Project Manager - F&A Operation & Transformation

Job Description :

The Project Manager F&A Operations & Transformation is an execution-focused delivery role responsible for the structured planning, governance, and end-to-end delivery of Finance & Accounting outsourcing programmes and transformation initiatives.

Operating across the full programme lifecycle from transition and implementation through to steady-state stabilisation and continuous improvement this role ensures that client commitments are met with rigour, predictability, and measurable value.

The Project Manager brings disciplined programme governance methodology, strong cross-functional coordination capability, and the commercial acumen to manage delivery across complex, multi-client, multi-geography programmes.

The role encompasses PTP, OTC, and RTR workstreams and interfaces with technology, transition, change management, and client account teams.

This is a client-facing delivery role that demands structured thinking, proactive risk management, and the ability to maintain delivery momentum across competing priorities without losing sight of client SLAs, transformation milestones, and internal performance targets.

Objective of the Role :

- Deliver F&A outsourcing and transformation programmes on time, within budget, and to agreed scope consistently meeting or exceeding client SLA commitments and contractual delivery milestones.

- Establish and maintain robust programme governance structures Steering Committees, RAID registers, project charters, and escalation frameworks across all active workstreams and client programmes.

- Coordinate cross-functional delivery teams spanning process, technology, data, transition, and change management to ensure accountability, alignment, and delivery momentum throughout the programme lifecycle.

- Manage client stakeholder expectations at all levels from operational process owners to C-suite sponsors providing structured, consistent, and transparent communication on programme status, risks, decisions, and financial performance.

- Own programme-level accountability for delivery execution, ensuring that milestones are met, risks are managed proactively, and benefits realisation targets are tracked and reported against agreed baselines.

Key Responsibilities Areas :

1. Programme Planning & Delivery Execution :

- Develop and maintain comprehensive programme plans encompassing work breakdown structures (WBS), resource allocation models, budget trackers, and milestone schedules using tools such as MS Project, Smartsheet, or equivalent PMO platforms.

- Lead programme initiation activities defining project charters, scope baseline documents, delivery models, and measurable success criteria in collaboration with GPOs, Delivery Team, client account teams, and business sponsors.

- Drive delivery execution across all phases of the programme lifecycle: Initiation, Planning, Design, Mobilisation, Transition, Go-Live, Hypercare, and Steady-State Stabilisation applying structured methodology at each gate.

- Manage programme budgets with discipline tracking actuals against approved forecasts, identifying variances early, and coordinating financial remediation plans with the PMO and Finance.

- Oversee UAT planning, test script management, defect tracking, and formal client sign-off processes for technology implementations and process go-lives, ensuring readiness criteria are met before each transition gate.

2. Risk, Issue & Change Management :

- Own and maintain a comprehensive RAID register (Risks, Assumptions, Issues, Dependencies) ensuring timely identification, quantification, escalation, and resolution of delivery risks and blockers across all workstreams.

- Implement and enforce formal change control procedures, assessing the scope, timeline, resource, and commercial impact of any change requests before submission to programme governance for approval.

- Facilitate structured risk review sessions with workstream leads and delivery sponsors, driving action-oriented mitigation plans with clear owners and target resolution dates.

- Proactively identify and resolve cross-functional dependencies and delivery conflicts, escalating material programme risks to senior leadership with structured options analysis and clear recommendations.

3. Stakeholder Management & Reporting :

- Serve as the primary delivery point of contact for stakeholders, managing day-to-day programme communication and ensuring that commitments, decisions, and escalations are handled with professionalism and speed.

- Prepare and present programme status reports, Steering Committee packs, and executive dashboards covering delivery progress, financial performance, risk posture, SLA compliance, and upcoming milestones on a weekly and monthly cadence.

- Facilitate effective programme governance meetings delivery standups, workstream reviews, client governance calls, Steering Committees, and post-implementation retrospectives ensuring all forums produce clear actions, owners, and timelines.

- Manage third-party technology vendor and systems integrator relationships, tracking deliverables, monitoring SLA performance, and enforcing contractual obligations throughout the programme.

4. Delivery Team Leadership & Coordination :

- Lead and motivate multi-disciplinary delivery teams comprising process analysts, transition managers, technology leads, data migration specialists, and change management practitioners creating clarity of accountability and maintaining team momentum through complex programme phases.

- Drive a high-performance delivery culture within the programme team, fostering agile working practices, structured problem-solving, and an ethos of continuous improvement in delivery methodology.

- Coordinate resource planning across workstreams, managing utilisation and capacity to ensure the right skills are deployed at the right programme stages without creating bottlenecks or over-allocation.

- Facilitate lessons-learned reviews at programme milestones and post go-live, capturing insights that strengthen future delivery methodology and contribute to the organisation's PMO knowledge base.

5. Benefits Realisation & Programme Closure :

- Define and baseline programme benefits in alignment with the approved business case covering cost savings, headcount optimisation, process efficiency gains, cycle time reduction, and STP rate improvement.

- Track and report benefits realisation throughout the programme lifecycle and into the steady-state period, providing a transparent view of value delivered against client and commercial commitments.

- Manage formal programme closure including post-go-live hypercare, structured handover to BAU operations, residual risk management, and formal client sign-off on delivery completion.

Qualifications & Experience :

- 8 to 12 years of project and programme management experience, with a minimum of 5 years delivering F&A outsourcing transitions, BPO transformations, or Shared Services implementations in a multi-client, multi-geography environment.

- Demonstrated track record of managing end-to-end programme delivery across F&A domains PTP, OTC, RTR, and FP&A with direct accountability for client SLAs, transition milestones, and delivery financials.

- Strong knowledge of ERP platforms (SAP S/4HANA, Oracle Cloud Financials) and outsourcing transition methodologies, including lift-and-shift, co-sourcing, and phased migration models.

- Proficiency in programme management toolsets: MS Project, Smartsheet, Jira, Confluence, and Power BI / Tableau for governance reporting and executive dashboards.

- Professional certifications required: PMP (PMI), PRINCE2 Practitioner, or equivalent. Agile / SAFe certification and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt are strong advantages.

- Prior experience within F&A BPO organisations with direct exposure to outsourcing contracts, SLA governance, and client relationship management is essential.

(ref:hirist.tech)