Senior Project Manager - Finance in Edinburgh

Role Overview

Reporting to Head of Finance Change Portfolio, this role owns the end-to-end delivery of medium to highly complex projects and is responsible for driving the definition of the business case, project objectives, scope, resources and expected business outcomes together with detailed project plans.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end delivery of medium to highly complex Finance projects, identifying key business stakeholders and leading on defining business case, project objectives, scope, resources and agreed set of expected benefits and outcomes.
• In conjunction with the Project Sponsor, communicate the outcomes/benefits of the project across the organisation to garner support and buy in.
• Create and maintain high-quality project plans with built-in risk mitigation strategies and work packages that support delivery, ensuring responsibilities are assigned to project resources.
• Evaluate delivery options and the team's performance, providing feedback where necessary and adjusting plans at regular intervals against scope, schedule, budget, risks, outcomes and benefits.
• Provide regular forecasts of the future Change and BAU resources required for the project.
• Ensure the project delivers the required benefits and outcomes within specified tolerances of time, cost, quality, scope, benefit and risk.
• Conduct regular lessons learned sessions during the life of the project, implementing agreed recommendations to ensure the team learns from experience and proactively shares lessons with the broader Project Management community.
• Adhere to governance standards, including Project Change Standard and guidelines, maintaining accurate RACI and RAID logs and ServiceNow records.
• Produce timely management information ensuring all mandatory documentation (business case, requirement documents/user stories, stage gates, test plans, change requests, closure documents) is completed and signed off at appropriate stages, establishing additional governance as required for project complexity.
• Forecast future external costs, understand drivers of project cost variance and take actions to control costs to budgets or raise change control.
• Monitor and report progress to impacted stakeholders (e.g., sponsor(s), programme manager, Change Programme Directors, steering committee) including ongoing business case viability.
• Independently identify and take ownership of issues, risks and dependencies, making recommendations to mitigate the risk or reduce/remove issues and escalating where appropriate to maintain progress towards delivery.
• Complete handover to BAU and business benefits realisation activities to close off projects.
• Manage resource planning and motivate the project team to ensure a high standard of output, focusing on customer satisfaction and delivery through developing others via ongoing guidance, mentoring or coaching.
• Manage relationships with required teams (e.g., Technology, external suppliers, other business functions) to achieve timely delivery.
• Assist the Programme Manager/Director and Change Programme Director with interviewing and hiring of resources.
• Support the Lead Programme Management Officer in establishing appropriate governance and assuring that the Project Change Standard is appropriately applied.
• Conduct training workshops with Project Managers focused on improving both project and change management capabilities across the Project Management team.
• Participate in improving the change capability across the firm through sharing project and change management disciplines with the wider business.
• Mentor and coach project team members to improve delivery efficacy and support their personal development.

Key Skills, Competencies & Experience

• Confident and effective communicator (both written and verbal) across all levels of the organisation.
• Confident in facilitating medium to large-sized workshops and meetings with stakeholders.
• Ability to motivate, influence and constructively challenge where appropriate.
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships across the business and with external parties.
• Strong organisational and planning skills with the ability to manage multiple projects, resources, priorities and deliverables to tight deadlines.
• Passionate about developing a work environment that embraces and values diversity.
• Attention to detail and the ability to articulate complex ideas/concepts to stakeholders.
• Ability to anticipate, prioritise and resolve issues using problem solving and analytical skills.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills, leading by example and exercising good judgment and decision-making skills.
• Strong programme budgetary control and financial management.
• Commercial mindset to highlight risks covering contractual clauses including penalties.
• Advanced understanding and practical application of project management methodologies.
• In-depth understanding of the asset management, asset owner and asset servicing operating model and associated infrastructure.
• Specific domain knowledge e.g. Regulations, ESG (as applicable to specific role).

Experience

• Significant and demonstrable track record of end-to-end delivery of projects, including demonstrable experience of successfully turning around failing projects, building momentum, and buy-in to a new project.
• Experience of leading business transformation projects, working with both internal and external stakeholders within a Finance Function.
• Experience of working in a highly controlled and regulated environment.
• Working effectively with stakeholders at different levels, including executive and non-executive directors (C Suite and NEDs) and external parties.
• Management and coaching of Project Managers, Business Analysts, Testers, Developers, Subject Matter Experts (line and matrix).

Work Level & Location

• Work Level: Manager / Expert
• Location: Edinburgh (Hybrid 2 - 3 days in the office per week)

What we offer

• Value pension scheme of 18%, with 13% made up of Employer Contributions and 5% Employee Contributions.
• Share Save and Share Incentive Plan, together with access to financial wellbeing and support services.
• 38 days annual leave including bank holidays, with the opportunity to purchase up to 5 extra days and additional flexibility through our Time Off When You Need It policy.
• Inspiring Families policy with comprehensive support and paid parental leave covering maternity, adoption, surrogacy and paternity leave.
• Health & Protection cover including Private Healthcare, Critical Illness cover and Life Assurance for you, with family options.

EEO Statement

We have a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture at M&G, underpinned by our policies and our employee-led networks who provide networking opportunities, advice and support for the diverse communities our colleagues represent. We welcome those who take part in military service and those returning from career breaks. M&G is a Disability Confident Leader, and we welcome applications from candidates with long-term health conditions, disabilities, or neuro divergent conditions. If you need assistance or an alternative means of applying for a role due to a disability or additional need, please let us know by contacting us at: