Finance Operations Program Manager

Our client s is looking for a Finance Operations Program Manager for a 100% remote contract position. You will be an experienced leader with a proven background in delivering large-scale enterprise transformations in corporate systems and processes, particularly in finance or financial services. Unlike a traditional project manager focused only on planning and tracking, the Program Manager will take full ownership of the business challenges, develop and drive the integrated solutions, and oversee delivery through to value realization. This leader must be comfortable operating at varying levels of detail, equally adept at shaping high-level strategy and diving into hands-on execution when needed. In short, this role requires both visionary thinking and a willingness to roll up your sleeves.

What You'll Do

• Program Leadership & Delivery:
  • Own the end-to-end delivery of the project (which includes implementing Coupa for Accounts Payable and Travel & Expense, rolling out a new Target Operating Model in partnership with KPMG, and migrating the General Ledger from Xero to Microsoft D365), ensuring alignment with overall business outcomes and strategic goals.
  • Translate complex business problems across finance and operations into actionable solution designs, and oversee delivery execution, reducing reliance on business SMEs and sponsors for day-to-day decision-making.
• Stakeholder Management:
  • Engage and influence senior business stakeholders (e.g., Finance leadership, department heads) who may not fully understand technology complexities, ensuring expectations are realistic and aligned throughout the program.
  • Act as the bridge between business and technology teams, simplifying technical concepts and gaining buy-in at every level.
  • Manage program-level communications and reporting (including C-suite updates), balancing transparency about challenges with actionable insights and recommendations.
• Vendor & Partner Management:
  • Manage relationships with external partners such as KPMG (for operating model design) and system implementation vendors (for Coupa and D365), holding them accountable for delivery quality, timelines, and value.
  • Ensure effective governance structures are in place with vendors; promptly escalate and resolve issues if performance does not meet expectations or requirements.
• Risk, Issue, & Blocker Management:
  • Proactively identify, log, and mitigate risks, issues, and dependencies across all Project workstreams.

• Implement structured processes for clear ownership of issues, timely escalation of blockers, and effective resolution of problems that could impact delivery.

• Budget & Resource Management:
  • Own the program budget, ensuring accurate forecasting, diligent tracking, and reporting of spend versus plan.
  • Manage resource allocation across internal teams and external partners, optimizing for efficiency, capacity, and delivery outcomes.
• Quality Assurance & Compliance:
  • Establish quality assurance frameworks to validate that all deliverables (system configurations, process changes, data migrations, etc.) meet defined requirements and standards before deployment.
  • Ensure all program activities and changes are well-documented, providing a clear audit trail and compliance with internal governance and any regulatory standards.
• Change management & Business Integration:
  • Partner with business leaders to manage organizational change, embedding new processes, systems, and behaviors introduced through Project.
  • Develop and execute comprehensive training, communication, and user adoption plans to maximize business readiness and value realization from the Coupa implementation and D365 migration.
  • Oversee post-implementation integration, ensuring new systems and processes are fully adopted into business-as-usual operations and delivering the expected benefits.
• Team & Cross-Functional Leadership:
  • Lead cross-functional teams (spanning Finance, IT, Operations, and other groups), fostering collaboration and ensuring accountability for meeting program milestones.
  • Cultivate a high-performing team culture that balances agility with accountability, and mentor team members to drive continuous improvement.

Who You Are

You are an experienced program leader who can operate at both the strategic and tactical levels. You have a proven record of guiding complex initiatives to successful outcomes, and you aren't afraid to dive into the details or get your hands dirty to solve problems. Adaptable and resourceful, you thrive in dynamic, high-growth environments and inspire confidence in those around you by staying focused on delivering value.

Experience

• Extensive program experience delivering complex, multi-stream initiatives (ideally 8+ years in a relevant role).
• Strong understanding of financial and corporate systems; experience implementing platforms such as Coupa (Accounts Payable/Expense Management) or ERP/General Ledger systems (e.g., Microsoft D365) is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with corporate finance processes (accounts payable, expense reporting, general ledger, financial reporting) and an appreciation for regulatory and compliance considerations in a financial services context.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior business leaders and manage diverse stakeholder groups, gaining trust and ensuring alignment across business and technology teams.
• Proven track record of managing external implementation partners or consultants (including negotiating contracts and holding vendors accountable for outcomes).
• Excellent problem-solving skills with a proactive, delivery-focused mindset; able to anticipate roadblocks and drive creative solutions.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills; able to distill complex information into clear, executive-level insights.
• Proficiency with modern project management tools and methodologies (e.g., MS Project, Jira/Azure DevOps, Smartsheet) and high proficiency in standard office software (Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).
• Relevant certifications (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2, Agile/Scrum Master) and experience with process improvement approaches (Lean Six Sigma) are a plus. Direct experience with Coupa, D365, or similar enterprise systems is highly advantageous.

Qualities to ensure success in a fast-paced environment within a B2B startup

• Hands-on Strategist: You are equally comfortable at the 30,000-foot view and "in the weeds" of execution, and you never hesitate to roll up your sleeves to ensure success.
• Clarity in Ambiguity: You have a knack for cutting through ambiguity to identify core priorities and a clear path forward.
• Organized & Dependable: You have exceptional organizational skills and consistently deliver on your commitments and deadlines.
• Trust Builder: You build and earn trust quickly through transparency, integrity, and delivering results.
• Adaptable & Resilient: You thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth environment, easily adapting to changing needs while maintaining focus on the goal.
• Self-Starter: You take initiative and work well in an environment that encourages autonomy, requiring little hand-holding to drive progress.

In this role, you will lead cross-functional teams, senior stakeholders, and external partners to deliver a transformative finance program (implementing Coupa, supporting the transition to D365, and embedding new ways of working) all aimed at strengthening our Finance operations and enabling scalable growth for the company. You will be at the forefront of driving change, ensuring that technology and process innovations translate into real business value across the enterprise.