UI CD Finance Manager – GIC, GIN & Scoot at Unilever

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UI CD Finance Manager – GIC, GIN & Scoot

Company: Unilever

Location: Singapore

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Finance (with a strong business partnering and analytical focus, requiring presentation and communication skills often found in design-adjacent roles when presenting data-driven insights)

Date Posted: 2025-06-11T00:00:00

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: On-site

🎨 Role Summary

Provide strategic finance and commercial business partnering to drive performance management and decision support for the Global Institutional Customers (GIC), Government, Institution, NGOs (GIN), and Scoot business units within Unilever International (UI).
Drive growth and profitability through insightful analysis, pricing decisions, risk management, and cost control across diverse geographies and P&L drivers.
Evaluate and support the integration of new business opportunities and projects, including financial modelling, operational setup, and business case development.
Ensure robust financial controls, compliance with policies, and efficient working capital management through effective debtors management procedures.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this is a finance role, the emphasis on business partnering, presentation, communication, and the ability to simplify complex information highlights skills valuable in design roles that require presenting insights and influencing stakeholders. The need to evaluate new business models and drive strategy into action also involves a degree of strategic thinking relevant to design leadership.

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

Act as a key business partner and trusted finance advisor to Business Development Teams, driving performance management, decision support, and strategy execution.
Lead performance analysis, focusing on growth drivers, investment efficiency (ROMI), portfolio mix, pricing, and cost management, providing actionable insights.
Manage monthly forecasting, rolling forecasts, and business plans for brands, channels, and geographies, conducting detailed P&L reviews and variance analysis.
Support the analysis and integration of new business models and projects, including financial flow modelling, operational setup, and defining key performance indicators (KPIs).
Drive internal operational planning, marketing activity planning, and pricing decisions, reviewing investment requests (TTS, BMI) and assessing ROI performance.
Ensure efficient Working Capital management through rigorous debtors management procedures, collection oversight, claims processing, and overdue management.
Maintain robust financial controls, ensuring compliance with internal policies and external/SOX requirements, including segregation of duties, schedule of authority implementation, and payment verification.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of analytical rigor and strategic influence, requiring the ability to translate financial data into business decisions. This mirrors the need for designers to use research and data to inform design choices and advocate for user needs. The focus on performance management and ROI assessment requires strong analytical and presentation skills.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field is typically required for a role of this level. A Master's degree or professional finance qualification (e.g., CPA, ACCA, CIMA) would be highly advantageous.

Experience: 5-10 years of relevant finance experience, preferably within a multinational corporation and with exposure to commercial finance, business partnering, and supply chain finance. Experience in managing P&L and evaluating new business opportunities is crucial. While not a design role, experience in roles requiring strong analytical presentation and stakeholder management skills is relevant.

Required Skills:

Excellent engagement, presentation, and communication skills for effective business partnering and stakeholder influence.
Ability to manage a large and complex set of stakeholders and hold others accountable for financial performance.
Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex financial data, identify trends, and provide actionable insights.
Ability to make complex financial information simple and understandable for non-finance stakeholders.

Preferred Skills:

Demonstrated competency in growing and developing people/teams, indicating leadership potential.
Working knowledge of Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) and/or Annual Plan processes.
Experience in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry.
Experience with SAP and iFinance reporting systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on communication, presentation, and stakeholder management, coupled with the ability to simplify complex information, aligns with the soft skills highly valued in senior design roles where presenting research, concepts, and data-driven decisions is critical. While the technical skills are finance-specific, the behavioral and communication requirements are transferable.

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

While this is not a design role requiring a traditional visual portfolio, demonstrating the ability to present complex financial information clearly and compellingly is crucial. Candidates should be prepared to showcase their ability to:

Portfolio Essentials:

Present case studies of how their financial analysis and business partnering influenced strategic decisions and drove performance improvements.
Demonstrate the ability to model financial scenarios and present the findings to diverse audiences.
Showcase examples of presentations or reports that effectively communicated complex financial data and insights.
Highlight instances where their analytical skills led to identifying new business opportunities or optimizing existing operations.

