Budget Control Analyst - EU FET

Job Title: Budget Control Analyst - EU FET

Location: Kingston Head Office

INTRODUCTION

The Europe Finance Excellence Team (Europe FET) is on the lookout for 2 talented individuals ready to make a real impact. As pioneers of an ‘Above Market’ design, the Europe FET plays a pivotal role in driving key finance operations. This includes month-end closing, forecasting, budget control, management reporting, cash management, and ad hoc decision support, ensuring the smooth financial functioning of European operations. Supporting an €11bn yearly revenue business across the 6 BG Led Markets, the Europe FET needs someone passionate about finance who is eager to contribute to an environment that values collaboration, growth, and impact. 

The Europe FET is characterised by its diverse and vibrant culture, bringing together finance professionals from a wide range of backgrounds. The team firmly believes that the best solutions come from a mix of perspectives, leveraging this diversity to solve challenges and foster innovation. With a location strategy based out of three geographical hubs – Kingston, Rotterdam, and Warsaw – the Europe FET aims to enable seamless collaboration by building centers of excellence. These hubs not only facilitate better support to our Markets and Business Groups but also create thriving environments for shared learning. 

The FET isn’t just about numbers; it’s about people. The team cultivates an engaging and collaborative atmosphere where every member’s voice is heard and valued. There are ample opportunities to learn, take ownership of projects, and directly impact the financial health of the organization. For individuals looking to grow their skills within a fantastic team and help shape the future of finance operations in Europe, the Europe FET is an exciting place to be. Come be a part of a journey where finance meets innovation, and every day brings a new opportunity to make a difference. 

JOB PURPOSE

The Budget Control Analyst - EU FET will support the end-to-end financial budget control process within the EU FET, across all EU markets and BUs. This role involves business partnering with key stakeholders and owning responsibility of the OVH line within PnL. Additionally, you will be managing the central BMI and OVH processes for Month End Close, including preparing and submitting monthly journals, producing forecasts and collaborating with the rest of the European FET. The Budget Control Analyst will provide ad hoc analysis of OVH and BMI spend to support Commercial Finance on decisions. They will work closely with the rest of the Europe FET, Business Unit finance and Budget Holders to identify and mitigate risk and execute opportunities.  

RESPONSIBILITIES

Finance Excellence & Control

• Business partner with key stakeholders and owning responsibility of the OVH line within PnL.  
• Manage the central BMI and OVH processes for Month End Close, including preparing and submitting monthly journals, producing forecasts, and collaborating with the rest of the European FET. 
• Provide ad hoc analysis of OVH and BMI spend to support Commercial Finance on decisions. 
• Drive consistency across categories and BUs, improving accounting, controlling, and reporting processes by focusing on continuous improvement. 
• Lead and proactively look for and drive efficiency opportunities with the different Budget Owners. 

Value Interventions / Project Work

• Identify and execute opportunities, working closely with the rest of the Europe FET and Business Unit finance. 
• Develop corrective actions on major performance interventions to achieve budgets, such as reducing BMI and Overheads spend. 
• Partner with Business Units on strategic interventions and the impact on Overheads. 

ALL ABOUT YOU

Experiences & Qualifications

• Preferred: Qualified accountant or equivalent. 
• Preferred: Previous experience in reporting or controlling Finance roles. 

Skills

Must-have: 

• High degree of flexibility and ability to quickly understand new topics 
• Ability to work fluidly with data and across systems. 
• Strong analytical skills, and accounting and data accuracy skills. 
• Excellent attention to detail. 
• Strong prioritisation skills. 
• Excellent engagement, presentation, and communication skills. 
• Strength in holding others accountable, particularly peers and senior leadership. 
• Courage to drive change  
• Speaking German, Polish, French, Dutch or Italian would be considered as an advantage but not essential.

NOTES

About Unilever

Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Food, Home and Personal Care products with sales in over 190 countries and reaching 2 billion consumers a day. Unilever has more than 400 brands found in homes around the world, including Dove, Tresemme, Lynx, Lifebuoy, Shea Moisture, Persil, Domestos, Ben & Jerry’s, Magnum, Marmite, The Vegetarian Butcher, Graze and Pot Noodle.

Faced with the challenge of climate change and the need for human development, we want to move towards a world where everyone can live well and within the natural limits of the planet. That’s why our purpose is ‘to make sustainable living commonplace’ 

ONLY IF ADVERTISED @ 100VE and Kingston

Location

In June 2020 we announced our plan to consolidate a number of Unilever’s offices across the South East of England into a new Unilever campus in Kingston-upon-Thames in or around early 2025. However, on the 08 August 2024 we announced to our existing staff our proposal to retain our central Head Office in London, 100 Victoria Embankment (“100VE”) until our lease expires in 2027. As a result of this new proposal, we will be consulting with our existing staff, and new joiners who join during this period of consultation at 100VE, on the proposal made in August 2024. During consultation we will clarify the future location of each team and function. This means your role will either be based in 100VE until 2027 or in Kingston-Upon-Thames from early 2025. As we are yet to commence consultation on the proposal you agree, until such a time when consultation has concluded, your normal place of work as set out in the enclosed Statement of Terms & Conditions will be 100VE. You agree that on the conclusion of the consultation your place of work will be 100VE or 100VE until early 2025 and then Kingston-upon-Thames ("the locations") and you will be notified of which of the locations will be your place of work after that consultation ends.

What We Offer

Not only do we offer a competitive salary and pension scheme, we also offer an annual bonus, subsidised gym membership, a discounted staff shop and shares. You’ll have the opportunity to work directly with our renowned and exciting brands in a flexible and hybrid working environment.

Whilst the role is advertised on a full-time basis, we would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options and what this may look like for you. We are a key advocate of wellbeing and offer a variety of support for our people including hubs, programmes and development opportunities. We strive to achieve a family-friendly and inclusive workplace and to, above all, create possibilities for all.

Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities and growing together for better business performance. We embrace diversity in our workforce. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. We are also more than happy to provide reasonable adjustments during our application and interview process to enable you to be present your best self. To find out more, including about our Employee Resource Groups, please click here Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at Unilever | Unilever.

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How is Unilever tackling this?

Many of Unilever’s recruitment sites publish a warning to candidates about recruitment fraud. The Cyber Security team also proactively scan for signs of people setting up fake Unilever sites and act to close them down.

What can I do?

If you become aware of potential recruitment fraud, spot fake Unilever recruitment adverts or fake LinkedIn profiles, report them via Una Live Chat.

Unilever does not accept responsibility or liability for any candidates who are financially impacted by recruitment fraud. Your vigilance is key!