International Division Finance Director - M/F/X

Location : Aimargues

Segment : Royal Canin - International Division (InDi)

Contract Type : Permanent - Travel expected (20%)

The International Division (InDi) at Royal Canin is a specialized unit dedicated to managing and optimizing the importer business model across various markets (80 active markets across the world). This division plays a pivotal role in expanding the brand's reach and ensuring the consistent delivery of high-quality pet nutrition products to diverse international customers.

By leveraging strategic partnerships with importers, this division facilitates the distribution of Royal Canin products in regions where direct market presence may be limited. The team is responsible for navigating complex regulatory environments, understanding local market dynamics, and fostering relationships with key stakeholders to ensure compliance and operational efficiency.

To enhance the relationship and support provided to our importers, the International Division implemented a structured approach that leverages both Hub Teams (one team located in a Royal Canin unit to support a geography of markets) and Spot Teams (one team that supports one market). This dual-team strategy will ensure that our importers receive comprehensive support tailored to their specific market needs while fostering strong partnerships that drive mutual growth. The business model is expected to deliver a big increase of scale in business and resources with a plan of 125M€ supported by a volume growth of +5% at 30 000 tons.

As part of the InDi Leadership Team, the Finance Director is a major contributor of this accelerated growth by assisting the InDi GM in co-piloting the business through its structural complexity, in actively contributing to the InDi SRM agenda, in safeguarding and elevating the financial control standards and building a strong Governance and Compliance culture.

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or a related field

• Advanced English

• 5 years for larger business, 10 years for smaller business in FP&A/copiloting position in an International environment

• People Leadership experience more than 5 years

InDi LT Member:

• Provide strategic and functional expertise to the LT to bring to life InDi vision and ambition

• Strong collaboration with rest of LT to co create a strong and engaged LT

• Build Financial Strategy and Finance Priorities to supplement the overall InDi objectives

• Calculate and submit AVP plans and validate the year-end results

• Member of the MBR process of S&OP+

Financial Planning & Analysis and Finance Business Partnering:

• Lead the IRR of the S&OP+ process, consolidating the full P&L and integrating Risks & Opportunities to support Scenario Planning and risk mitigation

• Finance lead of the InDi Annual Execution Plan (AEP) process – includes coordinating the collection of data for building the bottom-up plan, presenting and agreeing the Financial Plan with the Regional Team, setting P&L Targets for each Geography / importer and setting budgets

• Build the mid-long term Financial strategy to contribute to the IVCP process

• Ensure the correct Financial reporting tools are in place for Financial Analysis and Insights, including for the purpose of building and sharing management reporting presentations

• Active member of the InDi SRM Committee, supporting Pricing, Promo, Trade Terms and Mix decisions, including the focus and understanding of the importer model value chain

• Responsible for building financial acumen amongst InDi Associates

Financial Control and Accounting:

• Overall responsibility for smooth period close process with accurate financial accounting and leading the InDi Period Close meetings

• Responsible for creation of new Branches / Rep Office, or new Mars Hosting of Associates, including Mars Blueprint process, PWC study and organising the correct x-charges. This should be done in close collaboration with the French and local market Tax & Treasury teams (ICTC)

• Responsible for the upkeep of new Branches / Rep Offices, including ensuring the correct Treasury and Financial compliance and managing the relationship with external accounting companies

• Maintain strong relationship with Shared Service Centre (Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable etc.)

• Ensure Payment Terms are well respected with the appropriate credit controls in place

• Drive Governance, including respecting the PO process, across the InDi Community

People Leadership:

• Manage a team of 3 Finance Associates

• Responsible to build, lead, develop and engage a high-performance team through excellent leadership, in order to ensure a perfect execution of the plan, delivering the expected results and developing the talent pipeline.

• Build, manage and lead effective team by attracting, developing, retaining and motivating talented associates in line with the strategy of the division

• At Mars, we believe in a relationship of mutual trust, dignity and respect between our company and Associates that is more meaningful than the standard employer/employee relationship.

• As Associates, we can expect to be respected, supported and valued as individuals, to be treated fairly and equitably.

• You will work in a multicultural environment (more than 40 nationalities) and where your dog will be welcomed by more than 100 other Associates’ dogs at the office! 

• You will work in a unique campus, which gathers more than 800 Associates working for: the international HQ, the French subsidiary, two laboratories, a kennel and a cattery with more than 200 cats & dogs, and finally the most important factory of the Royal Canin group 

• A unique and ideal work environment to become the leader in health through nutrition for cats and dogs!

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.