HR Finance Manager - South Africa & Sub-Saharan Africa | L'Oréal Careers

Job Title: HR Finance Manager - South Africa & Sub-Saharan Africa

Department: Human Resources

Location : Woodmead, South Africa

Reports To: HR Director

About the Role

The HR Controller for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is a strategic leadership role responsible for the financial governance and optimization of human capital across the SSA Zone. Leveraging a deep background in both regional (East and Southern Africa) and Global operations, the incumbent ensures that HR investments are optimized for growth, costs are managed with strict fiscal discipline, and data integrity is maintained through advanced analytics and the mastery of L’Oréal’s proprietary financial systems.

Key Responsibilities

Budgetary Oversight & Fiscal Discipline:

Carry out budgetary controls for Headcount and Internal Personnel Costs for Zone and countries (Kenya and South Africa)
Lead quarterly financial cycles and trend management, ensuring cost increases remain below regional cost control targets
Develop comprehensive budgets and financial forecasts in collaboration with the business, including P&L and balance sheet considerations.
Understand the intricate relationship between personnel costs and the achievement of the Zone’s overall business and financial targets.

Strategic Analytics & Predictive Reporting:

Establish a globally consistent data analytics framework for the Zone.
Deliver predictive reporting and "Data Quality" insights (maintaining a 96% accuracy target) to inform executive decision-making.

Cost Optimization and Selling, General & Administration Reshaping:

Conduct rigorous comparative analysis of HR costs in Selling & General Administration lines.
Lead regional initiatives to reshape cost management, facilitating the migration of HR and Finance data into unified global digital systems.
Deliver transformation in Finance and HR to increase the contribution of the function to the overall efficiency and sustained growth of the Zone.

Performance Animation & Stakeholder Management:

Lead review meetings for Actual/Trend/Budget.
Serve as the "Voice of the Zone" in multidivisional corporate teams, ensuring that regional needs are integrated into global dashboarding and data mapping strategies.

Statutory Compliance & Governance:

Oversee monthly provisions for leave, headcount reporting, and social contribution planning for international mobility.
Guarantee that all regional processes and reporting calendars are in strict accordance with L’Oréal Global financial standards.
Master the foundational link between HR operations and financial impact.
Ensure all HR financial activities in the SSA Zone meet both L'Oréal internal audit requirements and local statutory requirements.

Key Requirements & Qualifications

Academic Background: Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, Economics, or a related field.

Professional Experience:

Minimum of 6 to 8 years of professional experience in Financial or HR Controlling within a multinational corporation with Emerging Market Expertise.
Proven track record of operating in Emerging Markets, with specific experience in the Sub-Saharan Africa region.
Experience working in a "Zone" or "global" capacity, acting as a liaison between Global Headquarters and local country subsidiaries

Technical Expertise:

Strong Microsoft Excel skills are essential: proficient in pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, formulas, data analysis and guidance.
Familiarity with HRIS (e.g. SAP Success Factors, SAP Finance)
Basic understanding of data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI)

Soft Skills & Competencies:

Exceptional Attention to Detail: Meticulous and accurate when handling sensitive data.
Strong Analytical Acumen

Ability to work with numbers, identify trends, and draw logical conclusions.
High Level of Confidentiality and Integrity: Trustworthy in handling sensitive employee information.
Excellent Communication Skills: Clear and concise, both written and verbal, for interacting with employees and stakeholders.
Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to identify issues and propose solutions.
Team Player: Collaborative and able to work effectively within a team environment.
Adaptability: Able to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.

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HR Finance Manager - South Africa & Sub-Saharan Africa