Process Documentation:

Discuss their process for conducting financial analysis, from data gathering and validation to insight generation and recommendation.
Explain their approach to evaluating new business opportunities, including financial modelling and risk assessment.
Describe their methodology for managing working capital and implementing financial controls.

📝 Enhancement Note: Although this is a finance role, the "Portfolio & Creative Requirements" section has been adapted to focus on the demonstration of analytical, presentation, and business partnering skills through financial case studies and process discussions, aligning with the need for candidates to showcase their capabilities in a structured manner, similar to how designers present their work.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The salary range for a UI CD Finance Manager in Singapore with 5-10 years of experience at a large multinational like Unilever is estimated to be between S$7,000 and S$12,000 per month (approximately S$84,000 to S$144,000 per annum). This estimate is based on publicly available salary data for finance manager roles of similar seniority and responsibility in Singapore, taking into account the cost of living and market rates for experienced finance professionals in the FMCG sector. Actual compensation may vary based on specific experience, qualifications, and negotiation. Singapore has a relatively high cost of living, which is reflected in the salary expectations for professional roles.

Benefits:

Comprehensive health and wellness programs, including medical and dental coverage.
Retirement savings plans or provident fund contributions.
Paid time off, including vacation and sick leave.
Opportunities for professional development and training, including access to internal and external learning resources.
Potential for performance-based bonuses or incentives.
Employee assistance programs.
Potential for travel opportunities given the global nature of Unilever International.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours, typically 40 hours per week. Flexibility may be required during peak periods like month-end closing, forecasting, and annual planning cycles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on research into finance manager salaries in Singapore for multinational corporations, adjusted for the specified experience level and the FMCG industry. The benefits listed are common for large companies like Unilever in Singapore and are presented as likely offerings, though specific details should be confirmed.

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG). Unilever operates in a highly competitive global market, requiring agile decision-making and strong financial stewardship to maintain profitability and market share. While not a design-centric company in its core business model, design plays a crucial role in packaging, branding, and user experience for their vast product portfolio.

Company Size: 10,001+ employees globally. Unilever is a very large multinational corporation, meaning this role operates within a complex organizational structure with established processes and a global reach. For finance professionals, this offers exposure to large-scale financial operations and diverse business models. For design, this scale means working with established brand guidelines and potentially contributing to global design systems.

Founded: 1872. With a long history, Unilever has a well-established corporate culture and operates across numerous mature and emerging markets.

Team Structure:

The role is part of the Unilever International (UI) Finance team, specifically supporting the Global Institutional Customers (GIC), GIN, and Scoot units.
Will work closely with Business Development Teams, UI Global Finance, FET, SCF, Controllers, UI CD OPS, Supply Chain, Procurement, Marketing, Digital & Analytics teams.
Interacts with Uniops and BPO partners.

Methodology:

Likely follows established corporate financial planning and analysis (FP&A) methodologies.
Employs standard accounting principles and financial reporting frameworks.
Utilizes business partnering models to integrate finance with commercial operations.

Company Website: http://www.unilever.com

📝 Enhancement Note: While the core business is FMCG, the mention of design's role in packaging and branding acknowledges the relevance of creative functions within the larger organization, albeit not the primary focus of this specific finance role. The large company size and matrixed structure imply a need for strong collaboration and communication skills across diverse teams.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: This role is positioned at a Manager level within the Finance function. It signifies a position of significant responsibility, requiring independent decision-making, leadership potential (indicated by the line management experience mention), and the ability to influence business outcomes through financial expertise. In a design context, this level would be comparable to a Senior Designer or Design Lead.

Reporting Structure: The role reports to a higher-level finance leader within the Unilever International structure. The need to develop close working relationships with the Global UI Finance team and share best practices suggests a collaborative and knowledge-sharing environment.

