Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Hobbies and Interests
Timeline
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James Watson

Green Bay,Auckland

Summary

Adept at steering financial strategies for high-stakes portfolios, I elevated Goodman Fielder NZ's Domestic Dairy/RFS channels, achieving significant margin growth. My leadership and strategic thinking not only fostered team autonomy but also secured pivotal negotiations, exemplifying my capability in financial planning and stakeholder management.

Overview

19
19
years of professional experience

Work History

Senior Commercial Finance Manager: Domestic Dairy/RFS

Goodman Fielder NZ
10.2023 - Current
  • My key responsibility is to drive better commercial performance of the Domestic Dairy portfolio across all Sales Channels with $400m turnover and the RFS (Route Foodservice) sales channel as a whole
  • Holding Sales and Marketing leaders accountable for their targets, pushing for better outcomes with customer negotiations on price tenders and ranging and partnering with the Finance Lead Team (FLT) to capitalize on opportunities to improve efficiency and get cost savings across a large manufacturing footprint
  • Delivering on our commitments to the business is critical around growth and margin and also engaging with the Executive team to get alignment on investment strategies in DMI, resourcing and Capex
  • Leading, supporting and mentoring a team of 2 individuals as direct reports, and the wider Commercial Finance team, to create an environment where team members have full autonomy to contribute to business results by agitating and business partnering with the wider business
  • For the past 18 months I have been a key part of the Finance Leadership Team (FLT) contributing on a weekly basis to work towards our in-year goals and long-term strategic planning
  • Focusing on individual growth and development plans for my team so they are prepared for career advancement, whether within the organization, or externally as well
  • This is Us award for 'We keep things simple' for supporting the Woolworths sales team in their negotiations for Milk price increases in 2024
  • Close partnering with FSNI to land successful CPT negotiations across multiple Dairy categories
  • Close partnering with FSNI to land successful ranging negotiation for 3rd SKU of Yoplait Vigueur range
  • Close partnering with Woolworths sales team to progress 5 year Private Label Milk contract negotiations including face-to-face meetings with the customer
  • Working alongside Foodservice Lead team to embed a clearer commercial mindset for Product Partners and how we can price competitively in market while maintaining an acceptable return internally
  • Drove better discipline for tender and contract negotiations in RFS National Accounts with clear guardrails for financial metrics CBM and EBIT and helping the team understand the bigger picture financially

Senior Commercial Finance Manager: RFS

Goodman Fielder NZ
09.2022 - 09.2023
  • My key responsibility was to drive better commercial performance of the RFS sales channel as a whole
  • Holding Sales and Marketing leaders accountable for their targets, pushing for better outcomes with customer negotiations on price tenders and ranging

Commercial Finance Manager: Off & On Premise

Asahi Beverages NZ (ABNZ)
06.2021 - 08.2022
  • I was responsible for business partnering the Sales Channel managers for the Off & On Premise licensed channels domestically in NZ with turnover of $450m
  • Ensuring the delivery of sales budgets and the optimal execution of strategic pricing and promotions in the market across the categories of Beer, RTDs, Spirits, Cider and Wine are my main KPI’s, whilst staying within trade spend guard rails
  • My key responsibility was to commercially partner the Channel managers for Off & On Premise by supporting them to critically assess their profitability, volume and price mix across all sku’s, brands and categories and model up and execute opportunities to improve and optimise their sales plans to achieve their budget targets
  • For On Premise the critical role for me has been assessing the risk and impact of Covid-19 on different hospitality businesses
  • Deciding the level of support they need, such as extended credit terms and returning all expired stock while closed for a full credit has been a constant balancing act to ensure we are fair and reasonable and also outperform our competitors when the market opens up again fully
  • Allocation of resources to the correct priorities is my key role here
  • Coaching my team to effectively partner Sales KAMs and BDMs to ensure they get the analytical and administrative support they need to service their customers to a high standard
  • Making sure my team can operate with a certain level of autonomy allows me to concentrate on delivering targets with the channel managers
  • Monthly Sales results & forecast rhythm: responsible for commenting on results, forecast variances and risk & opp’s in partnership with Channel managers
  • Trade Spend management: forecasting, modelling deal ROI’s, accrual management and month end reporting

Commercial Finance Manager: Grocery

Asahi Beverages NZ (ABNZ)
09.2017 - 05.2021
  • Key responsibilities similar to current role at Asahi
  • Business partnering the Sales Channel manager to achieved budget targets
  • Trading Terms negotiations – Foodstuffs North Island Project Leaf and centralised Coop
  • Monthly Sales results & forecast rhythm: responsible for commenting on results, forecast variances and risk & opp’s in partnership with the Channel manager
  • Trade Spend management: forecasting, modelling deal ROI’s, accrual management and month end reporting

Senior Commercial Analyst

Coca-Cola Amatil NZ
04.2015 - 08.2017

Commercial Analyst

Arnott’s Campbells NZ
12.2012 - 03.2015

Financial Accountant

Campbell Arnott’s NZ
11.2008 - 12.2012

Assistant Accountant

Campbell Arnott’s NZ
09.2006 - 11.2008

Accounts Administrator

NZ Herald / APN
11.2005 - 09.2006

Education

CPA -

01.2014

B.COM - Management & Employment Relations

The University of Auckland
01.2003

Skills

  • Business partnering
  • Team leadership
  • Strategic thinking
  • Stakeholder management
  • Coaching and training
  • Portfolio management
  • KPI management
  • Financial planning

Hobbies and Interests

  • Mountain biking
  • Running
  • Surfing
  • Reading
  • Camping
  • Current affairs
  • Travelling
  • Watching live sport

Timeline

Senior Commercial Finance Manager: Domestic Dairy/RFS

Goodman Fielder NZ
10.2023 - Current

Senior Commercial Finance Manager: RFS

Goodman Fielder NZ
09.2022 - 09.2023

Commercial Finance Manager: Off & On Premise

Asahi Beverages NZ (ABNZ)
06.2021 - 08.2022

Commercial Finance Manager: Grocery

Asahi Beverages NZ (ABNZ)
09.2017 - 05.2021

Senior Commercial Analyst

Coca-Cola Amatil NZ
04.2015 - 08.2017

Commercial Analyst

Arnott’s Campbells NZ
12.2012 - 03.2015

Financial Accountant

Campbell Arnott’s NZ
11.2008 - 12.2012

Assistant Accountant

Campbell Arnott’s NZ
09.2006 - 11.2008

Accounts Administrator

NZ Herald / APN
11.2005 - 09.2006

CPA -

B.COM - Management & Employment Relations

The University of Auckland

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