Finance Lead, Category Finance – Cheese

Kraft Heinz; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 142,000 - 177,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) matching

Wellbeing programs

BRGs

Performance bonus

Total rewards package

Job summary

Kraft Heinz in Chicago is seeking a Cheese Category Finance Lead to bridge finance execution and platform strategy. You will oversee forecasting, planning, and performance routines while translating category insights into platform recommendations and leadership decisions.

You will lead two Finance Managers, connect cross-functional partners, and drive higher-quality outputs, prioritization, and faster decision support across the Cheese platform.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or related field is required.
• 6–8+ years of finance experience in forecasting, planning, and cross-functional partnership.
• Advanced financial analysis, forecasting, planning, and modelling skills.
• Strong communication across cross-functional teams for leadership audiences.
• Analytical, problem-solving, and quick decision-making in fast-moving environments.
• Ability to coach and develop others and drive prioritization across a team.

Responsibilities

• Lead platform finance integration across the Cheese business and related forecasting and planning routines.
• Coach and direct two Category Finance Managers to improve outputs and consistency.
• Partner with platform leadership on strategic planning, CAPEX prioritization, and margin improvement.
• Lead planning and performance routines requiring cross‑category integration (1YP, Quarterly reviews).
• Translate risks and drivers into platform-level recommendations for leadership teams.
• Develop leadership-ready materials with clear implications and next steps.

Skills

Forecasting

Planning

Cross-functional partnership

Analytical thinking

Excel

Financial modelling

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or related field

MBA or Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field

Tools

SAP

Oracle

Job description

Job Description

Here at Kraft Heinz, we grow our people to grow our business, because we believe that great people make great companies. When you join our table, you can expect access to an array of holistic wellness benefits* and perks, including medical, dental and vision coverage, 7% 401(k) matching, Business Resource Groups (BRGs) to help foster diversity, inclusion, and belonging for all employees, an industry-leading total rewards package that emphasizes a high discretionary bonus. *Benefits begin 30 days after hire for hourly employees, and immediately upon hire for salaried employees. Get a peek into life here at Kraft Heinz through our Instagram and TikTok channels!

Job Description

Here at Kraft Heinz, we grow our people to grow our business, because we believe that great people make great companies. When you join our table, you can expect access to an array of holistic wellness benefits* and perks, including medical, dental and vision coverage, 7% 401(k) matching, Business Resource Groups (BRGs) to help foster diversity, inclusion, and belonging for all employees, an industry-leading total rewards package that emphasizes a high discretionary bonus. *Benefits begin 30 days after hire for hourly employees, and immediately upon hire for salaried employees. Get a peek into life here at Kraft Heinz through our Instagram and TikTok channels!

Finance Lead, Category Finance - Cheese at a Glance….

As a Cheese Category Finance Lead at Kraft Heinz, you will play a critical role in bridging finance execution and platform-level strategic decision-making across the Cheese business. This role stays close to core forecasting, planning, and performance routines, while also creating the space and expectation to translate category insights into platform recommendations, shape priorities, and strengthen decision support for leadership. You will lead platform finance integration, coach and develop manager-level talent, and help turn business performance into clear actions that improve execution, visibility, and longer-range planning.

What’s on the menu?

• Lead platform finance integration across the Cheese business, connecting core financial routines across forecasting, planning, and performance management to clearer platform-level priorities, decisions, and actions
• Coach and direct two Category Finance Managers, guiding and strengthening manager-level work by strengthening the quality of outputs, consistency of execution, and strength of recommendations while improving prioritization and execution across the platform
• Partner with platform leadership on strategic planning, innovation, CAPEX prioritization, and margin improvement opportunities, helping connect near-term business choices to longer-term platform priorities
• Lead key planning and performance routines that require cross-category integration, including 1YP, Quarterly Sufficiency Reviews, and other non-monthly business processes
• Translate category-level risks, opportunities, and business drivers into clear platform-level recommendations that support faster, stronger leadership decisions
• Act as a visible finance leader across the business by driving alignment on assumptions, surfacing tradeoffs, and framing actions clearly for cross-functional partners
• Develop leadership-ready materials that simplify complex financial and business information into clear implications, recommendations, and next steps
• Support business reviews and planning discussions by integrating category outputs into a broader platform point of view and helping shape the actions that follow
• Strengthen tools, routines, and ways of working to improve forecast explainability, decision quality, and execution speed across the Cheese platform
• Help define clearer ownership, stronger coordination, and more effective handoffs across the finance team and cross-functional partners

• Hold a Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or a related field
• Demonstrate 6-8+ years of finance experience, including meaningful experience in forecasting, planning, and cross-functional business partnership
• Exhibit strong financial analysis, forecasting, and planning capabilities, with advanced Microsoft Excel and financial modelling skills, and the ability to connect detailed outputs to broader business implications and recommendations
• Communicate clearly and effectively across cross-functional teams, with the ability to frame issues, risks, tradeoffs, and recommendations for leadership audiences
• Demonstrate strong analytical and problem-solving skills, especially in complex, fast-moving business environments
• Show the ability to move beyond executional ownership into business integration, strategic thinking, and proactive decision support
• Demonstrate the ability to coach and develop others, improving quality, ownership, and consistency across a team
• Show strong organizational judgment and prioritization, with the ability to manage competing demands while maintaining focus on the highest-value work

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA or Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field
• Experience in consumer goods, food, or a similarly fast-paced commercial environment
• Experience partnering across Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, Demand Planning, RGM, and central finance stakeholders
• Experience supporting innovation, investment decisions, margin improvement, and cross-functional planning processes
• Familiarity with ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, or equivalent

New Hire Base Salary Range

$141,500.00 - $176,900.00

Bonus:

This position is eligible for a performance-based bonus as provided by the plan terms and governing documents.

The compensation offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors

Benefits:

Coverage for employees (and their eligible dependents) through affordable access to healthcare, protection, and saving for the future, we offer plans tailored to meet you and your family’s needs. Coverage for benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.

Wellbeing:

We offer events, resources, and learning opportunities that inspire a physical, social, emotional, and financial well-being lifestyle for our employees and their families.

Benefits

• Physical - Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision, Screenings/Assessments
• Social - Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, Leave of Absence, Flexible Work Arrangements, Recognition, Training
• Emotional – Employee Assistance Program , Wellbeing Programs, Family Support Programs
• Financial – 401k, Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Disability

Location(s)

Chicago/Aon Center

Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Underrepresented Ethnic Minority Groups/Women/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and other protected classes. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for protected individuals, applicants that require accommodation in the job application process may contact [e-mail] for assistance.