Senior Specialist: Finance Business Partner

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Role Purpose/Business Unit:

The role is a financial management and control role requiring a candidate to work with data, engineering it for insights on performance, variance analysis and the identification of exposures, proactively managing cost containment.

To provide the Technology Business Unit with financial planning and analysis support to ensure effective short- and long-term planning as well as detailed financial analysis to meet Technology’s business objectives and cost strategies.

The role will be specifically responsible for:

• Development 
• Implementation 
• Support, maintenance / interrogation, recalibration and
• Integration with Finance Ops/Business Intelligence / SCM

of the planning and analysis framework (reports, models, benchmarks) for all Network Operations cost categories, largely responsible for Leases & Rentals and Electricity portfolio.  The Finance Business partner is also required to enhance value creation by challenging and assisting business unit heads with insightful analysis as well as co-ordinated financial planning.

The Senior Specialist (SS) works very closely with Network Operations, Finance Operations, and Finance BI teams to convert data into valuable insights for decision-making. Responsibilities include delivering timely, accurate monthly reports, variance analysis, and forecasts to support financial planning. 

Operational, financial, and other data will need to be used to create detailed financial models, which show:

• Historical performance for the purpose of analysis/insights and performance management
• Scenario planning and forecasts for the purpose of planning and exploring options
• Insights supporting strategic negotiations.

A successful candidate in this role must understand how data is turned into information and knowledge and how the knowledge supports and enables key business processes and overall strategy. Through this understanding, the candidate will be expected to discover insights and identify opportunities. They must develop an in-depth understanding of Network Operations  business environment and have strong analytical and communication skills. Individuals must work well within a team environment and proactively solve problems.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Supporting the Executive Head of Finance in managing the required portfolio consisting of monthly variance analysis and commentary, budget development, budgetary control, forecasting, financial modelling, and the development, design and implementation of systems and controls, financial policies, and procedures:
  • Prepare, analyse, monitor, and report financial information including budgets, expenditure, forecasts and cost control.
  • Identify and report on expenditure, budget and variations as well as implementing monitoring processes to provide for effective budget and cost management.

• Quarterly Financial Forecasts
  • Coordinate inputs and models for all cost lines that feed into financial forecasts.
  • Understand sensitivity drivers and model impact on forecasts.

• Annual OPEX Budgets & Long-Range Plans (LRP) for Officer Network Operations
  • Coordinate cost model inputs into annual OPEX Budget process,
  • Develop and update cost models supporting the Budget planning model,
  • Deliver detailed baseline analysis, waterfall analysis of cost trends (reporting)

• Reporting
  • Monthly OPEX reporting – develop reports showing performance (vs budgets and forecasts) per cost category per business unit / geographical region.

• Business partnering focus - establishing strong relationships with business teams by working closely with the business to ensure full awareness of the status and issues around costs and pro-actively assist business as needed.  

Typical Activities: 

• Analyses data and share insights assisting the FBP -  Managing Executive, Executive Head and Network Operations Managing Executive driving efficiency and cost reduction
• Works with the BI and RPA Analysts during implementation of automation and process streamlining, gathering additional information where needed and keeping the business informed
• Designs and implements financial models using best practices
• Implements tools and frameworks for automating report generation
• Explores the data and discovers patterns, meaningful relationships, anomalies, and trends to inform decisions 

Typical Outputs: 

• Dedicated Business partner
• Deep insights into monthly variances and commentary
• Quarterly Forecasts delivered on time and according to expected outcomes.
• Provide accurate and up-to date financial models and analysis to support business strategies
• Deliver annual OPEX Budget for BU’s on time and accurately, quantify emerging risks and opportunities
• LRP forecasting for BU

The ideal candidate for this role will have:

• Bachelor of Commerce in Finance, Accounting, CIMA or equivalent
• Very strong S16 knowledge and SAP skills (in-dept understanding to apply S16 for negotiation purposes)
• Strong analytical skills
• Highly attentive to detail and accuracy
• Knowledge of the industry
• Compelling communication skills
• Solid and demonstrable commercial acumen
• Multiple stakeholder management ability
• Experience in Budgeting and Forecasting
• Experience in financial and business information analysis
• Advanced skills in excel, word, SAP and PowerPoint
• Experience in financial modelling

Core competencies, knowledge, and experience:

• Analysing and accuracy
• Deciding and Initiating Action
• Planning and Organising
• Persuading and Influencing
• Delivering Results and Meeting Customer Expectations
• Writing and Reporting
• Adapting and Responding to Change
• Coping with Pressures and Setbacks
• Presenting and Communicating Information
• Relating and Networking
• Applying Expertise and Technology
• Leading and Supervising
• Working with People
• Adhering to Principles and Values
• Formulating Strategies and Concepts
• Learning and Researching
• Adapting and Responding to Change
• Achieving Personal Work Goals and Objectives
• Creating and Innovating
• Entrepreneurial and Commercial Thinking
• Following Instructions and Procedures

We make an impact by offering:

• Enticing incentive programs and competitive benefit packages
• Retirement funds, risk benefits, and medical aid benefits
• Cell phone and data benefits, advantages fibre connection discounts, and exclusive staff discounts offered in collaboration with partner companies

Closing date for Applications: 26 March 2026 

The base location for this role is Midrand, Vodacom Campus     

The company's approved Employment Equity Plan and Targets will be considered as part of the recruitment process. As an Equal Opportunities employer, we actively encourage and welcome people with various disabilities to apply.
Vodacom is committed to an organisational culture that recognises, appreciates, and values diversity & inclusion.