Sustainability Controls Sr. Manager

Job Description:

The Sustainability Controls Senior Manager is responsible for establishing robust processes that ensure Mars’s sustainability accounting is adequately executed, documented and auditable.

This leader ensures the rigorous substantiation of all metrics by directly building or coaching others to build traceable audit trails, standardizing accounting processes, and coordinating with external auditors to secure positive outcome of external verifications.

The ultimate goal is to establish processes, systems and controls that ensure all public disclosures are fully documented and compliant with international standards and strategically aligned voluntary standards, therefore actively managing risk of non-compliance.

Location: Chicago/ McLean, USA (hybrid)

Reporting to: Sustainability Governance Director

What would be your key responsibilities?

Design and implement internal control systems & substantiation requirements

• Proactively identify gaps in data collection and reporting systems by reviewing the Sustainability Controls Implementation (SCI) framework and working in close partnership with sustainability controllership.
• Applies a deep understanding of control requirements and risk assessments, deciding whether to execute these controls directly or coach team members on how to perform them effectively.
• Ensure rigorous substantiation of reported metrics by conducting data reviews, validating source documents (e.g., utility invoices, emission factors, supply chain records), and ensuring that Mars retains fully verified evidence to back its accounting.
• This role connects closely with controllership, sustainability, and functional experts at both corporate and segment levels to coach associates on SCI controls and on the activity data required improvements.
• An equally important aspect of this role is to support the central sustainability accounting team in understanding and implementing critical process and documentation improvements.

Secure positive assurance outcomes

• Co-own together with sustainability controllership the preparation, readiness, and coordination of the external verification process to secure clean, unqualified assurance opinions.
• Drive proactive audit prep by performing pre-audit gap analyses, resolving potential issues before fieldwork begins, and advocating for the validity of Mars's accounting treatments and estimation methodologies once the audit work has actually started.

What are we looking for?

• Degree in: Accounting, Management, Economics or equivalent levels of the hand-on experience
• Experience: significant progressive experience in accounting and auditing. Sustainability experience highly appreciated, but not mandatory.
• Technical Expertise: Mastery of control frameworks, auditing procedures and data substantiation requirements. Previous experience in implementing controls highly desirable.
• Strategic Leadership: Demonstrated ability to translate complex technical concepts into actionable business strategy. Experience advising and influencing senior leadership.
• Stakeholder Management: Proven ability to lead and influence cross-functional teams and manage relationships with external partners, consultants, and regulatory bodies.

• Readily distinguishing between what’s relevant and what’s unimportant to make sense of complex situations.

• Analysing multiple and diverse sources of information to define problems accurately before moving to solutions.
• Dealing comfortably with the uncertainty of change.
• Being ready to taking actions on challenges, without unnecessary planning.

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.
• Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
• An industry-competitive salary and benefits package, including a company bonus.

Mars is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable adjustments for individuals with disabilities, long-term health conditions, or who are neurodiverse during the application and recruitment process. To request reasonable adjustments, complete our Reasonable Adjustment Request Form here

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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.

The pay range shown is applicable to all US locations listed within the job posting:USD 192 560,00 - USD 264 770,00