Innovation and Brand Change Finance Manager

Diageo is the world`s leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Buchanan`s and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff, Ciroc and Ketel One, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Many of our brands have been around for generations, while some have been developed more recently to meet new consumer tastes and experiences. Our great range of brands and geographic spread means that people can celebrate with our products at every occasion no matter where they are in the world. This is why `celebrating life every day, everywhere` is at the core of what we do.

Trading in approximately 180 markets, we employ over 25,000 talented people around the world. With offices in 80 countries, we also have manufacturing facilities across the globe. And the people who work for us across these markets really care for the legacy of each of our brands. We want them to be enjoyed by consumers for generations to come, which means we also take our role as a producer of alcohol very seriously. Diageo is at the forefront of industry efforts to promote responsible drinking.
           
Purpose:
 

• The Innovation and Brand Change Finance team is the financial lead on all innovation, key brand change and category focused  supply optimization projects, covering both Demand and Supply.
• This role is expected to help drive the robust innovation, brand change and  supply optimization with a category/brand focus agenda by providing financial expertise leading to sound decision-making, project prioritization and a 5 year financial forecast
• The team will complete in-depth financial analysis and create 5 year pro-forma P&Ls for all brand change and innovation projects by working with the appropriate stakeholders across Demand and Supply to cover all inputs including pricing, COGS, size mix, A&P investment rates, etc.
• Ensures projects are executed to maximize margin enhancement over the short and long term while minimizing overall financial impact
• Works closely with the innovation SVP to manage the innovation P&L and future pipeline providing key financial insights, financial reconciliation and budget management
• Provides ad hoc financial analysis for the Global Finance for NAM innovation both planning and forecasting
• Working with NA Supply and Marketing Exec to prioritize projects
• This role will report to the Strategic Performance Dir. with three direct reports

 
Outputs: 
 

• Develop and manage the consolidated and prioritized list of all Innovation, Renovation and BVE projects
• Financial and P&L inputs in the Navigate (project decision making framework) process, providing finance recommendations and sensitivities to Gatekeepers (decision makers) including financial tradeoffs
• Financial development of gate papers for all Innovation, Renovation and Brand Value Enhancement projects
• Drive efficiency through improvements to Innovation, Renovation and BVE process
• Manage the innovation Project Development budget along with Innovation SVP including planning, forecasting and management process.
• Lead post launch analysis providing key learnings and improvement recommendations for future projects to Gatekeepers
• Constantly improve team’s capabilities and share best practices

• Engage functional experts to provide insights and recommendations
• Develop direct reports the team has appropriate development plans aligning to Diageo capabilities

 
Qualifications and Experience Required: 
 

• MBA preferred
• Strategic thinker with excellent analytical skills
• Strong project management capabilities
• Financial experience in Consumer goods, beverage alcohol preferred
• Accounting experience preferred
• Minimum 5-7 years experience in various roles demonstrating increasing responsibilities
• Strong team player
• Ability to deal with ambiguity

Ability to manage and work with multiple stakeholders of all levels of seniority
Innovation and Brand Change Finance Manager