Financial Controller, Mars Global Services & Digital Technology

This position is accountable to drive value creation and protect value for the business by ensuring the Mars Global Services and Global Digital Technology (DT/MGS) financial accounting processes and procedures are enforced and executed to ensure the timely delivery and integrity of accounting information   to support all local, Segment and Corporate obligations in accordance with Mars accounting standards.  This position will ensure adequate controls are in place to ensure the reliability of financial reporting both in the DT/MGS financial statements and in the Mars segments financial statements where DT/MGS proves services globally.

This position will work collaboratively with Controllers in the Segment, Mars Global Services Finance and other shared services, Corporate Controllership team and internal/external financial auditors.

Responsibilities:

• Coordinate within the segment and with the Corporate Financial Controller group to drive a tightly managed and consistent closing process and policies / procedures.
• Drive compliance with Mars global accounting policies, procedures, corporate reporting requirements and financial processes within DT/MGS.
• Lead the team of DT/MGS controllership who ensure efficient controls, accurate financial reporting in the services provided to the Mars businesses across all global service centers and ensure accurate financial statements of the DT/MGS operations globally.
• Tailor accounting policies, procedures, and processes to meet the needs of the segment while aligning with overall requirements

Finance Excellence:

• Manage compliance (timely and high quality) with all Corporate reporting deadlines, drive simplification and standardization of close process (i.e., enforce close calendar to reduce time to close while driving quality across Units and MGS Finance), ensure robust accounting practices, and improve management of the DT/MGS balance sheet globally. This will include coordination and oversight of the process to meet all deadlines and ensure appropriate responses to follow up questions.
• First line of defense for technical accounting and other questions and manage the process/interactions with Corporate where required

• Coordinate within the segment and with the Corporate Financial Controller group to drive a tightly managed and consistent closing process and policies / procedures.
• Drive compliance with Mars global accounting policies, procedures, corporate reporting requirements and financial processes within DT/MGS.
• Lead the team of DT/MGS controllership who ensure efficient controls, accurate financial reporting in the services provided to the Mars businesses across all global service centers and ensure accurate financial statements of the DT/MGS operations globally.
• Tailor accounting policies, procedures, and processes to meet the needs of the segment while aligning with overall requirements

Finance Excellence:

• Manage compliance (timely and high quality) with all Corporate reporting deadlines, drive simplification and standardization of close process (i.e., enforce close calendar to reduce time to close while driving quality across Units and MGS Finance), ensure robust accounting practices, and improve management of the DT/MGS balance sheet globally. This will include coordination and oversight of the process to meet all deadlines and ensure appropriate responses to follow up questions.
• First line of defense for technical accounting and other questions and manage the process/interactions with Corporate where required
• Manage interaction with external auditors to drive all DT/MGS matters to conclusion.
• Drive DT/MGS follow up on internal audit reports in coordination with the DT/MGS operation teams and MGS Finance.

Finance Transformation:

• Drive implementation of the enterprise internal controls framework and supplement as needed to address additional risks with segment specific internal controls policies / procedures.
• Enforce compliance with systems and technology standards.
• Manage segment controllership relationship with MGS Finance and ensure alignment of roles and responsibilities during close. This will include oversight of MGS Finance service level agreements and representations to the Segment and its Units.

Mitigate Risk:

• Prioritization and coordination of the Corporate governance and controllership agenda and sharing best practices to mitigate risk.
• Active participation and leadership in the global Mars Controllership Council.

• Act as point person for controller activities for financial integrations and acquisitions/divestitures to connect corporate and the segment integration team, drive compliance with the enterprise finance integration playbook, and ensure sufficient resources and a well-defined and managed project plan for each project.

Financial Control

• Act as a point person for reporting all MGS costs, ensure that all non-operating costs are reported to the TIGG accurately and in a timely manner.

• This position requires work across multiple countries and boundaries.
• The role requires close working relationships with different stakeholders, including unit controllers, the Corporate Financial Controller and her team, MGS Finance, Segment CFOs and Segment Presidents.
• This role needs to ensure that MGS/DT has strong financial reporting, controls and policies/practices/standards.
• This role must effectively influence prioritization of issue resolution and modification of Mars policies to consider Segment needs, where required, or tailor implementation appropriate for their Segment.

Education and Experience:

• BS/BA degree in accounting or finance
• CPA/CIA required or equivalent professional accounting qualification
• 15+ years of progressively responsible accounting experience, including overall responsibility for consolidation / close at unit or greater level
• HFM and SAP Experience or Equivalent ERP system is preferred
• Experience with financial statement reporting obligations, including an understanding of US GAAP, regulatory requirements, and internal controls

• Demonstrated leader able to coordinate and manage multiple groups in a fast-paced environment
• Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret financial results
• Strong policy, process, and control-orientation and experience with the ability to drive standardization
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to drive change and continuous improvement
• Ability to influence new ways of working and change initiatives at all levels in the organization through strong leadership and building collaborative relationships,
• 7+ years of line management experience, development of others and building effective teams
• 10+ experience managing consolidation and close processes
• Audit experience in Big 4 public accounting firms for large multi-national clients with consolidated reports complying with US GAAP (preferred)