Finance Director, Global Reporting & Analytics COE

Mars•Chicago, IL

3d•$232,000 - $319,000•Hybrid

About The Position

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.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in finance, business, or a related field.
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).
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.
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.
Flexibility to frequently shift priorities.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree (MBA) or relevant certifications (e.g., CPA, CMA) preferred.

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.
Travel globally (25% – 50%) to engage with regional stakeholders, manage change, and ensure the successful adoption of COE standards.
Participate in meetings occurring outside of normal business hours in local time zone.
Process high volumes of information quickly and tease out relevant components.
Maintain comfort in an environment of frequent and significant change.
Balance long and short term goals and build a holistic technological strategy that is future-proof and inspiring while balancing financial costs.