Project Manager - Finance Transformation
Hybrid schedule: 2 days a week on-site
Duration: 2 1/2 Years
The Finance Department needs three PMs to oversee critical workstreams n order to ensure the successful execution of the overall program. These program managers are critical to ensure:
• Finance transformation initiatives delivered on time, within scope and budget
• Improved efficiency, consistency, and transparency of finance operations
• Sustained compliance and audit readiness
• Strong trust and satisfaction among Finance, research programs, and senior leadership
The Senior Project Manager – leads enterprise-level initiatives to modernize finance processes, systems, and governance in support of the organization’s mission and sponsor requirements. This role is responsible for planning and delivering complex, cross-functional finance transformation efforts in a regulated, research-driven environment.
Working closely with Finance, IT, Procurements, and research program stakeholders, the Senior Project Manager ensures projects are executed with strong governance, regulatory compliance, and sustainable outcomes that enhance financial transparency, efficiency, and decision-making.
Key Responsibilities
• Lead large, multi-year finance transformation initiatives, including financial systems modernization, ERP implementations or upgrades, and process re-engineering
• Develop and manage integrated project plans, schedules, budgets, risks, and dependencies across multiple workstreams
• Establish and operate effective project governance, including executive steering committees and senior leadership reporting
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal regulations, sponsor requirements, and internal control standards throughout project delivery
• Partner with Finance and IT leadership to translate strategic objectives into executable roadmaps and deliverables
• Coordinate with Compliance, Internal Audit, and Contracts to embed audit readiness and control requirements into solutions
• Lead stakeholder engagement and change management activities, including communications, training coordination, and transition to operations
• Manage cross-functional teams and external vendors, ensuring accountability, quality, and timely delivery
• Identify and mitigate risks related to scope, schedule, cost, regulatory compliance, and organizational readiness
Required Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Information Systems, or a related field
• 8–12+ years of experience leading complex projects or programs, with a strong focus on finance systems, processes, or transformation initiatives
• Functional PM, Enterprise PMO or Corporate PMO experience (should not be only experience in IT PM work)
• Demonstrated experience working in public sector, FFRDC, government contracting, or similarly regulated environments
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence stakeholders in matrixed organizations
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including executive-level reporting
Preferred Qualifications
• Strong understanding of finance functions such as project accounting, record-to-report, procure-to-pay, budgeting, forecasting, and internal controls
• MBA or other advanced degree
• PMP, PgMP, or equivalent project management certification
• Change Management certification, preferred
• Experience with ERP or financial systems commonly used in public sector or research environments (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Workday, Deltek)
• Familiarity with federal sponsor requirements and audits
• Experience leading organizational change in mission-driven or research institutions
-Interim clearance is sufficient to start
-Hybrid schedule: 2 days/wk onsite
-Interview process: initial interview via Zoom, second round zoom interview with interview panel