SILVIA DOUGHERTY

• Lead the design, development, and implementation of the global financial systems and tools
• Defined and delivered functional requirements for financial systems to ensure alignment with business needs
• Collaborated with key stakeholders to understand strategic changes to business process or systems and help deliver solutions
• Lead the financial systems team with excellence, focused on delivering committed projects, supporting the accounting/finance team’s work, and building a compliant control environment
• Develop comprehensive training programs for system tools, including creating training materials and resources

• Actively lead, participate and coordinate budgeting and forecasting process
• Conduct ad hoc financial analyses on growth opportunities
• Develop business narratives to support financials

· Provide strategic direction and operational leadership in ensuring accurate documentation and reporting of financials per the financial control framework.

· Integrate best practices to promote change within the general ledger and planning tool, thereby strengthening compliance with the control framework.

· Design, test, and execute processes to facilitate continuous improvement in compliance processes and controls (including SOX-related controls).

· Coordinate month close activities in addition to performing global financial analysis and reporting to leadership on actuals, forecast, and budget scenarios.

• Directed key tax-related functions, including preparing tax returns, optimizing tax-related accrual balances, and maintaining tax compliance for multiple states
• Oversaw monthly cash forecasts for Tax Provision to maintain the accuracy and transparency of year-end tax payments
• Maximized cost savings by leading all compliance, tracking, and reporting in relation to the tax incentive package
• Audited and performed SOX compliance testing at manufacturing sites and warehouses, ensuring correct statement of non-taxable vs
• Taxable items
• Played a critical role in governance meetings by delivering capital project overviews on taxable items and identifying state tax incentive opportunities

• Led a project to enhance executive reporting and support for the financial performance of functions such as marketing, manufacturing, and logistics
• Devised and implemented changes to financial planning and reporting processes while liaising between the finance teams and their respective functions
• Facilitated the creation and maintenance of financial statements for the consolidated business unit and brand in compliance with GAAP principles
• Built a high-performing project team while working with the Controller, Mars Financial Services, and broader finance team to optimize the close process

• Spearheaded annual operational audits of manufacturing sites, including security-related system and process audits
• Provided end-to-end leadership for the preparation of interim and annual external audits
• Strategized and executed new processes and controls to drive efficiencies in controls management and reduce the effort required by external audits
• Performed quarterly balance sheet and P&L reviews to identify risks while providing expertise on accounting issues, SOX controls, and best practices
• Worked cross-functionally with Shared Services, Treasury, and Dove Chocolate Operations to maintain the integrity of controls and execute controls testing

• Implemented projects to strengthen the business/financial model and strategies for 3 key brands in collaboration with the demand side of the business
• Developed strategic plans and financial forecasts for each brand, underpinned by key benchmarks and metrics derived from market and competitive analyses
• Worked closely with Sales, Marketing, and R&D teams - including participating in brand management meetings – in preparing strategic plans and forecasts
• Supported key strategic and tactical initiatives related to supply chain decisions, marketing campaigns, and capital expenditures with detailed financial analysis

• Administered the period close and reporting process to Corporate, including submitting plan/replan financials – for Chocolate USA and Shared Services
• Led process improvements and data integrity validation to optimize the financial planning system, translating process requirements into viable system solutions
• Provided P&L and balance sheet training to the organization and conducted reviews of all accounts to ensure accuracy