Senior Finance Advisor - Company owned, company operated operations (COCO)

The Senior Finance Advisor - Company owned, company operated operations, provides financial leadership and commercial decision support for USCM’s COCO portfolio, with primary accountability for Thorntons finance performance.

The role partners closely with Operations, Merchandising and Food, Supply Chain, and Strategy teams to drive profitable growth, improve performance delivery, and ensure disciplined capital and commercial decision‑making across both business as usual (BAU) activity and critical initiatives.

Key Accountabilities:

Commercial finance & performance management

• Own end‑to‑end financial performance for the Thorntons brand, including margin delivery, cost drivers, and execution economics.
• Provide finance and accounting leadership across the Thorntons COCO Operations organisation and serve as financial advisor to the Thorntons Operations VP.
• Prepare and report the results of the Thorntons Operations organisation to Thorntons leadership and M&C Americas leadership.
• Work with FBT to maintain appropriate controls and ensure that appropriate application of finance and accounting policies.

Business partnering & decision support

• Serve as the trusted finance thought‑partner to Thorntons leadership.
• Develop financial models, scenario analysis, and risk assessments to Thorntons strategy and key trade‑offs.
• Provide constructive challenge to assumptions and hold initiatives to account for value delivery.

Planning, forecasting & insight

• Lead forecasting, budgeting, and performance reviews for operations-controlled costs (labor, shrink, waste, etc), translating operational drivers into clear financial insight.
• Produce concise, executive‑ready financial narratives for senior leadership and governance forums.
• Support long‑range planning and scenario analysis aligned to convenience retail strategy.
• Enhance forecasting, scenario analysis, and performance insight through the application of advanced analytics, automation, and AI‑enabled tools, improving predictive capability and speed of decision‑making.

Governance, controls & execution discipline

• Ensure strong financial governance and control across initiatives, including safeguards against management override.
• Provide finance oversight for cross‑functional projects, including benefits tracking and post‑investment reviews.
• Maintain compliance with bp financial policies, controls, and internal governance requirements.

Leadership & influence

• Lead, develop, and inspire finance resources supporting Thorntons activities.
• Influence senior stakeholders across Operations, Merchandising/Food, Strategy, and Technology without direct authority.
• Represent Finance in steering committees, governance forums, and executive reviews.
• Act as a change leader supporting the transformation of Finance and the broader business, embedding standardised, insight‑led ways of working that improve decision quality, pace, and accountability.

Job Requirements and Experience:

• 8–10 years of experience in commercial finance.
• Experience in retail, convenience, food & beverage, or merchandising led businesses, including understanding of the key business drivers and emerging external landscape.
• Experience supporting cross functional initiatives and transformation programs.
• Familiarity with large, complex operating models and multi partner governance environments.
• Considerable experience in a commercial business with responsibilities covering commercial or financial management and leading performance management of a business.
• Strong commercial and financial skill within retail, convenience, food & beverage, or merchandising‑led businesses.
• Deep experience across planning, performance management, governance, and commercial decision support.
• Ability to see the big picture, anticipate financial implications, and shape solutions in complex operating environments.
• Acts as a trusted commercial partner rather than a pure control function.
• Demonstrates ownership, sound judgment, and constructive challenge.
• Builds strong cross‑functional relationships and promotes a continuous‑improvement and simplification mentality.
• Communicates clearly and concisely with both finance and non‑finance senior partners.

Education:

• Degree in Business, Economics and/or Finance or equivalent.

The anticipated base salary for this position is approximately between $155,000 and $185,000 USD annually.

Benefits:

• Flexible working options.
• Generous paid parental leave policy.
• Excellent retirement benefits.
• Discretionary annual bonus program.
• Long-term incentive program.
• Health, vision, and dental insurance.
• Life and Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability.