management Team

 Assert leadership on the long-term financial planning (“Profit Dynamics”) and support in preparing the strategic business plan as part of the annual budgeting process

 Ensure optimal resource allocation for working capital (stock, capex) in line with the development strategy of the Maisons, highlighting potential risks and opportunities for Maisons management, e.g. boutique investment requests

 Identify areas for cost savings and assist the Maisons’ management in looking for efficiency improvement in operations

 Project and reflect with Business teams on long term trends, business evolutions to incorporate the long-term strategy of the Maison

• Financial planning process management & partnership (periodic & strategic)

 Take responsibility and a leadership role on various projects, working with business partners to design/execute business and accounting solutions to complex issue 

 Coordinate the overall budgeting and monthly rolling forecasting process (from both cost based and driver based planning) for the Maison according to guidelines from the Maisons’ HQ and Group Finance, 

 Take the lead in the development of financial plan for local Maisons’ management, Maisons’ Headquarters and the Richemont Group 

• Development of a best-in-class financial planning team

 Develop transversal leadership skills of the team by working with other (non-finance) Functions to further integrate finance into the business

• Other responsibilities

 Work closely with the Controlling team to ensure timely and accurate reporting and analysis of Maison results

 Support the projects on financial planning process improvement, including P&L, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

 Support to maintain the internal control environment in the Maisons

 Participate in various cross-functional projects, e.g. Digital, network development, etc.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Education / Qualifications

• University graduate (BA/MBA equivalent) from a reputable institution 

• CPA/CMA/CIMA from a recognized board is a ‘Plus’

Languages

• Excellent written and spoken Mandarin and English

Experience: 

• 8-10 years of related working experience 

• Successful experience in financial KPI implementation and management  

• Experience in large-scale and multi-national retailing in China

• Overseas working or study experience is a ‘Plus’

Business acumen

• Understand business implications of decisions.

• Display orientation to profitability and cash-flow management.

• Operate within the Company’s framework of policies and procedures.

• Support the organization’s goals and values.

Skills

• Ability to embody the Maisons’ strategy based on analytical recommendations.

• Strong strategic, financial planning and business analysis experience.

• Ability to gather and analyse/synthetize information skilfully.

• Ability to coordinate projects and deal with conflicting priorities.

• Ability to design workflows and procedures.

• Advanced user of MS Excel / MS PowerPoint, and corporate financial planning systems.

Competence

• Ability to take personal accountability for decisions made and anticipate internal and external business issues that may impact organizational results

• Influence in a respectful and professional manner 

• Work well in group problem-solving situations; generate creative solutions; result-oriented

• Strong team player & communicator; pleasant and open-minded

• Able to deal with a reasonable level of stress and work in a fast-paced environment under tight deadlines; balance multiple priorities and still ensures thoughtful and high-quality deliverables

• Mature, discipline, high degree of integrity and work ethics, self-motivated, independent