TradeSpend Analyst (12-Month Contract)

TradeSpend Analyst (12-Month Contract)

What we do

At Kenvue, we realize the extraordinary power of everyday care. Built on over a century of heritage and rooted in science, we’re the house of iconic brands - including NEUTROGENA®, AVEENO®, TYLENOL®, LISTERINE®, JOHNSON’S® and BAND-AID® that you already know and love. Science is our passion; care is our talent.

Who We Are

Our global team is ~ 22,000 brilliant people with a workplace culture where every voice matters, and every contribution is appreciated.  We are passionate about insights, innovation and committed to delivering the best products to our customers. With expertise and empathy, being a Kenvuer means having the power to impact millions of people every day. We put people first, care fiercely, earn trust with science and solve with courage – and have brilliant opportunities waiting for you! Join us in shaping our future–and yours. For more information, click here.

Role reports to:

Finance Manager

Location:

Europe/Middle East/Africa, South Africa, Gauteng, Johannesburg

Work Location:

Hybrid

What you will do

Role Purpose

The Finance / Trade Spend Assistant is responsible for supporting the accurate accounting, reconciliation, and validation of trade spend. The role ensures that customer trade claims are matched to approved promotional events and accruals, and that customer balances are fully reconciled in line with company controls and financial governance requirements.

Key Responsibilities

1. Trade Spend Matching & Validation

• Match customer trade spend claims (invoices, deductions, or statements) to agreed promotional events & contracts
• Validate claims against supporting documentation (agreements, event mechanics, proof of performance)
• Identify invalid, duplicate, or unsupported claims and escalate for resolution
• Ensure claims are aligned to the correct Long Term Agreement, event number, and accrual period

2. Accrual Reconciliation & Support

• Reconcile trade spend accruals to actual claims and customer deductions
• Highlight under- or over-accruals and recommend adjustments
• Support finance teams in reviewing proposed accrual positions and updates
• Provide clear commentary for audit and control purposes

 

3. Customer Statement Reconciliation

• Perform full reconciliation of customer accounts, including:
• Trade spend balances
• Open claims and deductions
• Payments and outstanding items
• Investigate discrepancies between customer statements and internal records
• Track and resolve aged items or long-outstanding balances

 

4. Controls & Compliance

• Ensure all trade spend activities comply with internal policies and audit requirements
• Maintain supporting documentation for all reconciliations and claim validations
• Ensure clear audit trails for accrual movements, claim approvals, and reclassifications
• Support SOX / internal audit queries where required

• 5. Reporting & Analysis

• Prepare reconciliation reports showing:
• Claim status (matched, disputed, unresolved)
• Accrual vs actual variance
• Provide insights into recurring issues (e.g., incorrect claims, booking errors)
• Support month-end and quarter-end close processes

 

6. Stakeholder Coordination

Liaise with:

• Sales / commercial teams (event validation)
• Customers (query resolution)
• Finance / accounting teams (accruals and postings)
• Obtain required commentary and approvals for significant balances or exceptions

 

Key Skills & Competencies

• Strong reconciliation and analytical skills
• High attention to detail and accuracy
• Understanding of trade promotions / FMCG trade spend environment, and experience with Trade Management Systems.
• Ability to interpret agreements and financial data
• Good Excel skills (pivot tables, reconciliations, large datasets)
• Strong communication skills for resolving discrepancies

 

Experience & Qualifications

• Degree or diploma in Finance, Accounting, or related field
• 1–3 years’ experience in:
• Trade spend / rebates / commercial finance, or
• Accounts receivable / reconciliations
• Experience with ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Ariba) advantageous

Success Measures:

• % of claims successfully matched to events
• Reduction in aged/unreconciled balances
• Accuracy of accrual vs actual reconciliation
• Timeliness of month-end close support
• Audit compliance and documentation quality

If you are an individual with a disability, please check our Disability Assistance page for information on how to request an accommodation.