Project Manager Finance Transformation

WPP is the creative transformation company. We use the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients, and communities. Working at WPP means being part of a global network of more than 100,000 talented people dedicated to doing extraordinary work for our clients. We operate in over 100 countries with corporate headquarters in New York, London, and Singapore. WPP is a world leader in marketing services with deep AI, data, and technology capabilities, global presence, and unrivaled creative talent. Our clients include many of the biggest companies and advertisers in the world, including approximately 300 of the Fortune Global 500.

Our people are the key to our success. We are committed to fostering a culture of creativity, belonging, and continuous learning, attracting and developing the brightest talent, and providing exciting career opportunities that help our people grow. We are seeking an experienced Project Manager to drive the successful execution of critical finance transformation initiatives across WPPs global network.

Reporting to the Global Finance Transformation Program Director, this role is crucial for delivering specific transformation projects and workstreams, ensuring adherence to timelines, budgets, and quality standards. You will leverage your strong project management skills and finance transformation knowledge to manage complex initiatives, ensuring meticulous planning, execution, and communication across diverse stakeholder groups.

This position offers a high-impact opportunity to contribute directly to the future of WPPs finance function, achieving operational excellence and strategic value.

Key Responsibilities

• The Project Manager Finance Transformation will be instrumental in the delivery of key projects within WPPs global finance transformation roadmap.
• Your core responsibilities will include: • Project Delivery & Execution: Manage the end-to-end execution of complex multi-year global finance transformation workstreams across the center, agency, and shared service center levels, ensuring strict adherence to timelines, budgets, and quality standards. • Detailed Planning & Scheduling: Develop comprehensive project plans, schedules, and resource allocations, translating strategic objectives into actionable tasks and milestones. • Stakeholder Coordination & Communication: Coordinate with key project stakeholders across finance agencies and SSCs, providing structured and concise updates to ensure alignment and clarity. • Executive Reporting & Storytelling: Develop high-quality SteerCo and board-ready materials, integrating clear narratives, structured status reporting, metrics, risks, and key decisions required to ensure senior stakeholders have a complete, concise view of project progress. • Interdependency Management: Track and manage interdependencies across the wider transformation program, ensuring sequencing, impacts, and linkages are fully understood and communicated. • PMO Collaboration & Adherence: Collaborate closely with the PMO function, adhering to established governance frameworks, reporting standards, and processes to ensure alignment with the broader transformation program. • Risk & Issue Management: Proactively identify, assess, track, and mitigate project-level risks, dependencies, and potential roadblocks, developing robust contingency plans and escalating critical issues to the Global Finance Transformation Program Director. • Resource & Team Facilitation: Facilitate effective collaboration among project team members, often distributed globally and cross-functional groups, fostering a positive and productive working environment. • Informally mentor junior team members as appropriate. • Process Improvement & Documentation: Support process re-engineering efforts within assigned projects, ensuring detailed documentation of new processes, system requirements, and functional specifications. • Workshop Facilitation: Design and facilitate project workshops with various stakeholders, including senior management, to gather requirements, drive consensus, and achieve project objectives. • Innovation Application: Stay current on relevant finance transformation trends and tools, identifying opportunities to enhance project delivery.

Desired Skills & Experiences

We are seeking a highly organized, detail-oriented, and results-driven individual who can successfully navigate complex project environments. You will be instrumental in executing critical transformation initiatives, ensuring meticulous planning, diligent execution, and transparent communication. You must be adept at managing competing priorities, coordinating diverse project teams, and fostering strong working relationships with stakeholders across various functions and geographies.

Project Management Expertise

• 7-10 years of progressive experience in project management within large-scale global transformation initiatives with a significant focus on finance transformation.
• Proven track record of successfully managing complex projects involving multiple workstreams, diverse stakeholders, and frequently competing priorities to strict deadlines and budgets.
• Strong understanding and practical application of project management methodologies, e.g., Agile, Waterfall, Hybrid approaches.
• Proficiency in project management software, e.g., Jira, Asana, Microsoft Project, Smartsheet.

Finance Transformation Knowledge

• Solid understanding of finance transformation concepts, including operating model design, shared services, process re-engineering, and ERPCloud finance system implementations.
• Experience with financial systems implementations, e.g., Workday Financials or HR system transformations, shared service center stand-up optimization.

Communication & Stakeholder Management

• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, written and oral, with a proven ability to communicate effectively and articulately at all organizational levels from technical teams to senior leadership.
• Meticulous attention to detail in planning, execution, and reporting.
• Exceptional ability to cultivate strong working relationships with project stakeholders across various functions and agencies, ensuring alignment and effective collaboration.

Problem-Solving & Analytical Acumen

• Strong analytical, quantitative, and problem-solving abilities, capable of identifying root causes, developing effective solutions, and managing project-level risks.
• Experience with project budget tracking, reconciliation, and reporting.

Leadership & Personal Attributes

• A strong project leader with the ability to influence without direct authority, motivate teams, and drive accountability.
• Self-starter with a proactive outcome-oriented mindset and the flexibility to navigate continuous, complex change.
• High degree of integrity, professionalism, and ethical conduct.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Quick learner with the ability to understand new finance processes, systems, and project contexts rapidly.

Education & Certifications

• Bachelors degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Certification in Project Management, PMP, or Agile, e.g., Scrum Master, is highly desirable.

About WPP

We are open, inclusive, and collaborative. We encourage the free exchange of ideas, respect and celebrate diverse views. We are open-minded to new ideas, new partnerships, new ways of working. Youre optimistic, believing in the power of creativity, technology, and talent to create brighter futures for our people, clients, and communities.

We approach all that we do with conviction to try the new and to seek the unexpected. Youre extraordinary, being a creative leader and pioneer in our industry, providing extraordinary work every day.

What We Offer

• Passionate, inspired people - We aim to create a culture in which people can do extraordinary work.
• Scale and opportunity - We offer the opportunity to create influence and complete projects at a scale that is unparalleled in the industry.
• Challenging and stimulating work - Unique work and the opportunity to join a group of creative problem solvers.

Compensation

The base salary range for this position at the time of this posting is indicated below. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications.

• $60,000 - $140,000 USD

Work Environment

We believe the best work happens when were together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. Thats why weve adopted a hybrid approach with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

WPP is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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