Finance Business Partner (Field Crops)

Syngenta Seeds is one of the world’s largest developers and producers of seed for farmers, commercial growers, retailers and small seed companies. Syngenta seeds improve the quality and yields of crops. High-quality seeds ensure better and more productive crops, which is why farmers invest in them. Advanced seeds help mitigate risks such as disease and drought and allow farmers to grow food using less land, less water and fewer inputs.

Syngenta Seeds brings farmers more vigorous, stronger, resistant plants, including innovative hybrid varieties and biotech crops that can thrive even in challenging growing conditions.

Syngenta Seeds is headquartered in the United States.

Role purpose

• Be a trusted partner to SE FC Country head and Country FCLT drive strategy and delivery of financial targets
• Full accountability to manage P&L and deliver financial targets for respective country
• Active participation in the development and implementation of the relevant operational plans (commercial policy, 3–5-year business plan) to ensure clarity of the financial impact, including support of evaluation of new businesses and models
• Provide management with sound risk-based analysis on potential impacts, implications and propose potential ways to mitigate risks on key economic and commercial exposures.
• Drive productivity and simplification in finance and related business processes in the relevant functional/business scope
• Support / lead as appropriate strategic initiatives and projects in the respective Country or beyond assigned Country depending on the business needs

Accountabilities

• P&L accountability for the Business Area(s); drive actions to support stronger cash-flow generation for the company, including optimization of working capital
• Lead financial processes across P&L scope connecting with various stakeholders
  • P&L and WC management
  • BPR updates, Latest Outlook and Risks & Opportunities management
  • Coordinate planning cycle: sales and GP forecast, S&OP preparation
  • Lead the annual budget preparation process
  • 3-5YP preparation and strategy co-creation with Country FCLT
• Co-create and review commercial terms and policies (price model, i.e. discounts / rebates / incentive plans), contracts, support of commercial processes (e.g. Battle Plans, in-season commercial terms tactics) and new business models (financial consideration and frameworks for strategic business projects)
• In collaboration with Finance Operations team ensure proper accounting policies, effective process governance and Control Framework maintained in the area of responsibility
• Member and active contributor to AMEA Seeds FC Finance Team
• Act as a local point of contact as FC business finance for the country (including FC P&S Finance area)

Critical success factors & key challenges

• Ability to apply professional knowledge of accounting and financial reporting in supporting the business
• Ability to handle multiple stakeholders, priorities and deadlines
• Driving use of risk management, financial modelling tools & techniques.
• Strong business acumen and understanding of end-to-end implications of commercial decisions
• Collaboration and agility mindset

Critical knowledge

• Best practices for the development of annual budgets, latest estimates and financial planning
• Excel & SAP knowledge are a must, business intelligence systems an advantage
• Sound knowledge of business and industry drivers
• Effective finance management of a business with full P&L responsibility
• Financial modelling
• Commercial finance experience (commercial terms, pricing, campaign planning)

Critical experience

• A finance professional with 5+ years of experience in different areas of business finance and controlling, ideally with previous P&L accountability
• Exposure to commercial operations
• Experience in working with cross functional teams and ability to work with all levels of the organisation
• Experience in influencing key stakeholders towards adopting and aligning to relevant procedures and tools
• Experience in working with multi-cultural and virtual teams; coordination of work of others without direct reporting line

Critical technical, professional and personal capabilities

• Wide knowledge of finance (financial analysis, investment analysis, valuation analysis, risk management, budgeting / planning).
• Successfully communicate ideas that proactively challenge business.
• High focus and energy with a pragmatic mind set and solution-oriented approach
• Strong collaboration mindset and ability to work in matrix organization
• Technology savvy, drive for digitalization

Critical leadership capabilities

• Customer management: ability to interact and influence at different levels within the organization
• Judgment: provides timely and good decisions that are respected by the business, involves stakeholders to enhance the decision-making process
• Insight generation: brings forward looking mindset to business, generate insights and identify financial impacts

Syngenta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. Learn more about our D&I initiatives here: https://www.syngenta.com/careers/working-syngenta/diversity-and-inclusion