Commercial Business Analyst (KZN: Durban/Umhlanga)

Objectives of the Role

This role sits at the intersection of finance, operations, and technology, with a primary focus on analysing financial and operational data, identifying performance trends, and enabling improved operational outcomes.

The successful candidate will work closely with senior stakeholders, commercial teams, and operational leaders to translate complex data into clear insights, business cases, and actionable recommendations.

Assist with developing and implementing financial models and supporting business information systems across all departments

Provide accurate and reliable financial, commercial and operational reports and information to the Executive Heads, interpret and provide commentary on such information and recommend further courses of action where appropriate.

1. Key Responsibilities:
Commercial & Financial Analysis

• Analyse group-wide financial and operational performance to identify trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and performance monitoring processes in collaboration with finance leadership.
• Develop and maintain commercial models, dashboards, and management reports.
• Evaluate pricing structures, cost drivers, margins, and return on investment across products, services, and projects.
• Support the development of business cases for new initiatives, investments, and system enhancements.
• Develop and implement best practices and tools to ensure a well-controlled yet flexible organisation that has strong fiscal management, project coordination, cross-team communications and workflows.
• Comply financial requirements by studying existing and new legislation and taking appropriate action
• Research revenue opportunities and economic trends, analyse internal operations, and identify areas for cost reduction and process enhancement
• Monitor business performance with tracking tools, establish corrective measures as needed, and prepare detailed reports for risk mitigation and profit optimization

Business & Process Analysis

• Analyse and document existing business processes, systems, and workflows across multiple business units.
• Develop and implement detailed operational manual, standard operating procedures (SOP’s), workflows, etc.
• Facilitate workshops across all with finance, operations, and commercial stakeholders to gather requirements.
• Identify inefficiencies and design improved processes that enhance financial control, reporting accuracy, and scalability.
• Map end-to-end processes and user journeys, ensuring alignment between all business pillars.
• Provide financial reporting and analysis and prepare relevant statistics and financial models in order to; reduce costs, improve financial performance and improve operational efficiencies.
• Assemble and summarise Customer and Supplier data into structured reports to assess the financial status and associated risks, in order to facilitate decisions and actions required by the company.
• Reconcile transactions of the various databases by comparing and correcting data and carry out periodic reviews to ensure that databases align with supplier billings and customer sales.

Systems & Data Enablement

• Translate commercial and finance requirements into clear business and functional specifications.
• Collaborate with technology and data teams to ensure systems support accurate financial reporting and insight.
• Assist with testing, validation, and user acceptance to ensure solutions meet business operational and finance requirements.
• Support the implementation of reporting, analytics, and automation tools that improve visibility and decision-making (SCM, SOF Analysis, Forecasts, etc.).
• Maintain, review and update operational reporting models (i.e., BOM templates and pipeline templates, etc.) based on changing business needs, to enable all departments to create accurate and efficient output, pricing models and reports.
• Maintain structured and consistent data formats to enable constant syncing between databases to ensure accurate and consistent data output.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as a key liaison between finance, commercial, operations, and technology teams.
• Present insights, findings, and recommendations to senior and executive stakeholders.
• Provide training and support to ensure adoption of new processes, tools, and reporting frameworks.
• Stay up to date with best practices in commercial analysis, financial reporting, and business intelligence.

2. Necessary Skills/Qualifications:

• 4+ years of proven work experience in a Commercial Analyst, Financial Analyst, Business Analyst, or similar role.
• Experience within the ICT/Telecommunications Industry is advantageous.
• Strong exposure to financial analysis, commercial modelling, and performance reporting.
• Experience working in group or multi-entity environments is advantageous.
• Exposure to technology-enabled or data-driven organisations.
• Proven knowledge of financial forecasting and diagnosis, corporate finance and information analysis.
• In-depth understanding of general accounting principles and procedures, and business and administrative practices.
• Advanced experience in Microsoft Excel, or other data analytics tools.
• Degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Information Systems, or a related discipline.
• Postgraduate qualification or commercial/financial certifications will be advantageous.

3. Personal Skills/Competencies Required:

• Strong analytical skills and demonstrated ability to understand complex Finance and Commercial concepts.
• Structured, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities.
• Comfortable working across finance, operations, and technology teams.
• Outstanding presentation, reporting and communication skills.
• Extensive understanding of financial trends both within the company and general market patterns.
• Ability to analyse complex data and translate it into practical business insight.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Planning and organising.
• Effective and efficient time management.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, technical and numerical abilities.
• Strong decision-making, interpersonal, communication and presentation skills.
• Work both individually and as part of a team where appropriate.
• Be willing to carry out or assist with such tasks as may be required to achieve deliverables, or as reasonably requested by a member of Borwood.
• Regularly familiarise yourself with Borwood’s portfolio of Products and Services, Customers, Suppliers and Internal Procedures.

4. Notice:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the individual assigned to this position. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required and staff may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibility from time to time, as needed.