Finance Transformation Strategy Lead

We believe in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future. As strategies, technologies, and innovation collide, we create opportunity from complexity. Our teams of interdisciplinary experts combine innovative thinking and breakthrough technologies to progress further, faster. Our clients adapt and transform, and together we achieve enduring results. We are over 4,000 strategists, innovators, designers, consultants, digital experts, scientists, engineers, and technologists. And we have deep expertise in consumer and manufacturing, defence and security, energy and utilities, financial services, government and public services, health and life sciences, and transport. Our teams operate globally from offices across the UK, Ireland, US, Nordics, and Netherlands.

As a Finance Transformation Principal Consultant within the Sourcing, IT Strategy and Corporate Services capability at PA, you will be given the opportunity to work on complex and interesting challenges faced by public and private sector organisations in the UK and internationally. You will be trusted to work across diverse programmes with our clients to improve their back-office functions, offering a rare opportunity to build unrivalled expertise and experience. PA offers more than a job. We offer a career in consulting, a stake in our firm, and an environment where individuals and ideas matter.

As a Corporate Services consultant, there are a number of areas where you will deliver value to your clients – by guiding them in transforming their Finance or Procurement function, leading their efforts to leverage a shared service, or supporting them through the selection and embedding of a new ERP solution into their business. You will provide client-side advice throughout the full lifecycle of the transformation, from initial strategy, through delivery, to completion and benefits realisation. You will demonstrate initiative, drive, and a commitment to helping your clients succeed. At PA you have the license to think innovatively when it comes to achieving the best outcomes for our clients. We build multi-disciplinary teams to achieve our clients’ ambitions so you will have the opportunity to work with colleagues with a range of business transformation, technology, and digital expertise across a range of sectors.

We are looking for experienced finance transformation and corporate service consultants that understand the full life cycle of finance transformation from strategy through to delivery. We are looking for adaptable finance professionals that have a diverse skillset, equally comfortable in designing functional strategies and operating models to landing transformative digital programmes through business change.

• Lead or support client and PA Consulting teams performing Finance strategy development, operating model design, process and system design, and transformation planning
• Manage Finance process and system developments and implementations, including vendor and Systems Integrator oversight
• Manage teams to optimise Finance processes with digital capabilities (e.g. Oracle Fusion Cloud, SAP S4 HANA, Microsoft D365) and AI technologies
• Provide client-side advisory support and best practice advice across the full transformation lifecycle
• Support change management, employee engagement, training, and benefits realisation

Hybrid working - our approach is to be in the office or on client site a minimum of 2 days per week. However, the actual time you spend and where you spend it will vary by role or assignment, including up to 5 days per week on a client site.

• Experience in Finance transformation programmes or Finance performance improvement projects
• Strong consulting skills and stakeholder engagement
• Knowledge of Finance platforms (Oracle, SAP, MS D365 or similar)
• Ability to work across sectors and adapt to varied client environments
• Experience in Finance process and systems design, data migration, and reporting strategy

• Qualified or part qualified accountant or significant experience of working in Finance functions in line management, project delivery or change supporting roles
• Shows strong social, interpersonal, and analytical skills – and is generally seen as a strong communicator with excellent intervention and presentation skills
• Experience creating and nurturing strong client relationships
• Experience of operating in public and private sectors
• A drive for personal and professional progression

We know the skill-gap and ‘somewhat need to tick every box’ can get in the way of meeting brilliant candidates, so please don’t hesitate to apply – we’d love to hear from you.

Please be aware that some of our UK roles at PA Consulting require a UK security clearance. All PA people are required to undergo background checks and to achieve the Baseline Personnel Security Standard however, some UK roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting, where applicants must have at least 5 years of continuous residency in the UK. We therefore ask that you only apply if you meet the residency requirements (i.e. you are a British citizen or have been resident in the UK for the past 5 years), as this is the prerequisite for a security clearance. If you're unsure about your eligibility, we encourage you to review the UK Government’s guidance on security vetting before applying.

Life At PA encompasses our peoples' experience at PA. It's about how we enrich peoples’ working lives by giving them access to unique people and growth opportunities and purpose led meaningful work. Our purpose guides how we work with our clients and our teams, and our communities, to deliver insight and impact, solving the world’s most complex challenges. We're focused on building a workplace that values human difference and diverse mindsets, and a culture of inclusion and equality that unlocks the potential in our people so everyone can be their best self.

We are dedicated to supporting the physical, emotional, social and financial well-being of our people. Check out some of our extensive benefits:

• Health and lifestyle perks accompanying private healthcare
• 25 days annual leave (plus a bonus half day on Christmas Eve) with the opportunity to buy 5 additional days
• Generous company pension scheme
• Opportunity to get involved with community and charity-based initiatives
• Annual performance-based bonus
• PA share ownership
• Tax efficient benefits (cycle to work, give as you earn)

We’re committed to advancing equality. We recruit, retain, reward and develop our people based solely on their abilities and contributions and without reference to their age, background, disability, genetic information, parental or family status, religion or belief, race, ethnicity, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity (or expression), political belief, veteran status, or any other range of human difference brought about by identity and experience. We welcome applications from underrepresented groups.

Adjustments or accommodations - Should you need any adjustments or accommodations to the recruitment process, at either application or interview, please contact us.