Design Impact: While not directly involved in design creation, this role's financial analysis and business partnering directly impact the profitability and strategic direction of the GIC, GIN, and Scoot business units. Decisions influenced by this role could affect product mix, pricing, market entry strategies, and overall investment in different channels, indirectly impacting the success and reach of products with specific design characteristics.

Growth Opportunities:

Potential for advancement to Senior Finance Manager roles within Unilever International or other business units within Unilever.
Opportunities to specialize in specific areas of finance, such as supply chain finance, commercial finance, or financial planning and analysis.
Exposure to global business operations, providing a broad understanding of international markets and financial practices.
Development of leadership and team management skills, preparing for future leadership roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The career analysis focuses on the growth trajectory within the finance function at a large multinational. The "Design Impact" section draws a connection, albeit indirect, between the finance role and the business outcomes that design contributes to, highlighting the interconnectedness of functions in a large organization.

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: Corporate Office. The role is based at the Unilever Campus in Singapore.

Office Location(s): Unilever Campus, Singapore.

Design Workspace Context:

Working in a corporate office environment, likely with dedicated workspace and access to standard office amenities.
Opportunities for collaboration with a diverse range of colleagues from different functions and potentially different cultures.
Access to corporate IT infrastructure and communication tools.

Work Schedule: Full-time, on-site role with standard business hours. The on-site nature facilitates close collaboration with the business teams and other finance colleagues based at the Singapore hub.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment description is based on the provided location and the nature of a corporate finance role within a large company. While not a creative studio environment, the emphasis on collaboration is relevant to teamwork in any professional setting.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process: While the specific steps are not detailed, a typical interview process for a finance manager role at Unilever would likely involve:

Initial screening call with HR to assess basic qualifications and fit.
Interviews with key stakeholders, including the hiring manager and potentially business leads or other finance team members. These interviews may involve behavioral questions, technical finance questions, and discussions about past experience and relevant case studies.
Potential for a case study or presentation exercise to assess analytical and presentation skills.
Final interview(s) with senior leadership.

Portfolio Review Tips: While not a design portfolio, be prepared to discuss and present examples of your financial analysis, business partnering initiatives, and contributions to strategic decisions. Structure these examples as case studies, highlighting the problem, your approach, the tools used, and the impact of your work on business outcomes. Focus on demonstrating your analytical rigor, communication skills, and ability to influence. Prepare to articulate your process for tackling complex financial challenges and evaluating new business opportunities.

Challenge Preparation: If a case study or presentation is part of the process, it will likely involve analyzing a business scenario with financial implications, developing recommendations, and presenting your findings clearly and concisely. Practice structuring your analysis, using relevant financial metrics, and communicating your insights effectively to a non-finance audience. Be prepared to defend your assumptions and recommendations.

ATS Keywords: Finance Manager, Commercial Finance, Business Partnering, Performance Management, Financial Analysis, Forecasting, Budgeting, P&L Management, Working Capital, Debtors Management, Financial Controls, SOX Compliance, SAP, iFinance, Stakeholder Management, Communication, Presentation, Analytical Skills, Decision Support, Strategy, New Business Development, FMCG, Singapore, Global Finance, S&OP, Annual Plan, Team Leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application and interview process description is based on standard corporate hiring practices for finance roles at the manager level, adapting the "portfolio review" concept to the presentation of financial case studies and the "challenge preparation" to typical finance case study exercises. The ATS keywords are derived directly from the job description and common finance terminology.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools: While this is not a design role, proficiency in certain financial and analytical tools is essential:

SAP: Unilever operates on SAP instances globally, so working knowledge of SAP for financial data extraction and analysis is likely required.
iFinance: This is mentioned as Unilever's internal reporting system, so familiarity with this platform for performance reporting is crucial.
Microsoft Excel: Advanced proficiency in Excel for financial modelling, data analysis, and reporting is fundamental.

Collaboration & Handoff:

Microsoft PowerPoint: Essential for creating presentations to communicate financial insights and recommendations to business teams and leadership.
Email and Instant Messaging: Standard corporate tools for daily communication and collaboration.

