Finance Director, Global Reporting & Analytics COE

Job Description:

This role will lead the establishment of the first Global Reporting & Analytics Center of Excellence (COE) within Mars Snacking. The COE aims to centralize and standardize financial reporting and analytics across all regions to drive global efficiency and best practices. As a critical leadership role reporting directly to the VP FP&A and Business Partnering, the Finance Director will build the COE from the ground up, secure regional buy-in, staff the team, and execute a phased global roll-out. Additionally, the role will lead a technical initiative to design and integrate AI-driven solutions that automate and optimize reporting processes in parallel with insourcing efforts.

What are we looking for?

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, business, or a related field.
• Advanced degree (MBA) or relevant certifications (e.g., CPA, CMA) preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of professional experience.
• Background in finance, technology, or consulting is a strong plus.
• Strong preference for experience with setting up global COEs doing Analytics and Reporting
• Extensive experience in stakeholder management, change management, and communication in a complex, global matrixed organization.
• Prior experience establishing or running a COE, shared services model, or driving large-scale finance transformations is highly desirable.
• Prior experience in regional and/or Corporate FP&A
• Strong technical curiosity and an innate interest in AI and emerging digital technologies (hands-on coding/technical skills are not required, but managing technical teams is a plus).

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Establish, launch, and run the Global Reporting & Analytics COE for Mars Snacking, designing the roll-out plan and staffing the initial team.
• Partner extensively with regional and corporate stakeholders to ensure buy-in, strategic alignment, and seamless deployment of each of the reporting & analytics waves
• Manage relationships and day-to-day operations with either MGS or third-party outsourced providers who will run extended analytics processes.
• Once COE is launched, responsible for ensuring timely delivery of reports, identifying issues in workflow, catching mistakes in reporting, and continuously driving for process improvement
• Guide internal AI and technical workstreams to build advanced technical solutions, leveraging AI to drive reporting and analytical efficiencies (insourcing reporting capabilities alongside tech development).
• Hire, develop, and manage a direct team of 3–5 associates, while overseeing a large extended team sitting with our outsourced partner.

• Excellent communication (both written and verbal) and stakeholder management skills. Knows how to navigate complex matrix organizations to be a bridge between Global Snacking FP&A, regional finance teams and outsourced partners
• Strong capacity to lead by influence and experience with managing larger indirect teams or working with outsourced partners within finance or technology space
• Experience and interest in financial reporting, analytics and how to best visually depict financial results for a large multinational company with a goal of building something both comprehensive and simple
• A change agent who is not afraid to challenge status quo and embrace new digital technologies
• Strong project and program management experience across a complicated stakeholder set with ability to see end-to-end views and connect the dots across processes
• Strategic thinking and ability to balance long and short term and build a holistic technological strategy that both is future-proof and inspiring while balancing financial costs.
• Digital fluency and an innate interest and excitement about emerging digital technologies and AI
• Financial management and budgeting expertise. Understanding of financial concepts and accounting practices
• Quickly earns confidence and trust of key stakeholders through ability to connect the dots
• Strong communication both written and verbally.
• Travel globally (25% – 50%) to engage with regional stakeholders, manage change, and ensure the successful adoption of COE standards.
• Role is global in nature and will require flexibility to participate in meetings occurring outside of normal business hours in local time zone.  Dynamic environment, requiring flexibility to frequently shift priorities.  Need to be able to process high volumes of information quickly and tease out relevant components.  Need ability to maintain comfort in environment of frequent and significant change.

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with over 130,000 diverse and talented Associates, all guided by The Five Principles.
• Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
• Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
• An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

The base pay range for this position at commencement of employment is between the range listed below, however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position will include variable pay, medical and dental benefits, participation in 401k plan, and paid time off benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an applicant receives an offer of employment.