Global Workstream Lead

Role Profile

Ideally this role is based 2 days in our Colchester office and 1 day from London, 2 days from home. However, we will consider London based candidates also.

Reporting into the Global Tax & Finance Project Lead this is a key strategic role within the global finance shared services delivery organisation (FSSDO) which is accountable for the effective coordination and leadership of global R2R activities & deliverables in all integration and change projects, on behalf of the global delivery teams. This will include M&A and other strategic projects (which are defined as impacting all regions and all process areas). The role will be responsible for ensuring that all operational Centre of Excellence (Cash Operations, Intercompany, fixed asset & payroll) & T&FA requirements (including resourcing) are captured at the planning stages of each project and that all key milestones and deliverables are met.

Key Responsibilities

Management / General

• Act as the COE &T&FA lead on behalf of the FSSDO for all disposals, acquisitions, restructuring, integrations and other strategic project activities. This will include liaising with the Corp M&A team, GBS Integration teams, business stakeholders, as well as stakeholders in acquiring/ selling entities
• Responsible for ensuring that operational COE & T&FA requirements (including resourcing) are captured & considered at the planning stages and throughout each project.
• Act as the lead and coordinator on behalf of the global R2R community to ensure that the delivery teams meet the deliverables required to support these change initiatives at all times, this will include:
  • Data requests during due diligence
  • Drafting Transitional Service Agreements
  • Drafting separation plans
  • Review and sign-off of finance systems blueprints
  • Supporting Project Managers with planning
  • Coordination of UAT & data migration
  • Identifying any process changes which are required and work with the GPOs to ensure that appropriate global controls are in place.
  • Identify additional resourcing requirements to support project activities and ongoing BAU and TSA obligations
• Ensure that COE & T&FA delivery resource requirements to support project are captured at the planning stages, and track that recruitment and onboarding is happening according to deadlines.
• Work with GPO and Enterprise Analytics team to ensure that effective KPI reporting is in place to ensure that R2R operations can be accurately reported on during change projects, and that mechanisms are put in place to address issues in a timely manner.
• Ensure that the global working capital impacts are considered, and reported on for these projects
• Act as the liaison between COE and T&FA delivery teams and project teams/ external parties
• Ensure all acquisition and disposal accounting in the underlying ledgers is understood and appropriate documentation is prepared
• Drive for consistent and efficient COE & T&FA processes & system improvements on behalf of the global R2R community
• Role will also liaise with the leads in R2R, COE, O2C, P2P, Payroll, Tax & Financial Accounting Towers to support the M&A processes, including the support of any financial due diligence required from the Finance SSDO
• Oversee the COE and T&FA integration and on-boarding process until full handover to operational Finance SSDO
• Lead the COE & T&FA aspects of deliverables required to support each TSA.
• Liaison on behalf of Finance SSC for all COE & T&FA data requests
• Ensuring that learnings from each project are taken forward as improvements for future projects
• Provide regular status update reporting to project managers and delivery leadership for COE & T&FA on all projects to clearly show progress, risk & issues, future requirements, etc.
• Ensure there is regular communication with the R2R delivery teams throughout the project, that they are clear on what is expected from them both during the project and when it transitions into BAU
• Identify any training requirements as a result of any new process and ensure appropriate plans are in place for these to be delivered to the delivery teams
• Offer support & guidance to colleagues on difficult issues as the subject matter expert & leader in the team. You will also be considered as a specialist in the specific area you are working in and responsible for the more complex R2R transactions.
• Flag any control risks to the Internal Controls team as early as possible.
• Encourage an environment in which people value diversity either in recruitment, team formation and/or in developing plans and strategies.
• Build and develop an efficient and effective team; recruit and retain the best people for the job and actively plan for succession to develop and replace individuals effectively.
• Ensure required approvals are completed in a timely manner

Process Change

• Responsible for driving improvement across your team & providing recommendations
• Play an active role in driving for change and continuous improvement in the business and within finance; highlight potential process or control improvement opportunities with a key focus on customer experience
• Ensure all applicable R2R process exceptions are clearly documented, reviewed and approved by key stakeholders.
• Work with the business and Global Process Owners to help identify and implement any changes to processes necessary through changing business requirements and ensure that the delivery leads are aware of the key process changes and how they will need to operate
• Attend governance meetings over financial processing/processes as required to report on issues and to take away actions as appropriate

Leadership:

• Ensure that appropriate People Development tools are utilised throughout your team consistently and fairly to ensure optimum performance of all colleagues concentrating on both technical and soft skill development in conjunction with local HR colleagues
• Ensure that planning and prioritisation of work within the team is enough to achieve deadlines and deliverables
• Encourage an environment in which people value diversity either in recruitment, team formation and/or in developing plans and strategies.
• Bring team members into discussions so that they can contribute their ideas, are involved in setting team objectives and feel engaged on issues that affect them.
• Support, assist and cover team members where necessary

Qualifications

Management & Qualifications

• ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualified with at least 5 years PQE
• Strong academic background
• Deep experience of complex COE & T&FA operations is essential
• Experience of managing and governing BPO delivery from a centralised and outsourced finance shared service function- desirable, not essential
• In depth knowledge and understanding of SSC processes and how these fit into the wider environment
• Excellent knowledge of working in global business environment with sound understanding of global process and transactional flows
• Knowledge of dealing with mergers, acquisitions and disposals
• Excellent knowledge of lean, Six Sigma or other continuous improvement methodologies preferred
• Proven experience driving optimum performance of all colleagues concentrating on both technical and soft skill development.
• Solid planning and prioritisation skills to maintain and improve performance metrics.
• Proven talent management experience with solid examples of succession planning and developing a team of mixed skill levels.
• Immersive and impactful presentation skills

Skills & Abilities

• Excellent communication skills at all levels including a wide range of stakeholders within the business
• Continuously drives & improves processes & systems
• Excellent problem-solving skills
• Be pro-active and take initiative and encourage teams to do the same
• Knowledge and ability to use relevant internal systems
• Act with integrity, tact and diplomacy
• Excellent influencing skills
• Highly organised, diligent with attention to detail and the ability to maintain these skills whilst working under pressure
• Advanced skills in Excel, Word and Outlook are essential
• Impactful and confident presentation skills

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