Research & Testing:

Internal Financial Databases and Reporting Systems: Used for accessing and analyzing financial data.
Potentially Business Intelligence Tools: Depending on the team's setup, tools like Power BI or Tableau might be used for data visualization and analysis.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Tools & Technology Stack" section has been tailored to list the financial and analytical tools relevant to this specific finance role at Unilever, based on the job description's mentions of SAP and iFinance.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values: While specific design values are not detailed for this finance role, the broader Unilever values and the description of the desired candidate (excellent engagement, communication, ability to manage stakeholders, drive change) suggest a culture that values:

Collaboration: The need to work closely with diverse teams indicates a collaborative environment.
Accountability: Holding others accountable for performance is a key aspect of the role.
Proactiveness and Ownership: The ability to own and drive the change agenda suggests a culture that encourages initiative.
Simplicity: The ability to make the complex simple is valued for effective communication and decision-making.

Collaboration Style:

Likely a matrixed collaboration style given the interactions across various finance teams, business units, and global hubs.
Emphasis on clear and effective communication to align stakeholders and drive consensus.
Focus on sharing best practices across the UI finance team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Design Values" and "Collaboration Style" sections infer cultural aspects based on the required skills and interactions described in the job posting, aligning them with broader professional values and collaborative approaches common in large organizations.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges: While not design-specific challenges, a finance professional in this role may face:

Managing financial performance across diverse and geographically dispersed business units (GIC, GIN, Scoot).
Navigating the complexity of financial data residing across multiple SAP instances and reporting BUs.
Effectively partnering with non-finance stakeholders and influencing decisions through financial insights.
Staying updated on evolving accounting standards, financial regulations, and internal control requirements.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Deepening expertise in commercial finance, supply chain finance, and financial planning & analysis within the FMCG sector.
Gaining experience in evaluating and integrating new business models and projects.
Developing leadership and team management skills through potential line management responsibilities.
Exposure to global finance operations and best practices within a leading multinational corporation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are identified based on the complexities mentioned in the job description, such as managing diverse business units and data across multiple systems. The growth opportunities are aligned with the potential career progression and skill development inherent in a role of this nature within a large organization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions: While not design process questions, be prepared for questions about your financial process and methodology, such as:

Describe your process for conducting financial analysis and generating actionable insights. Be ready to provide examples from your past experience.
How do you approach evaluating the financial viability of a new business opportunity? What key metrics and considerations do you focus on?
Explain your methodology for managing working capital and ensuring efficient debtors management.

Company Culture Questions: Prepare to discuss your approach to:

Building strong working relationships and partnering effectively with non-finance stakeholders. Provide examples of successful collaborations.
Managing complex stakeholder relationships and holding others accountable.
Operating in a large, matrixed organization and navigating different team dynamics.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy: As mentioned earlier, prepare to present case studies of your financial work. Focus on showcasing your analytical skills, problem-solving approach, and ability to translate financial data into business impact. Structure your case studies clearly, highlighting the context, the challenge, your analysis, your recommendations, and the results. Be prepared to discuss the tools and methodologies you used. Practice presenting your case studies concisely and engagingly, anticipating questions from interviewers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation section adapts the typical design interview structure to the context of a finance role, focusing on questions related to financial processes, business partnering, and cultural fit within a large organization. The "portfolio presentation strategy" is tailored to the presentation of financial case studies.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this design position:

Submit your application through this link
Prepare to discuss your experience in financial analysis, business partnering, and managing P&L, using specific examples and case studies from your career.
Tailor your resume to highlight relevant finance skills, experience in a multinational environment, and any exposure to the FMCG sector, incorporating relevant keywords.
Research Unilever International, the GIC, GIN, and Scoot business units, and the broader Unilever organization to demonstrate your understanding of the business context and potential challenges.
Be prepared to discuss your experience with financial systems like SAP and reporting tools, if applicable.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and design industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

UI CD Finance Manager – GIC, GIN & Scoot