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Summary

The Finance Business Partner (“BP”) is the finance BP for two manufacturing sites within RCNA during a time of investment and transformational growth as a Big Bet Region for Royal Canin.  
The Finance Business Partner (“BP”) works closely across the network and with key finance and non-finance stakeholders to act as a trusted advisor to steer value creation across the manufacturing portfolio. Furthermore, the Finance BP drives the Overheads cost performance within the unit.
The Finance BP is part of the finance team and is jointly responsible for positively impacting the business performance on the areas where the highest value is created. This performance is measured as per KPIs that are relevant to the unit’s accountability and Management P&L. 
The Finance BP is guided by a “North Star”: 
o    being a catalyst for change by bringing the outside in, having a financial perspective, and effectively framing issues, 
o    being a strategic investor by providing holistic and innovative insights, displaying forward looking and long-term analyses, and anchoring a ROI mindset in the organization; and 
o    being modern to the times by empowering the use of digital tools, working cross functionally, and visualizing data/providing story telling in an engaging way.

Annual Planning & Forecasting

• Manage financial shaping and financial forecasting (P&L) for Factories on a regular basis and as per an agreed rhythm of performance, supporting the Factory’s management team in identifying gaps to objectives and putting in place remediation plans.
• Support the organization on planning exercises as needed, from long-term Integrated Value Creation Plans (IVCP) to the Annual Execution Plan (AEP).
• Responsibility for the preparation of Year-End Estimate financial forecasts for the business.  Analysis and review will include reconciliation to both Plan and prior year, as well as clear identification of potential risks and opportunities facing the business that is served (NA and affiliates).  Leverage communication and storytelling skills to provide a clear link from the business drivers to the financial performance of the business.  Must be able to go “beyond the figures”.

Business Partnering Analysis & Insights

• Contribute to the culture of accountability and responsibility at manufacturing sites by tracking action plans for key initiatives and addressing root cause issues to drive sustainable operating improvements.  Identify trade-offs and escalate operating plan variances as appropriate.
• Develop highly collaborative relationships across the organization with finance and non-finance stakeholders and establish/implement best practices. Support teams in other areas, including special projects, in performing ad hoc analysis as needed.
• Partner with the business to steer actual performance and influence financial and operational decision making, strategy definition/implementation, long-term site strategies, and investment plans. Prepare areas of focus and recommended adjustments, coordinating with cross-functional teams to deliver against targets.
• Lead by example in leveraging automated reporting solutions and support the organization in embracing the democratization of data and the usage of digital tools.
• Act as key user for Factory digital tools driving data quality and reporting consistency.
• The Finance BP will be the key partner when it comes to local Factory Overheads, ensuring budget holders remain on track with their budgets and empowering these budget holders to directly access digital technologies and be responsible for their spend.
• Communicate capital asset planning to relevant parties based on the long-term property strategy/annual budgets determined by Industrial Engineering and Engineering.
• Collaborate with S&F teams within Mars to standardize and improve the communications on performance drivers, forecast, and to seek best practices to apply across the VCO S&F community.
• Maintaining strong governance & controls in areas of responsibility and drive a culture of governance and controls within the broader VCO organization.

Other

• Contribute to and support an effective, highly competent, and engaged Finance team.
• Participate in pre- and post-period closing tasks as per agreed roles and responsibilities (e.g. consultation on product costing).
• Actively support the site S&F team through our Finance of Tomorrow (FoT) journey including transition of accounting tasks to the VCO Accounting team and change management with our Business Partners.  Work collaboratively with regional S&F team and VCO partners to create a sustainable and scaleable model.