Finance Project Manager

The Operations change function supports change across all operations systems and processes.

The project is supporting the organisation in a key initiative enabling the EMEA regional strategy. The role is within a programme of work focused. The project will deliver a merger of 2 existing entities.

Full lifecycle project management ensuring that the project being delivered is compliant to minimum quality standards defined in the project delivery policy / process / procedures. This includes being complete (in terms of data capture as specified in the toolset and documentation standards); current (no stale data as in missed dates); and accurate (maintained with the latest update). Responsibility for the project will be from initiation through to handover to business and project closure.

o This will be through regular and proactive use of reporting provided by central PMO; and regular meetings with staff delivering the portfolio of work

o Regular catch-up with peers / risk control owners in other departments who have vested interest in quality project delivery

o Using golden source data to submit updates to oversight / executive committees instead of off-line data sources

o Sign-off all deliverables assigned to the Project Manager roles in the project delivery lifecycle RACI and roles and responsibilities

o Run and manage steering committees, working groups (cross functional) and ensure accountability of actions against timelines and responsible stakeholders

Support the portfolio manager, who has overarching responsibility for the governance and delivery of all projects within the portfolio.

Identify and understand issues, errors or concerns, swiftly and accurately and resolve

problems taking into account agreed policy, procedures and service needs.

Carry out analysis and form clear recommendations and proposal on projects / programmes based on sound business rationale. Clearly articulate strategic imperatives and benefits of projects - describe complex problems and solutions in a compelling manner, influencing senior management. Ensure consensus and collaboration with project delivery partners. Be a trusted partner to stakeholders, central PMO and other departments ensuring updates are transparent and accurate; actions, risks, issues, dependencies are effectively managed through to completion.

Run and manage project steering committees, working groups (cross functional) and ensure accountability for delivery of actions against planned timelines is clearly defined / executed.

Define and track the delivery of project outcomes and benefits in order to justify the business case and decisions to prioritise the project for delivery.

Engage, contract and manage third party vendors within the procurement policy and third party vendor management policy.

Define and recruit (from internal teams) project delivery staff of the correct calibre to deliver success. Ensure that responsibilities are appropriately assigned and controlled. Ensure that project and steering staff have a clear understanding of their duties to ensure that project delivery is adequately monitored and controlled.

Show awareness of all sub portfolio's within the investment portfolios in scope to assist in identifying synergies and avoiding duplication of effort.

Ensure that project delivery steering committees / working groups remain in governance: that meetings are quorate, the Terms of Reference are reviewed at the end of each project delivery phase, that the portfolio committee has visibility / transparency of project delivery status, change and risk and that project risk and issues (RAID) items are escalated appropriately / on time. This is through:

o Creating a baseline and management of baseline (budget, scope, outcomes / benefits, timeline)

o Approval of change

o Approval and closure of mitigating actions for escalated risks and issues

o Approval of project go live and capture / logging of Accountable Executive Attestation at go live

o Approval to close project following update as to lessons learned and project closure reports

o Approval of every project business case (benefits vs cost)

MUST

Essential:

• Minimum 5 years proven track record delivering Financial Management and regulatory reporting change projects for financial institutions within time and budget.

Demonstrable experience of:

• Knowledge of related change delivery - in depth knowledge of general & sub ledgers, product control, financial reporting requirements, data quality, control and management.
• Investment budget management - accurate forecasting of cost categories; management of "estimate at complete" vs budget; budget change control (at individual project or programme level). Demonstratable insight into controlling cost e.g. no actuals being committed before budget approval and planning / interventions that need to be made if approved budget (vs committed budget) is at risk of being exceeded
• Investment project allocations agreement - working across stakeholders to agree how project costs (budget, increase to on-going expense budget) and benefits and gaining commitment that these costs are factored into their department business plans.
• Delivery resource review and attestation of on time project / programme delivery ("doability") - working across resource supply teams to confirm the availability of required capacity to deliver the portfolio; overseeing project manager progress to securing resource or re-planning project delivery timelines avoiding "crisis escalation" except in genuine cases of inability to secure a rare skillset.
• Project / Programme Management Subject Matter Expertise - Experience of managing delivery of wide range of finance management and regulatory reporting related change required to support the merger on day 1, resolving conflict, delays and mitigate change risk and advise the business on decisions relating to change
• Project / Programme governance design and delivery - delivering regular and relevant reports to portfolio committees / or more senior management / executive forums. Regular, proactive maintenance of the project governance committee terms of reference and minute taking / management. Regular review and challenge of all Risk, Assumption / Action, Issues, Dependencies/ Decision (RAID) logs within the portfolio; and creation of portfolio level RAID items ensuring they are not "stale".
• Document Management - ensure all project / programme artefacts are consistently structured to standards and maintained for ease of reference by second / third line of defence and by Central PMO.
• Project / Programme closure - ensuring that every project / programme is "cleanly" closed and all "open" project items are risk accepted or closed within budget.

Functional / Technical Competencies:

Essential

• Financial - cost categorization (capital vs expense)
• Project / Programme management including change control (of one of or a combination of scope, budget, plan, benefits change to baseline)
• Project / programme baseline control and management
• Delivering projects / programmes from delivery prioritization by portfolio committee, through to delivery and closure
• Lessons learned / post implementation review delivery
• Change Risk management
• Familiarity with / experience of adhering to key controls (SOX, project delivery standards, third party risk management, operational resilience management, data protection etc)
• Portfolio management

o Creation / planning of a portfolio (annual planning)

o Delivery of a portfolio

o Reporting (including executive reporting)

o Risk and issue management

o Roadmap and critical path management

o Financial control / management

o Resource (demand and supply) management

o Structuring governance (including Terms of Reference definition & management)

NICE TO HAVE

Preferred:

• Strong knowledge of banking regulations and running finance related projects.
• Good understanding of financial products and front office processes with a good appreciation of front-to-back processes.
• Demonstrable track record of managing multiple stakeholders and building relationships across diverse skill sets and across the organisation.
• Experience of working with and negotiating contracts for vendors and consultancies
• Coaching, mentoring and leadership skills
• Proven experience and expert understanding of delivering through full project lifecycle SDLC/PDLC using waterfall and agile approaches
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to communicate at all levels.
• Proven experience of managing budgets