Finance Manager ME&I

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Reimagine What’s Possible 

Finance and Controller, Middle East and India Industrial Gases (“FC”) is responsible for financial decision support to our Middle East and India Industrial Gases business (“IG MEI”), also working with the consolidate JV´s (APQ, BHIG and NGHC) and the non-consolidate JV´s (INOXAP, JIGPC, AHG and AJWAA´s) to integrate and understand their financials. The FC directly supports the Country General Manager of the business and is an active member of the regional leadership team. The IG MEI business is expected to generate approximately $376 million in EBITDA including Equity Affiliate Income on a consolidated basis in FY24. In addition, the incumbent provides operational and commercial analysis, business decision support and financial planning for the IG MEI.

The primary responsibilities are as follows:

• Provide financial support and guidance to the Country General Manager and to the leadership team for the IG MEI business by being involved in all aspects of the business to offer understanding of our financial statements and drive for improved business performance.
• Provide financial support and business advice to the commercial, operations and supply chain organization by providing financial information and participating in decision making reviews.
• Support business strategy development, profitability improvement efforts, customer profitability measures, support capital budgeting, planning efforts and best practice sharing.
• Provide financial results and related commentary for clarity and understanding of all aspects of our business in support of the ME&I President and Director Finance and Controller in MEI as they communicate to the COO and CFO on a monthly and quarterly basis; including but not limited to volume, price and cost performance against prior year, budget and reforecast as well as market dynamics and major impacts on our business.
• Ensure functional independence and appropriate management and financial controls by ensuring compliance with corporate standards.
• Ensuring financial integrity of business decisions by implementing analytical policy and actively participating in reviews of business transactions
• Lead the MEI financial planning process by working closely with the regional analysts and key business managers, specifically around budgeting, forecasts, target setting.
• Liaison with Corporate Decision Support (CDS), Global Accounting (GA) and SBS to ensure effective interaction in the region.
• Active involvement in monitoring, understanding, and reporting for fully consolidated joint venture (e.g. APQ, NGHC) Support other Corporate Request (e.g. Make Good Analysis)
• Trade-off between volume and price
• Hire or subcontract personnel.
• Customers/product portfolio mixture
• Lease-or-buy; CAPEX-OPEX

Nature and Scope

The FC support all gases businesses in the MEI region following the combination of our Packaged Gases, Liquid Bulk, Generated Gases, Tonnage and Helium businesses into IG MEI.  The FC will be responsible for providing the business with key information to be effective in decision making, which will vary by business model. There will be a high focus on understanding our financial statements and driving actions to improve our profitability as well as making sure we are making good investment decisions.  The FC will help drive consistency where beneficial to the region, as well as evaluate impact of new decisions as the business strives to meet local market requirements.

This position reports to the Director Finance and Controller, Middle East & India Industrial Gases. 

The FC is accountable for the following end results:

• Regularly monitor and interpret financial statements of the IG MEI business to increase understanding and provide insight into drivers of our performance.  Play an active “assistant general manager” role by identifying trends and opportunities for performance, controlling risks and assisting in the implementation of action plans.  Also, provide insight and commentary in support of the Regional Management and Controller IG MEI activities as they communicate to the COO and CFO of the company.
• Improve reporting and analysis consistency and capability.  This includes driving the deployment and maintenance of SAP based operational analysis and reporting tools.  Establish analytical and reporting standards for analysts to provide appropriate business support in compliance with corporate policies and procedures.  Support implementation of corporate and segment initiatives such as automated tools, SAP reporting best practices and management reporting.
• Provide leadership for the conduct of project and operational analysis including capital investment, pricing, cost, productivity, and profitability analyses.   
• Organize and review the annual operating plan, capital budgets, forecasts, and strategic plans.
• Support the internal reporting/closing of IGME’s results.
• Participates in the monthly review of results.
• Prepares MEI consolidated budget.
• Ensure IGME process in compliance with Business Decision Support process and AP’s policies (i.e. Being aware of AP’s policies and reporting requirements, raising any watchlist items when necessary)
• Work with Technical Accounting team and highlight any significant transactions, accounting changes where necessary as part of SOX controls.
• Support other Corporate Request that is related to IGME (i.e., Make Good Analysis)
• Active involvement in monitoring, understanding and reporting for fully consolidated joint venture

C.QUALIFICATIONS

• More than 15 years professional experience in the field of Finance with Multinational Companies
• Strong business sense combined with proficiency in project/risk analysis, operational analysis and accounting knowledge as well as the ability to develop and manage a high performing analytical team.
• Possess very strong influencing, interpersonal and leadership skills.
• License CPA, CIA and CFE

We are the world’s largest hydrogen producer with over 80 years of industrial gas experience. We are hydrogen and industrial gas experts delivering safe, end-to-end solutions, investing in real, clean energy projects at scale, and driving the industry forward to generate a cleaner future. 

At Air Products, we work in an environment where we put safety first, diversity is essential, inclusion is our culture, and each person knows they belong and matter. To learn more, visit About Air Products.