Lead IT Applications Software Engineer - Finance Systems

About IRIS Software Group is one of the UK's largest privately held software companies, trusted by 100,000+ businesses, schools and accountancy firms to keep their operations running. Our software pays 1 in 6 UK employees, supports over 12,000 schools, and is relied on by 91 of the top 100 UK accountancy firms. We're a Great Place to Work® certified employer, recognised for our commitment to well-being, inclusion and development - and we're growing fast.

Purpose of Job We are seeking a Senior Engineer, Finance Systems to design, build, and integrate finance applications, with a particular speciality in FP&A (Financial Planning and Analysis). The first assignment is a purchased FP&A product: this role will be the internal technical owner, directing the software vendor and/or a system integrator (SI) through implementation and ongoing maintenance. The remit then extends to other finance applications as the estate grows. You will work alongside our NetSuite platform team. We value collaborative problem-solving, effective design, and delivering quality solutions. You will help maintain best practices, security, and business continuity, with Finance stakeholders as the focus. This is an excellent opportunity to join a growing team with scope for personal and professional growth.

Main Responsibilities As the Senior Engineer, Finance Systems, your responsibilities will be as follows. This is a hands-on senior engineering role with no IRIS direct reports; leadership is through technical direction of vendors and system integrator (SI) partners.

• Act as the internal technical owner for finance applications, with a particular speciality in FP&A: for the purchased FP&A product, and later for other finance applications, direct the vendor and/or system integrator (SI) through implementation and ongoing maintenance, including scope, design review, UAT, and go-live, quality-assure the work, and own the outcome.
• Prefer configuration over customisation, keep solutions within product boundaries, and challenge Finance stakeholders to adjust processes where a process change is a better fit than custom development.
• Ensure an effective transition from the SI to business-as-usual, including continued improvement, development, and support of the applications.
• Design, develop, configure, and integrate finance applications beyond the initial FP&A assignment, including integrations with other systems and with NetSuite as the ERP hub, using APIs, data models, and process automation.
• Partner with Finance stakeholders to turn FP&A and other finance requirements into technical designs and working solutions.
• Create and maintain comprehensive documentation for all development and customisation activities.
• Provide security, data protection, and technical guidance to SI partners and colleagues on finance-application development, integration patterns, and delivery best practices.
• Stay current on finance-application platforms and recommend improvements. Partner with Finance, the NetSuite platform team, and other systems teams.

Person specification Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree in computer science (CS), Computer Information Systems (CIS), Management Information Systems (MIS), Business Administration, or a related subject is preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years building and integrating business applications, with finance-domain exposure such as FP&A, ERP, billing, or similar.
• Experience working in a finance-systems landscape that includes an ERP (NetSuite or similar) is desirable.

Knowledge/Experience

• Hands-on experience developing and integrating business or finance applications, including APIs, data models, SQL or equivalent, and middleware or similar integration tools.
• Understanding of configuration versus customisation, and experience keeping packaged products within configuration boundaries.
• Experience implementing, maintaining, or technically overseeing a commercial FP&A product is highly desirable (for example Anaplan, OneStream, Pigment, or NetSuite Planning and Budgeting).
• Comfortable being the internal engineer who oversees a vendor or system integrator (SI) implementation of a purchased finance application, while also doing hands-on engineering on other finance systems.
• Working knowledge of development and IT service management practices, including change management, service requests, and incident and problem management.
• Working knowledge of access management, IT controls, and relevant compliance frameworks such as SOC, SOX, and GDPR.
• Working knowledge of Jira and Confluence.
• Experience working with or managing system integrators (SIs) / implementation partners.
• Excellent documentation skills to ensure clear and comprehensive records of development activities.
• Experience working in Agile teams.
• Experience providing technical guidance and mentoring on development best practices.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including stakeholder engagement and expectation management, with the ability to convey technical concepts to Finance and other non-technical stakeholders.

Key Competencies

• Self-starter with the ability to work independently, handle multiple tasks, and maintain organisation and prioritisation skills in a fast-paced environment.
• Enthusiastic about technology, proactive, and self-motivated with a track record of personal and team success.
• Directs SI and vendor partners effectively, owning delivery quality and outcomes without requiring line-management responsibility.
• Demonstrates strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excels in problem-solving and has good analytical abilities.
• Takes ownership and consistently prioritises doing the right thing.
• Agile ways of working including transparency, strong work ethic and supporting others.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and expectation management.
• Shows urgency and responsiveness when handling incidents or requests.
• Applies critical thinking and sound decision-making, and escalates appropriately.

Why You’ll Love Working Here Impact: Your work will influence millions globally. Growth: Continuous learning and career development opportunities. Belonging: A culture that celebrates diversity and empowers every individual.

Ready to Apply? Click Apply - we’re excited to learn about your unique perspective and experience. If you need adjustments during the process, let us know. We’re committed to making this opportunity accessible to everyone.

What to expect from our hiring process Our process is designed to be fair, transparent and straightforward. Stages vary depending on the role — more senior positions may involve additional steps, and some areas include role-specific assessments such as a technical test or case study — but typically you can expect: Application review — we assess your experience and potential Initial call — a short conversation to learn about you and share more about the role Skills assessment — tailored to the position, e.g. case study, coding challenge or portfolio review Final interview — meet the team and explore how you'll make an IMPACT at IRIS We'll always walk you through the specific stages at the start of the process so you can prepare with confidence. If you need any adjustments or accommodations during the process, let us know, we’re committed to making this experience accessible for everyone.