Sales Finance Specialist
Job Summary
The Sales Finance Specialist plays a critical role in supporting commercial and sales operations by managing trade claims, deductions, accruals, and trade spend analysis. This role partners closely with Sales, Commercial Planning, and Finance teams to ensure accurate financial reporting, timely claim processing, and clear insights into trade spend movements. The position is ideal for a finance professional with strong analytical skills and exposure to FMCG or customer operations.
A Day in the Life
As a Sales Finance Specialist, you will
* Manage and process customer trade claims and deductions with accuracy and timeliness, ensuring adherence to agreed service levels
* Set up and monitor long-term trade activities in trade systems, ensuring correct configuration and minimal over/under-accruals
* Review and validate trade accruals, performing regular checks to ensure completeness and accuracy
* Analyze and provide commentary on trade spend movements versus targets, supporting forecast and performance discussions
* Investigate and resolve disputed trade claims in coordination with Sales and Customer teams, minimizing aged or outstanding items
* Use data from multiple sources (e.g., customer data, scan data, internal reports) to validate claims and challenge discrepancies
* Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders including Sales, Commercial Planning, Business Excellence, and Finance teams
* Support continuous improvement initiatives by identifying gaps in processes, data quality, and reporting
Qualifications / What Will Make You Successful
To succeed in this role, you will have
* A degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Marketing, Sales, or a related discipline
* Experience or exposure to Sales Finance, Trade Spend, Customer Operations, or Commercial Finance roles
* Background in FMCG or a fast-paced commercial environment (preferred)
* Strong understanding of promotional activities, customer dynamics, and category performance
* Solid analytical skills with the ability to interpret, question, and explain financial and commercial data
* Experience working with multiple stakeholders across Sales, Finance, and Operations
* High attention to detail, strong time management skills, and the ability to meet tight deadlines
* Proficiency in business systems and financial tools, with the ability to quickly learn new systems
* Strong communication skills and confidence in explaining financial insights to non-finance partners
* A proactive mindset, strong work ethic, and alignment with company values and integrity standards