Finance Transformation Lead / Finance Systems Implementation Consultant (FCA-regulated)
£100,000 to £120,000 depending on experience + benefits / bonus (12 month FTC)
(Finance Business Lead, Not an IT Project Manager)
Location: Hybrid – M4 corridor, Reading/Swindon
Contract: 12‑month Fixed Term Contract
About the Role
Our client is seeking an experienced finance professional to lead the Finance Systems Replacement and Technology Enablement Programme. This is a business‑owned finance transformation role, not an IT delivery post.
You will act as the Finance Transformation Lead, responsible for redesigning core finance processes, shaping the future-state operating model, and ensuring the chosen finance system (Oracle NetSuite / MS Dynamics or similar) fully supports statutory, regulatory and management reporting requirements.
The successful candidate will be a qualified accountant (ACA, CIMA, ACCA, ICAS) with hands-on understanding of financial processes.
Purpose of the Role
- Lead Finance through a major transformation of the General Ledger, AP, AR, reporting and month-end processes;
- Own the functional design of the new finance system based on best‑practice accounting and regulatory requirements;
- Represent the CFO and the Finance function in all aspects of the programme including vendor selection, process redesign, data requirements, implementation and adoption.
- Drive improvements in automation, reporting quality and operational efficiency across Finance.
What makes this role different
This role is intentionally positioned as a Finance Business Lead, meaning:
✅ Finance Expertise First, Technology Second
- You redesign the processes; the technology is there to support your vision.
- Decisions are based on accounting, controls, compliance and reporting - not pure IT architecture.
✅ You Are the Finance Subject Matter Expert
- You interpret accounting impacts of configuration decisions.
- You deeply understand what the new GL, AP, AR and reporting outputs must deliver.
✅ You Drive the Transformation
- IT supports the project and you own the functional decisions, requirements and success criteria.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the end‑to‑end lifecycle of the finance transformation project
- Act as the primary liaison for Finance, engaging with: CFO and senior finance leaders, Group technology teams, System implementation partners and external vendors
- Ensure future-state design supports:
- Month-end close requirements
- Statutory and FCA-regulated reporting
- Controls, reconciliations and audit needs
- Lead data, reporting and MI transformation
Experience & Qualifications Required
Essential:
- Professional accounting qualification (ACA / ACCA / CIMA / ICAS) or equivalent expertise.
- Proven experience leading finance system / GL replacements from the business side.
- Strong knowledge across:
- General Ledger
- AP & AR
- Financial reporting (statutory, regulatory, management)
- Finance operations and controls
- Experience in finance process redesign, data structures and reporting frameworks.
Desirable:
- Experience in Financial Services and FCA-regulated environments.
- Exposure to Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics or similar cloud finance systems.
- Experience working with procurement on vendor selection & RFP processes.
What You Bring
- A finance professional’s mindset: understanding the “why” behind the transformation.
- Ability to challenge, influence and guide senior stakeholders.
- Strong communication skills with the credibility to represent Finance across the business.
- A passion for improving processes, data and reporting, not just delivering a system.
- Ability to oversee a complex programme while keeping the focus firmly on finance outcomes.
Apply with cv to Tim Murray-Brown tim@theengagepartnership.com 07590 533297