Finance Transformation Manager (12-month contract)

JOB DESCRIPTION Job Description: Champion Petfoods is expanding! We are excited to announce we are looking for a Finance Transformation Manager (12-month contract) to join our rapidly growing company. Champion Petfoods is an award-winning pet food maker with a reputation of trust spanning 35+ years. Founded in a small town in Alberta, Canada, Champion – with its ORIJEN® and ACANA® brands – is a key player in the global premium pet food industry across three major geographic regions. We would love to hear from you if you are passionate about personal and professional growth and see yourself as a key player contributing to our continued success as an award-winning company. Here's the Scoop – Summary The Finance Transformation Manager (12-month contract) leads the design and delivery of finance transformation initiatives that improve process efficiency, control effectiveness, data quality, reporting, and decision support. The role partners with Controllership, Finance Business Partners, Mars Global Services, Digital/Technology teams, and regional stakeholders to translate strategic priorities into practical, scalable solutions. Reporting to the Corporate Controller, this role owns the finance transformation roadmap and change portfolio, with responsibility for process standardization, systems enablement, governance, benefits realization, and sustainable adoption across finance operations. This position sits in one of our Corporate offices at Edmonton (AB), Louisville (CO) or Nashville (TN) and works a hybrid schedule with 3 days in-person. What a typical day looks like:

• Develop and maintain a multi-year finance transformation roadmap aligned with business strategy, controllership priorities, and enterprise technology direction.
• Lead end-to-end redesign and standardization of finance processes, including record-to-report, procure-to-pay, order-to-cash, planning, reporting, and master data.
• Direct cross-functional transformation projects from business case and requirements through design, testing, deployment, stabilization, and post-implementation review.
• Partner with Digital/Technology teams and service providers to implement and optimize ERP, consolidation, reporting, workflow, automation, and analytics solutions.
• Establish project governance, priorities, milestones, resource plans, risks, dependencies, and executive reporting for the finance transformation portfolio.
• Embed effective internal controls, segregation of duties, audit trails, and policy compliance into redesigned processes and system solutions.
• Define transformation KPIs and benefits-realization measures; track cycle time, quality, cost, control, adoption, and capacity improvements.
• Lead change management, stakeholder engagement, communications, training, and adoption activities to sustain new ways of working.
• Facilitate process-mapping, root-cause analysis, requirements gathering, and solution-design workshops with finance and business teams.
• Build continuous-improvement capability across Finance by coaching process owners, documenting standards, and maintaining a prioritized improvement pipeline.

What are we looking for?

• University degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, Information Systems, or a related discipline (Required).
• 7+ years of progressive finance, controllership, finance operations, or transformation experience, including leadership of complex cross-functional initiatives (Required).
• CPA, CMA, ACCA, MBA, or recognized project/change-management certification (Preferred).
• Demonstrated knowledge of core finance processes, US GAAP, internal controls, close and reporting requirements, and audit-ready documentation.
• Experience implementing or optimizing ERP and finance technology solutions; SAP and enterprise performance-management experience are preferred.
• Strong capabilities in process design, business analysis, data governance, automation, reporting, and continuous-improvement methodologies.
• Proven project and portfolio management skills, including business-case development, prioritization, dependency management, risk mitigation, and benefits tracking.
• Strong executive communication, facilitation, and influencing skills, with the ability to align stakeholders across functions, regions, and organizational levels.
• Structured, analytical, and detail-oriented approach, with sound judgment and the ability to translate complex issues into clear decisions and actions.
• Demonstrated ability to lead change, coach process owners, and drive adoption in a matrixed environment.
• Ability to manage confidential information and balance transformation speed with financial control and operational continuity.
• Some travel and extended hours may be required during major deployments, testing cycles, and period-end activities.

What can you expect from Champion? Safety: a strong commitment to ensure all people are provided with a safe, healthy and respectful environment. Earnings: US: Salary range from USD$105,000 to USD$144,000, 401k with Company, and donation matching. Canada: Salary range from CAD: 108,000 to CAD$148,000, RRSP with Company matching. Industry Competitive Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision and Employee Assistance Programs to meet your individual or family needs. Continuing Education: In House & Online Learning & Development, as well as an Education Assistance Program. Quality: a dedication to uphold the highest standards of authenticity, nutritional integrity, and food safety, to earn the trust of Pet Lovers everywhere. Other Perks: Free Bag of Premium Pet Food each month, Free Parking and more! What are you waiting for? Join the pack! Come as you are. We value diversity in all forms and know the power it can bring. Workplace equality allows for creative ideas to bloom, diverse points of views to be heard, and increases overall happiness. That sounds pretty good to us. Champion is an equal opportunity employer. Regardless of your race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, veteran status, or any other creed, you are wanted here. #cpfind The base pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between the range listed above, however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including but not limited to, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, if eligible, including variable pay, medical and dental benefits, participation in 401k plan, and paid time off benefits. Eligibility for these additional elements depend on the position offered and the employee’s work schedule (i.e., part-time schedule, store associate). Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an applicant receives an offer of employment.

About Mars:

Mars is a family-owned business with more than $50 billion in global sales. We produce some of the world’s best-loved brands: M&M’s®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, MILKY WAY®, DOVE®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, EXTRA®, ORBIT®, 5™, SKITTLES®, BEN’S ORIGINAL® and COCOAVIA®. Alongside our consumer brands, we proudly take care of half of the world’s pets through our nutrition, health and services businesses such as Banfield Pet Hospitals™, BluePearl®, Linnaeus, AniCura, VCA™ and Pet Partners™. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire our 150,000 Associates into taking action every day towards creating the world we want tomorrow.

Commitment to Equal Employer Opportunities:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment in accordance with applicable law and without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other category protected under federal, state, and local laws. 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. A Note to Candidates Regarding AI Embracing AI as a vital skill for today and tomorrow, we welcome candidates to use AI to assist with your preparation as you engage with our recruiting process—from helping to perfect your CV/resume to using it to refine your interview skills. While AI can assist you, we expect that your ideas, responses, and demonstration of competencies throughout the recruitment process are authentically your own. We value genuine engagement and want to see the real you shine. At Mars, AI is here to support—not replace—the human connection at the heart of our recruitment process. Note to Search Firms/Agencies: Mars, Incorporated and its subsidiaries and affiliates (Mars) do not compensate search firms for unsolicited assistance unless they have a written search agreement with Mars and the requisition is position-specific. Any resumes, curriculum vitae, and other unsolicited assistance from search firms that do not have a written search agreement or position-specific requisition submitted to any Associate of Mars will be deemed the sole property of Mars and no fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Mars.