The Financial Controller plays a critical role within the Finance department overseeing financial accounting, control and reporting activities within Royal Canin USA with additional accountabilities for oversight where joint North American submissions are required. The role will be a key interface and influence with the Mars Finance of Tomorrow program in areas of Smart Financial Operations and Enhanced Specialized Services. This role works closely with the Royal Canin North America Leadership team in areas of governance and compliance. It also serves as primary contact with internal and external auditors and with Global Controller’s team at Royal Canin.

Some of the critical deliverables of the role include timely and accurate periodic, quarterly and year-end reporting of the financial statements; balance sheet reconciliation; development, implementation and maintenance of internal control procedures; oversight of master data entry activities and serving as the primary contact with Royal Canin Global Controller’s team and financial auditors. In addition, this position works closely with FP&A and Supply Finance teams to coordinates and deliver financial inputs necessary to uphold period close, reporting and accounting standards in accordance with the practices and guidance provided by Mars Finance Manual and local legal & regulatory requirements.

Above all, this roles is expected to be a role model for ethics, integrity and trust in all areas of the business ensuring identification of and appropriate responses to governance and controls matter with a continuous improvement mind-set.

The Financial Controller oversees a team of 5 direct reports and overall headcount in excess of 12 associates and plays important leadership role within RC North America Finance Leadership team, driving relevant transformational agenda items for the function and for the wider business. Therefore some of the key leadership capabilities required for success are building effective teams, developing talent, change management and communicating with impact.

What are we looking for?

• Education & Professional Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Finance, post-graduate professional degree or certification (i.e. CPA, MBA, etc.) preferred

• Strong financial and general accounting expertise

• Minimum 10 years of financial/accounting experience, including at least 3 of these years in a leadership role in controllers function or leading a team of controllers

• 3 years accounting/finance experience in a manufacturing environment (cost accounting, inventory, capital), preferably within the Consumer Packaged Goods industry

• Advanced knowledge of Standard ERP systems (Navision or Microsoft ERP will be a plus)

• Thorough understanding of Accounting and Financial systems and processes

• Functional expertise in accounting systems (including Navision, SAP, HFM, and FPPS etc.)

• Ability to drive process improvement and transformational changes

• Knowledge and application of business processes, internal control concepts and practices to ensure transparency and governance of data and financial results at the appropriate level in the organization.

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.

What will be your key responsibilities?

As leader of a large team spanning general accounting, corporate reporting and close, master data entry and financial operations, this role provides excellence in line management and technical supervision to ensure key responsibilities are performed and delivered in timely manner and with quality. Financial Controller plays an important leadership role on the RCNA Finance Leadership Team driving elements of transformational agenda for the function and for the wider business. As a line manager to Financial Controllership team job holder will mentor, develop and engage associates to deliver superior efficiency and support to the business.

• Manage financial accounting processes and reporting including periodic, quarterly and annual close, Helios/HFM submissions, corporate quarterly reporting, for RC US to ensure proper recognition of revenue, costs, assets and liabilities in accordance with Mars Finance Manual and local regulatory requirements.

• Maintain periodic oversight of transactional activities like Fixed Assets, Intercompany and other General accounting for RC USA.

• Create and manage secure internal control environment, including appropriate segregation of duties, access controls, adequate support documentation, timely review and reconciliations. This includes, but not limited to, analyses of all general ledger accounts and maintaining balance sheet reconciliations for all accounts.

• Provides functional expertise of various accounting systems to enable compliance with requirements and produce accurate and reliable financial reports. Identifies opportunities for continuous improvement in processes and systems.

• Process owner of Master Data entry delivered through a team of associates focused on maintaining and quality control of customer data, supplier data, item data and order data.

• Ensures minimal disruption of financial operations through timely reconciliation of financial systems (i.e. ERP, EDI, Corporate Reporting tool, Financial Database, WMS etc.) by close collaboration with Royal Canin Global Controllers team and Mars Information Systems team in timely manner.

• Coordinates and manages internal and external audits and ensures timely resolution of all findings and comments.

• Primary liaison with Corporate Controllers team at Royal Canin Global headquarters. Implementation of corporate initiatives in the area of financial control and governance as well as prompt escalation and resolution of any issues that may impact business processes

• Serve as a liaison with Mars specialist teams (e.g., Treasury, Tax, and Currency Center etc.) and ensure appropriate unit compliance with all related requirements.

• Direct line management of a team of 6 associates and total team in excess of 12 associates. Key areas of the team spanning master data, general and capital accounting, governance and control

• Responsible for RSC office reception service with 2 associates in that area reporting through Financial Controllership team.

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with over 140,000 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.

Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.