EPM Planning Lead

The Finance Systems Transformation Programme is a major change initiative that supports Arup's Global Finance Vision. The programme will transform our future finance capabilities by enabling significant operational change through the worldwide implementation of Oracle Fusion ERP and EPM across Arup.

Delivering a modern cloud-based finance foundation will allow data and processes to be unified to enhance decision-making, increase efficiency and improve user experience, strengthening our organisation for the future.

The Programme will be delivered by a dedicated, collaborative, cross-functional and multi-location team working closely with our Finance team, our wider business and the implementation partner to ensure a successful outcome.

The Oracle EPM Planning Lead will play a critical role in delivering a modern, cloud based performance management capability as part of a major finance transformation programme. This role is responsible for driving the design, build, and deployment of Oracle EPM Planning solutions to meet Arup's management reporting, allocation, budgeting and forecasting requirements. This is a fixed term contract role estimated to end in June 2028.

Acting as the lead for Planning capabilities, the Planning Lead will work closely with Finance leadership, process owners, technical teams, and the system implementation partner to ensure the new Planning platform meets business needs, operates efficiently, and delivers transformation.

At Arup, you belong to an extraordinary collective - in which we encourage individuality to thrive. Our strength comes from how we respect, share, and connect our diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas.

You will have the opportunity to do socially useful work that has meaning - to Arup, to your career, to our members and to the clients and communities we serve.

The Opportunity

Solution Leadership & Design

• Lead the functional design of Oracle EPM Planning, ensuring alignment with Arup's reporting, allocation, planning and forecasting strategy.
• Collaborate with Finance stakeholders to translate business requirements into scalable EPM designs.
• Drive integrated design across EPM, ERP, data platforms, and reporting solutions.

Programme Delivery

• Own the EPM Planning scope, backlog, and roadmap across all implementation phases.
• Support design and implementation of data migration into the EPM Planning solution
• Oversee configuration, testing, validation, and defect resolution for all Planning components.
• Lead planning cycles for UAT, including test scenario creation, data preparation, and sign off.
• Provide subject matter expertise across all Planning releases and ensure alignment with overall programme milestones.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Partner with Finance leaders, FP&A teams, regional Finance leads, and operational business teams to collect input and requirements, socialise outcomes and drive adoption of standardised solutions.
• Play an active role in design workshops, playback sessions, and steering meetings.
• Act as a trusted advisor on Planning transformation and modelling best practices.

Business Change & Readiness

• Support change management activities, including process documentation, training input, and readiness assessments.
• Ensure that end users understand new reporting approaches, modelling assumptions, data structures, and system responsibilities.
• Guide business teams through the transition from legacy tools to Oracle EPM.

Data, Controls & Quality

• Oversee definition and validation of Planning metadata and ensure alignment with the wider Fusion design.
• Support data integration and data quality processes to ensure Planning data is reliable and timely.
• Ensure appropriate governance, audit trails, security roles, and segregation of duties are designed into the Planning solution.

Cutover, Go-Live & Hypercare Live & Hypercare

• Lead Planning specific go-live activities, including cutover tasks, data loads, validation, and user support.
• Ensure business readiness for the first reporting, forecasting and budgeting cycles on the new platform.
• Support hypercare, stabilisation, and iterative enhancements following go-live.

Do you have experience in Oracle?, * Proven experience leading the design and implementation of Finance reporting and budgeting systems, ideally Oracle EPM Cloud Planning (PBCS/EPBCS)

• Strong understanding of Finance processes including reporting, budgeting, forecasting, cost allocation, scenario planning and financial modelling.
• Hands on experience with EPM configuration, calculations, forms, dashboards, and approval workflows.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex business requirements into scalable technical solutions.
• Experience working in large transformation programmes with multiple workstreams.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills across executive and operational levels.
• Familiarity with integration patterns between EPM, ERP and BI/reporting tools.
• Experience guiding end users through new Planning cycles and tools.
• Oracle EPM Cloud certifications.
• Experience with Oracle Fusion ERP and HCM (especially within a Projects-first business).
• Background in FP&A, financial modelling.

Arup's purpose, shared values and collaborative approach has set us apart for over 75 years, guiding how we shape a better world. Dedicated to sustainable development, Arup is a collective of advisors and experts working across 34 countries with over 19,000 employees. Headquartered in London, providing design engineering, architecture, planning, and advisory services across every aspect of the built environment. Founded to be both humane and excellent, we collaborate with our clients and partners using imagination, technology, and rigour to shape a better world., At Arup, we care about each member's success, so we can grow together. Guided by our values, we provide an attractive total reward package that recognises the contribution of each of our members to our shared success. As well as competitive, fair and equitable pay, we offer a career in which all of our members can belong, grow and thrive - through benefits that support health and wellbeing, a wide range of learning opportunities and many possibilities to have an impact through the work they do. We are owned in trust on behalf of our members, giving us the freedom, with personal responsibility, to set our own direction and choose work that aligns with our purpose and adds to Arup's legacy. Our members collaborate on ambitious projects to deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients and communities. Profit Share is a key part of our reward, enabling members to share in the results of our collective efforts. To understand what to expect next, please visit https://www.arup.com/careers/recruitment-process/ Different people, shared values Arup is an equal opportunity employer that actively promotes and nurtures a diverse and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of age (within legal limits), gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, neurotype or mental health, race or ethnicity, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you're pregnant or on family leave. We are an open environment that embraces diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas - this drives our excellence. Guided by our values and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we create and contribute to equitable spaces and systems, while cultivating a sense of belonging for all. Our internal employee networks support our inclusive culture: from race, ethnicity and cross-cultural working to gender equity and LGBTQ+ and disability inclusion - we aim to create a space for you to express yourself and make a positive difference. Discover more about life at Arup at www.arup.com/careers/your-life-at-arup.