Job Description

About the Role:

The Finance Controller role acts as a strategic finance partner to the Commercial and Supply Chain teams. It supports both, day-to-day business operations and longer-term strategic initiatives through effective planning, performance monitoring, financial analysis, and strong financial controls. The position has ownership of the Japan P&L and plays an important role in improving business performance, identifying efficiencies, and supporting informed decision-making across the organization.

Main Responsibilities:

• Act as a trusted finance partner to the General Manager and key business functions, including Sales, Marketing, Trade Marketing, and Supply Chain.
• Provide financial insights and recommendations to support operational decisions and strategic initiatives.
• Drive greater operational and financial efficiency across the Japan business, and translate financial information into clear, practical, and decision-oriented recommendations for stakeholders.
• Take ownership of the Japan P&L, including performance monitoring, variance analysis, and identification of risks and opportunities.
• Identify cost-efficiency and optimization opportunities, communicate recommendations to relevant stakeholders, and support their implementation.
• Monitor trade spending, advertising and promotional expenditure, and local commercial costs.
• Support monthly closing activities and deliver timely and accurate analysis of financial results.
• Maintain SAP standard costs and price lists when required.
• Coordinate the annual budget and periodic forecast processes in line with Ferrero’s standards and procedures.
• Prepare financial analyses, presentations, and management reports to support business planning.
• Produce weekly sales estimates by consolidating information from relevant stakeholders and analyzing variances against forecasts.
• Proactively highlight financial risks, opportunities, and emerging business trends.
• Prepare feasibility studies and financial simulations for new products and business initiatives.
• Conduct ad hoc financial analysis to support managers and cross-functional teams.
• Evaluate the financial impact of commercial decisions and provide recommendations based on data and business priorities.
• Lead the monthly preparation of management review meetings. Ensure that reporting is comprehensive, accurate, timely, and focused on business decisions.
• Present financial performance and key insights clearly to both finance and non-finance stakeholders.
• Provide relevant administrative and operational support to the Japan team when required.

About You:

• University degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, or a related discipline. CPA qualification, progress toward CPA qualification, or another relevant professional accounting qualification would be beneficial.
• Strong relevant experience in financial controlling, commercial finance, business planning, or a related area.
• Experience in an international, fast-moving consumer goods, retail, or similarly dynamic commercial environment would be advantageous.
• Previous experience with a Big Four professional services firm, combined with commercial finance exposure, would be an advantage.
• Strong commercial understanding and the ability to connect financial analysis with business priorities.
• Demonstrated experience in budgeting, forecasting, P&L management, financial reporting, and variance analysis.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Proactive, flexible, and comfortable working both independently and collaboratively.
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder-management skills with ability to communicate financial concepts clearly to different audiences.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint, experience with Power Query would be beneficial.
• Knowledge of SAP, HFM, or Essbase would be an advantage.
• Professional fluency in both Japanese and English, written and spoken, is required due to the local and regional scope of the position.

What We Offer:

Careers with caring built in - discover our benefits here.

About Ferrero:

Ferrero began its journey in the small town of Alba in Piedmont, Italy, in 1946. Today, it is one of the world’s largest sweet-packaged food companies, with many iconic brands sold in countries all over the world. Find out more about Ferrero at ferrero.com.

DE&I at Ferrero:

Ferrero is committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture in which all employees feel welcomed and appreciated and have the same opportunities. We believe all our people are equally talented in their own way. In nurturing the curiosity and natural abilities of our employees, we provide them, generation after generation, the means to succeed personally and professionally, enabling them to craft their journey at Ferrero. The diversity of our talents is what makes our work environment multicultural, innovative, and highly rewarding.

Find out more here.