Manager

Ornua is a leading dairy co-operative which sells premium dairy products globally on behalf of its Member Co-operatives, Ireland’s dairy processors and, in turn, Irish dairy farmers. 

Ornua has revenues of €3.4 billion and is supported by a global team of approximately 2,800 employees. The Group operates as a commercial organisation across 10 business units, including 12 production facilities located in Europe, North America, the Middle East and Africa. 

The commercial organisation is responsible for the marketing and sales of Ornua’s consumer brands including Ireland’s most successful food export: Kerrygold. Consumer markets are served by production facilities in Ireland, Germany and the UK and by in-market Sales & Marketing Teams in Asia, Germany, Ireland, MEA, Poland, Spain, rest of Europe and North and Latin America. 

It also manages the procurement of Irish and non-Irish dairy products, the sale of dairy ingredients to food manufacturing and foodservice customers globally, and the implementation of de-risking and trading strategies to manage market volatility. These activities are supported by production facilities and in-market teams in Europe, North America, the Middle East and Africa. 

WHY THIS ROLE IS VALUABLE: 

For Emerging Markets (OEM) business across the Middle East & Africa (MEA) and China, the Finance Director will lead financial strategy, planning, and operations across a diverse portfolio of markets in the Food Service and FMCG sectors. This pivotal role will drive financial performance, ensure compliance, support go-to-market strategies and support strategic decision-making to enable sustainable growth in emerging markets.

In this role, FD will provide world-class financial leadership and commercial insight, ensuring we make the best strategic choices and are equipped with industry-leading management information to drive operational and financial performance.

This role also includes financial oversight of regional manufacturing sites (in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia), ensuring financial efficiency, cost control, and compliance across these sites.

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:

Strategic Leadership

• Drive Regional Financial Strategy: Develop and execute a robust financial strategy aligned with the company’s long-term vision, tailored to the unique dynamics of MEA and China emerging market.
• Market Expansion & Investment Planning: Lead financial due diligence and scenario modelling for new market entries and joint ventures across the region.
• Provide financial insights to support investment decisions, pricing strategies, and market expansion.
• Lead financial planning, forecasting, and budgeting processes for commercial and manufacturing operations.

Business Partnering

• Act as a trusted advisor to the Regional Managing Director presenting clear, data-backed recommendations to influence strategic decisions.
• Provide financial insights to support pricing, margin analysis, and strategic initiatives.
• Collaborate with commercial and operational leaders to align financial goals with business objectives.

Go-to-Market Strategy Support:

• Collaborate with commercial and marketing teams to evaluate and optimize GTM strategies across diverse MEA and Chinese markets.
• Analyze market entry opportunities, channel profitability, and route-to-market models.
• Support trade spend optimization, promotional ROI analysis, and customer segmentation strategies.
• Drive financial modeling for new product launches, partnerships, and distribution agreements.
• Ensure alignment of financial KPIs with GTM execution plans and commercial scorecards.

Financial Operations & Control 

• Ensure accurate financial reporting and compliance across all MEA entities and manufacturing sites.
• Manage cash flow, working capital, and treasury functions regionally.
• Maintain strong internal controls and ensure adherence to IFRS and local GAAP

Team Leadership

• Build and mentor high-performing finance teams across the region (based in Dubai, Port Elizabeth, Lagos, Riyadh and Shanghai)
• Foster a culture of integrity, collaboration, and innovation.
• Play a key role in Ornua’s Diversity and Inclusion Policy
• Promote a dynamic & energised culture of commercial curiosity, continuous improvement and cross-functional collaboration
• Role model collaboration both within the business unit and across the Group Financial teams to drive best practice and positive relationships

Governance & Compliance: 

• Ensure compliance with local and international financial regulations and internal policies.
• Ensure compliance with all Ornua Group Policies and ways of working
• Liaise with auditors (external and internal ) , tax advisors, and regulatory bodies across MEA jurisdictions.

Other  

• Oversee financial performance of manufacturing sites, including cost accounting, inventory valuation, and production efficiency. Partner with plant managers and supply chain teams to drive cost optimization and capital investment planning.
• Capital Allocation & ROI Optimization: Oversee capital investment decisions, ensuring optimal allocation of resources to high-return initiatives, including manufacturing, distribution projects.
• Risk Management & Resilience Planning: Identify and mitigate financial and operational risks, including currency volatility, regulatory changes, and geopolitical factors affecting MEA markets.
• Sustainability & ESG Integration: Embed financial sustainability and ESG considerations into strategic planning and reporting frameworks, aligning with Ornua standards and regional expectations.

KEY REQUIREMENTS: 

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• 10+ years of finance leadership experience in FMCG or Food Service, including manufacturing finance
• Currently leading a high performing Finance team
• Proven track record as a Finance Director or equivalent level in emerging markets, preferably across Middle East, Africa and China
• Demonstrated success in supporting market entry strategies, scaling operations, and optimizing financial performance in complex, high-growth environments.
• Strong experience in financial modelling, forecasting, commercial finance, and GTM strategy support.
• Strong commercial acumen and strategic thinking.
• Proficiency in ERP and financial systems (e.g. M3, Power BI).
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Collaborative team player who works well with peers and key stakeholders

Key Attributes:

• Strategic thinker with strong business acumen.
• Results-driven with a hands-on approach.
• Ability to manage complexity and ambiguity in dynamic markets.
• Strong leadership and team development capabilities.
• High integrity and commitment to ethical standards
• Highly analytical, systems-savvy, and passionate about unlocking value through data and insight

ORNUA COMPETENCIES: 

• Ownership
• Working Together
• Customer Focus
• Integrity

Accessibility at Ornua

Ornua is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible workplace. We will make every effort to provide for any reasonable accessibility needs you may have during your employment with us. If you require accommodations at any stage of the recruitment process or in your role, please let us know — we’re here to support you.

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: Sunday 7th December