Senior Manager, Commercial & R&D Finance

Job Description:

Who are we?

Accelerator is Mars Snacking's growth engine, focused on unlocking growth across high-potential categories and brands. Within Accelerator, the Better For You portfolio includes KIND®, RXBAR®, Nutri-Grain®, Special K Bars®, and Pure Organic® and within Tasty & Wholesome, the portfolio includes Eggo, Rice Krispies Treats and Pop Tarts. Combining the scale of Mars with the agility of a growth business, we are driving innovation, accelerating performance, and transforming how we work through data, automation, and AI-enabled solutions. 

We’re looking for passionate collaborators to help us become the foremost leader in Mars Snacking and positively impact society along the way. If you’re looking to be a part of an inspiring, energetic and entrepreneurial environment, you’ve found the right place. 

Help shape the financial decisions behind the next generation of snacking. As Senior Manager, Commercial & R&D Finance, you’ll influence how we anticipate material costs, invest in innovation, protect margins and deliver productivity savings across a diverse brand portfolio.

Reporting to the VP, Supply & R&D Finance, you’ll partner with Commercial, Procurement, Research & Development and Supply Chain teams to turn complex financial information into practical business choices. You’ll move between detailed cost analysis and strategic conversations, helping teams understand the trade-offs behind sourcing decisions, product launches, recipe reformulations and packaging changes.

This position is based on-site at our Chicago Wells Street office, with approximately 35% travel.

What are we looking for?

• A bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics or a related quantitative field, with 8+ years of progressive finance experience.
• A strong foundation in operations finance and cost management, with experience in volume/mix analysis, commercial business partnering and ingredient or product-cost analysis.
• Understanding of standard costing, bills of materials and purchase price variance, with the breadth to support Commercial, R&D and broader supply chain priorities.
• Experience evaluating product pipelines and validating structural cost savings, alongside advanced financial modeling and scenario-planning skills.
• Proficiency in SAP or comparable ERP systems, planning software and business intelligence reporting tools such as Power BI, with an interest in using automation and AI to improve financial analysis and reporting.
• Demonstrated success influencing cross-functional stakeholders and translating detailed analysis into clear recommendations. You can work independently, navigate ambiguity and establish processes where there is no existing playbook.
• An MBA, CPA or CMA and experience with Stage-Gate or comparable innovation pipeline frameworks are preferred.

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Lead material cost forecasting and performance analysis - Build comprehensive, bottoms-up material cost inflation forecasts across Accelerator business units. Establish accurate, consolidated visibility into ingredient spend, inflation and productivity across Better For You, Tasty & Wholesome and Nature’s Bakery. Deliver monthly and quarterly material-cost and cost-of-goods-sold analyses, track Direct Purchase Price Variance and translate performance drivers into recommended actions.
• Turn tariff and supply risks into actionable choices - Develop predictive models to assess the financial impact of global tariffs, duty changes and trade policies. Partner with Procurement, Supply Chain and Finance to evaluate scenarios and develop practical margin-protection and cost-avoidance strategies.
• Shape innovation economics from pipeline to launch - Own financial models, costing methodology and margin-feasibility analysis for R&D pipeline projects. Connect innovation plans with financial outcomes, helping teams evaluate investment choices and deliver launches that meet profitability requirements and target margins.
• Bring cost-finance expertise to product decisions - Apply standard costing, bill-of-materials and purchase-price-variance analysis to assess costs and financial trade-offs across innovation and supply chain initiatives. Draw on internal and external manufacturing insights where relevant, supporting the needs of a lean, cross-functional team.
• Guide reformulation, packaging and strategic initiatives - Provide financial leadership for R&D and supply chain projects, including recipe reformulations and packaging redesigns required by evolving regulations. Recommend approaches that balance regulatory, operational and profitability objectives.
• Ensure productivity savings reach the bottom line - Establish and govern the tracking, auditing and validation of productivity and Value Leadership initiatives across Commercial and R&D. Verify financial benefits, monitor delivery against plans and distinguish projected savings from realized results.
• Build financial processes and connect insight with decisions - Establish consistent reporting and ways of working across legacy businesses, support Commercial and R&D overhead-budget management, and become a trusted finance partner to both teams. Translate complex cost variances, inflation impacts and forecasts into clear business narratives, highlighting risks, opportunities and actionable recommendations.

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with 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.
• A strong focus on learning and development from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
• An industry-competitive salary and benefits package, including a company bonus.

The base pay range for this position at commencement of employment is between the range listed below, however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position will include variable pay, medical and dental benefits, participation in 401k plan, and paid time off benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an applicant receives an offer of employment.