Senior Programme Manager - Circa 160k
The Client
Based in London my client are a prestigious Professional services organisation boasting a workplace with cutting edge people that is moving with the modern ways working. Named as one of the leading professional services organisations places to work for 3 times in a row, the work environment attracts a seasoned professional who wants to be part of the best of breed
Job Description
As part of the clients broader finance vision and transformation, they are looking at their ERP and Global Practice Management System (GMPS), which is core to their finance and business strategy. In replacing and transforming the core finance systems, they will create a platform for the organisations finance operations into the future. This is a major programme continuing their broader strategy and movement to the cloud, their drive to bring technology advancement, standardisation and efficiency, while advancing and elevating the use of data and analytics to bring insight and growth to their business, and at the same time tightening controls and reducing risks.
Integral to the programme and part of its leadership team is the role of Programme Manager. This role will join an established programme team, working in close collaboration with the Programme Director and the programme's evolving leadership team. The role will also work closely with other project, business analysis, technical, and change management professionals, as well as domain experts and a wide range of stakeholder groups. As a strategic programme, the organisation has appointed an external advisory firm to guide the overall approach and support the delivery. This role will be a key interface to the strategic advisor.
You will bring together, organise, and manage the overall team that will deliver the programme, from Business Case to execution. This will include suitable governance and establishing a network of experts to support the programme where needed.
Key Responsibilities
* Your primary responsibility will be the delivery of all initiatives within scope, in line with the programme plan and within budget, recognising that these may adjust in line with a changing landscape (as many programmes do).
You will ensure that the programme delivers in line with the Business Case and that benefits are aligned to the firm's strategy, tracked, and delivered. You will manage all major programme risks and issues, and ensure ownership is established and escalations are managed appropriately across all levels of the organisation.
You will also deliver the programme in line with the organisations recently refreshed Transformation Framework, applying proven change management theory and industry best practices to optimise the programme's delivery.
As the person responsible for the programme's delivery, you will:
o Inherit existing plans to develop and maintain a single programme plan that incorporates all initiatives within scope.
o Establish a suitably sized and skilled team to guide and deliver each programme stage, through to overall delivery (and retirement of current systems and processes), in line with an agreed overall programme plan.
o Manage aspects of the programme budget in close collaboration with the Programme Director, and ensure timely and accurate financial reporting to the Programme Management Office, Programme Board, and sponsors.
o Manage governance groups and escalation paths, ensuring any blockers or major risks and issues are mitigated swiftly through effective governance processes.
o Ensure the programme is being delivered in line with the Business Case and manage any deviations through change control.
o Develop and maintain the necessary controls for the programme, including but not limited to risk and issues management, dependency mapping, and decision matrices.
o Manage relationships with vendors, advisors, sponsors, and senior stakeholders, ensuring they are informed and able to act on the programme when needed.
o Represent the programme to the wider firm, including the delivery of programme communications, reports, and presentations.
o Establish a network to assist with the delivery of the programme globally and ensure collaboration across the Organisations network of offices and departments.
o Manage the programme team, including direct and matrix management of team responsibilities and objectives.
o Support the Change Director
Experience required
* This is an important role for the programme and the wider Finance Transformation ambitions. As a leader of the programme, you will possess the following:
o Experience of leading large finance systems and process transformation initiatives.
o Demonstrable ability to successfully deliver large, global, complex programmes in a professional services environment.
o Experience of ERP and/or Practice Management implementations.
o Strong presentation, verbal, and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas in easy-to-understand business terms to all levels of the organs, often including senior leaders.
o Ability to effectively manage multiple competing priorities with high attention to detail, and negotiate the delivery of key programme tasks with other senior leaders, where their teams have competing priorities.
o Effective analytical skills, exceptional listening skills with the ability to effectively coach and mentor others.
o Exceptional team skills and ability to lead by influence to foster a collaborative and delivery-focused mindset across the team.
o Demonstrable experience in scaling programme teams quickly and effectively, including internal team members, external hires, and third parties.
o Experience applying change management approaches, tools, and methodologies, both at a practical level and as an advocate for change initiatives.
o Be able to evidence how you have effectively applied this knowledge and expertise to programme delivery in a complex, fast-paced environment.