Finance Integration Lead

Job description

Job Description

As Informa Global Business Services (GBS) continually work to integrate acquisitions of new businesses or to completely integrate businesses previously acquired, we are looking for skilled and enthusiastic colleagues to join the Acquisition Integration and Disposal separation team.

This role will co-ordinate the finance integration into GBS, working closely with the Shared Services Delivery, Global Process Organisation and ERP (SAP or Oracle) teams (who will at the same time be migrating the business onto the ERP), as well as with the relevant Divisional Finance team. More than one integration may need to be worked on at one time, albeit at different stages of integration.

Integration will use existing tools and templates, but the role would also be expected to assist in further evolution and development of those within an overall structured approach.

Finance integration is one element of the overall acquisition integration, and as such the role will be required to engage with and report upon performance and progress to the relevant stakeholders, the reporting line will be to the Head of GBS Finance Integrations and Disposals.

The successful candidate will need to be able and capable to identify where they need to step in and get hands-on and involved, should the project require it, not that this would be expected to occur regularly. That sense of ownership of the project will be key to overall success, along with the ability to engage and communicate and create strong, valued relationships,

GBS IS KEEN TO USE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE FURTHER DEPTH / ADDITIONAL CAPABILITIES TO SUPPORT THE EVOLUTION OF THE EXISTING PROCESSES AND SUPPORT

The role is permanent subject to completion of a standard probation period.

Key Responsibilities

This position requires clear management capability, an ability to develop and maintain strong relationships and somebody who is not afraid to roll up their sleeves and get involved in the detail should that be required. Specifically:

General matters

Take APPROPRIATE OWNERSHIP of the finance integration project plan, and demonstrate this in an ongoing way

DAY-TO-DAY MANAGEMENT of the project and working closely with both project team members and key stakeholder groups

Define the OBJECTIVES/SCOPE FOR EACH PROJECT AND VALIDATE with key stakeholders of each project

Ensure appropriate PLANNING OF PROJECT-RELATED ACTIVITIES AND ASSIGNMENT of such to team members

Identify with the Integration Analyst and others where CHANGE will occur (e.g.: Regional Change & Transition Leads) and ensure robust CHANGE MANAGEMENT activities and assignment of responsibilities, as well as tracking and reporting of them

Build STRONG, TRUSTED PARTNER RELATIONSHIPS with Shared Services Delivery management, as well as Shared Services Process management

ENGAGE AND COMMUNICATE with teams effectively and in a TIMELY manner

MANAGE effectively within the PROJECT GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE AND PARTNER closely with other Project Managers (especially in technology and the Divisions) and the relevant Integration Programme Manager

ENSURE ROBUST CHANGE CONTROL is applied to the project

Specific matters

Work with the Regional Change & Transition Leads to identify key requirements, assisting in the REVIEW OF THE GAP ANALYSIS

Ensure that PROJECT RESOURCING follows the defined resource demand process, as well as regarding the POST GO-LIVE BAU RESOURCING requirements

Ensure that all REQUIRED APPROVALS ARE RECEIVED IN WRITING prior to requesting approval to proceed through project Stage Gates

PRESENT AND EXPLAIN proposals, reports and findings to the project sponsor and key stakeholders on the steering committee

MANAGE AND COMMUNICATE THE PROJECT STATUS, DEPENDENCIES, RISKS, AND ISSUE resolution as well as escalate matters in a timely manner

Ensure appropriate DOCUMENTATION supporting the project is stored in MS Teams

Make effective USE OF EXISTING TOOLS AND TEMPLATES, AS WELL AS TECHNIQUES and, where these do not exist or require enhancement, collaborate with other finance integration managers in development, sign off and implementation

Where a need exists, establish, track and measure QUANTITATIVE AND/OR QUALITATIVE BENEFITS ARISING from the project

CO-ORDINATE DIVERSE AND GEOGRAPHICALLY DISPERSED RESOURCES, as well as ESTABLISHING PRIORITIES AND TRACKING to ensure timely completion within the overall project timeline

LIAISE WITH OTHER FUNCTIONAL TEAMS to ensure finance integration aligns with those teams (especially HR and Technology (ERP))

DEMONSTRATES A DRIVE FOR RESOLUTION AND MITIGATION in a way that positively engages relevant parties

Ensure that PROJECT CLOSURE involves effective hand-over of work to the GBS Delivery teams, post go-live support is effective and that a LESSONS LEARNED REVIEW is undertaken and agreed lessons are fed back into the finance integration process

In some instances, REPRESENT THE GBS FINANCE INTEGRATION DIRECTOR at meetings

The role may also need to engage in and support business case preparation, initial planning around integration approach and other documentation / presentations required relating to the integration