Head of Finance Change & Transformation

The Head of Finance Change & Transformation will lead the strategic transformation of the Finance function, delivering initiatives that improve automation, efficiency, control, data quality, technology enablement, regulatory compliance, and business insight.

The role will act as the bridge between Finance, Technology, and the organisation to design and implement a future-state finance operating model. The individual will be responsible for developing and delivering the Finance Automation and Efficiency strategy and roadmap, ensuring initiatives generate measurable business value whilst maintaining strong governance and regulatory standards and compliance.

Overseeing the Finance Division’s change management projects, ensuring they are planned, resource and delivered in a timely and cost-efficient manner.

Finance Automation Strategy

• Develop and maintain a multi-year Finance Automation roadmap incorporating AI including maintaining a Book of Work of all project and continuous improvement items.
• Align transformation initiatives with the firm’s strategic objectives, Finance priorities and Finance target operating model.
• Identify opportunities to simplify, standardise and automate finance processes.
• Drive continuous improvement across all areas of Finance including Financial Control, Product Control, Treasury, Regulatory Reporting, Tax, Procurement and FP&A.
• Lead a portfolio of finance change programmes from business case through to implementation and execution. Preparing and presenting automation project business cases to the firm’s Automation forum. Evidencing the realisation of business case benefits to demonstrate project value and delivery.
• Establish robust governance, programme management and benefits tracking frameworks. Establish clear ownership, accountability and governance across Finance activities.
• Manage complex, cross-functional projects involving Finance, Technology, Risk and Operations and the wider business.
• Ensure programmes are delivered on time, within budget and achieve agreed outcomes.
• Improve data quality, governance and reporting capabilities
• Drive standardisation across the team, jurisdictions and business units where appropriate.

Finance Technology & Systems

• Lead finance systems change, enhancement and replacement initiatives.
• Drive the implementation of new systems and solutions.
• Partner with Technology teams to improve data architecture and system integration.
• Champion automation opportunities including workflow tools, AI and data analytics capabilities.

Regulatory & Control Environment

• Ensure automation and transformation activity strengthens regulatory compliance and control frameworks.
• Partner with Risk, Compliance and Internal Audit to embed best practice controls.
• Maintain a strong focus on operational resilience and risk management.

Stakeholder Management

• Build trusted relationships with all levels across the firm including Executive Committee members and senior business leaders.
• Influence strategic decision making through data-driven recommendations.
• Communicate clearly with senior management, Boards, regulators and external auditors.
• Manage external consultancy and vendor relationships where required.

Leadership & People Development

• Lead and develop a high-performing Finance Change and Transformation team.
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation and continuous improvement across the team and wider Finance function.
• Build change capability across the Finance function.

Skills and Experienced required:

Delivery Skills:

• Significant Finance Transformation leadership experience.
• Strong AI Experience.
• Finance systems implementation expertise gained through significant back-office automation projects working in collaboration with Technology.
• Business case development and benefits realisation tracking.
• Preparation and delivery of presentations to senior stakeholders (e.g. ExCo).
• Change management, Project delivery, Book of Work/Portfolio Management.
• Strong Understanding of Finance function in a bank
• Process improvement expertise.
• Experience implementing finance technology solutions and operating in a regulated environment.
• Stakeholder management across Finance and non-Finance teams.
• Governance, reporting, Resource planning and prioritisation.
• Business analysis and requirements gathering.
• Risk, controls and audit awareness. Experience of managing third-parties.
• Experience of capital markets products, front office processes and accounting treatments.
• Expert user of Microsoft Office suite, in particular Excel.
• Ability and desire for ‘hands-on’ exposure to new technologies.

Leadership Skills:

• Strategic and Change Leadership and Team leadership/people management.
• Strategic thinking and Commercial Acumen.
• Problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Influencing, negotiation and Communication, including presentation skills to senior audiences
• Decision-making and prioritisation. Collaboration and relationship building.
• Coaching, mentoring and staff development.
• Attention to detail and accountability.

Qualifications:

• Fully qualified accountant (e.g. ACA, ACCA or CIMA, or international equivalent). 10+ years’ experience within Financial Services or Banking.
• Lean Sigma, Agile, PRINCE2 or equivalent certification.

Experience with Finance ERP platforms and Experience with Planning & Analytics tools required.

• Significant Finance Transformation leadership experience.
• Strong AI Experience.
• Finance systems implementation expertise gained through significant back-office automation projects working in collaboration with Technology.
• Business case development and benefits realisation tracking.
• Preparation and delivery of presentations to senior stakeholders (e.g. ExCo).
• Change management, Project delivery, Book of Work/Portfolio Management.
• Strong Understanding of Finance function in a bank
• Process improvement expertise.
• Experience implementing finance technology solutions and operating in a regulated environment.
• Stakeholder management across Finance and non-Finance teams.
• Governance, reporting, Resource planning and prioritisation.
• Business analysis and requirements gathering.
• Risk, controls and audit awareness. Experience of managing third-parties.
• Experience of capital markets products, front office processes and accounting treatments.
• Expert user of Microsoft Office suite, in particular Excel.
• Ability and desire for ‘hands-on’ exposure to new technologies., * Strategic and Change Leadership and Team leadership/people management.
• Strategic thinking and Commercial Acumen.
• Problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Influencing, negotiation and Communication, including presentation skills to senior audiences
• Decision-making and prioritisation. Collaboration and relationship building.
• Coaching, mentoring and staff development.
• Attention to detail and accountability., * Fully qualified accountant (e.g. ACA, ACCA or CIMA, or international equivalent). 10+ years’ experience within Financial Services or Banking.
• Lean Sigma, Agile, PRINCE2 or equivalent certification.

Experience with Finance ERP platforms and Experience with Planning & Analytics tools required.