SAP FICO Lead in Newport Pagnell

Welcome Break Support Centre, Newport Pagnell, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK16 9EZ

Introduction To Role

Competitive pay plus fantastic benefits, bonus scheme & discounts. Applegreen is in a rapid growth phase and has recently upgraded the back‑office operations to the latest generation SAP S/4 HANA. The systems are supported by a SAP Centre of Excellence (CoE), responsible for best‑in‑class delivery of SAP support to a growing multi‑country user community. The SAP CoE will be a fast‑moving proactive support function, delivering quick wins and simple business solutions through a disciplined governance process that aligns priorities. The CoE is focused on meeting customer expectations while delivering a service that is second to none. The CoE aims to educate and empower, joining forces across teams to connect solutions and eliminate issues, and to switch attention to continuous improvement opportunities.

The FICO Lead role will form part of the SAP CoE and the successful candidate will guide a small team within the CoE, playing a key role in the ongoing support and continued development of the FICO module. The role reports to the Head of Enterprise Applications and will require leadership accountability with a focus on process‑driven performance, intense collaboration with both team and customer, thoughtful, fast and disciplined execution. The successful candidate will be passionate, customer‑focused and have a tenacious commitment to continuous improvement. You will be accountable for the services that the team deliver to the customer and will ensure that agreed service‑level targets as well as levels of quality are managed and maintained. You will continually strive to improve the services delivered by the team and drive improvement initiatives that align Applegreen with best practice and process.

Key Responsibilities For a SAP FICO Lead

• Independently lead the module and drive & participate in business discussions; provide recommendations, solutions in various processes.
• Lead onshore and offshore teams and work with them to address customer concerns.
• Engage the technical team for technical discussions as well as discuss at a functional level with the wider business.
• Be part of the solution‑making process for any incidents/project changes.
• Facilitate the implementation and support of SAP Financials (focus on FICO Controlling – Cost Center Accounting, Profit Center Accounting, Product Costing, Profitability Analysis, Project System, Results Analysis, Unsettled Costs, Month End).
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with internal clients at all levels of the Company.
• Closely collaborate with key stakeholders (such as Finance and the Retail Operations teams), drive the development of the FICO function in all areas and manage the prioritisation of all activities.
• Manage stakeholder communication across the business groups to ensure a seamless service.
• Provide the relevant support for all Super Users and end users of SAP.
• Drive the analysis, implementation, testing and documentation of new and enhanced systems and processes.
• Manage individuals within the CoE FI team to support them in their development and to meet their objectives.
• Provide day‑to‑day oversight of the FI activities within the CoE, ensuring agreed deliverables are met.
• Identify problems by analysing trends of incidents and work with your team, colleagues and partners to resolve them in a timely manner.
• Identify potential efficiencies / alternate uses based on SAP experience.
• Coordinate with other CoE sub‑teams and offshore resources as required.
• Participate in change management and communication activities as required.
• Support the training and development of the team, ensuring that they have the right skills.
• Work with the CoE Lead to contribute to the strategic direction of the CoE function, incorporating industry and system best practices.
• Keep abreast of industry trends and cultivate an SAP support network.
• Stay up to date with SAP developments and how they can be leveraged for the Company.
• Look at ways of improving ways of working across the SAP CoE team.
• Work towards migrating custom developments out of the core to BTP solution.
• Design and deliver good practice future R2R processes across all the sub‑process areas e.g. fixed assets, intercompany, project accounting, period end close, consolidation etc.
• Delivery of R2R best practice process design in a SAP S/4 HANA implementation, working alongside Global Process Owners, business SME’s and Technology to drive full end‑to‑end process standardisation and simplification.
• Assessment and delivery of next‑gen digital tools to create efficient, effective and automated finance processes.

What An SAP FICO Lead Will Ideally Have

• 5+ years FICO experience is essential, with specific experience in Finance, Treasury and banking operations.
• Minimum of 3 full SAP E2E implementation experience with at least 2 implementations on SAP FICO preferably in a lead role.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience working in supporting BAU systems.
• Strong functional knowledge of ERP systems (at least 5 years’ experience).
• Experience with SAP including ECC, SD and MM a key advantage.
• SAP upgrade experience would be advantageous.
• Strong background in the Retail industry is preferable.
• Detail‑orientated with ability to understand and see the broader impacts.
• Confident and professional communication skills throughout the business.
• Focus on excellence and results; holds accountability for commitments and deliverables.
• Ability to sell a concept and get it over the line for the good of the business.
• Ability to interact with a variety of stakeholders (both technical and functional) to resolve issues as they arise.
• High proficiency with Microsoft Office.
• Strong FICO skills and accounting skills.
• Experience in Financial Global, New‑GL, AR, Bank Accounting, Asset Management, Cost Center and Profitability Accounting.
• Experience in working with interfaces and integration with third‑party systems.
• Experience in writing functional specifications.
• Excellent communication skills including written, verbal, and presentation.
• Knowledge in cross‑module functionality and processes.
• Ability to work within a team environment.
• Ability to lead and manage projects/accounts.

Additional Key Skills & Attributes

• A dynamic individual who adapts well to change and can thrive in a company which is rapidly growing and evolving.
• A highly organised individual with ability to plan and organise own workload effectively for maximum impact and work flexibly around changing priorities as required.
• Ability to execute directly at high quality and pace.
• A ‘can do’ attitude and a positive solution‑focused mindset.
• Committed to their role, with a strong work ethic, and ambitious in building their future capability and career.
• A strong focus on innovations and trends and invests in their external network.
• Has strong commercial acumen.
• Ability to engage and develop relationships with individuals at all levels of the organisation.
• Is a self‑starter who is driven and can work on own initiative.
• Is resilient and calm under pressure.
• Has sound judgement and objective logical decision‑making skills.
• A team player, with exceptional interpersonal skills, and ability to influence.
• Has strong leadership potential and management skills, who will be a role‑model for the people and culture at Applegreen.
• Willing to travel ad hoc if required.

About Applegreen

Established in 1992, Applegreen is a convenience food and beverage retailer and operator of petrol forecourts and motorway service areas with a major presence in the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the USA. The Group is focused on acquiring and developing new Service Area and Petrol Filling Station sites in each of the three markets in which it operates. As at 30 June 2019, the business operated 483 forecourt sites and employed c11,000 people. The Group offers a distinctive convenience retail offering with three key elements: A “low fuel prices, always” price promise to drive footfall to the stores; A “Better Value Always” tailored retail offer; A strong food and beverage focus aiming to offer premium products and service to the customer.

In addition to its own proprietary Bakewell brand, the Group enjoys established partnerships with a portfolio of high‑quality international brands. Following the Welcome Break acquisition, new brand partners include Starbucks, Waitrose, WH Smith, KFC, Pizza Express, Taco Bell, Subway and the Ramada and Days Inn hotel brands. These are in addition to existing brands including Burger King, Subway, Costa Coffee, Greggs, Lavazza, Chopsticks, Freshii and 7‑Eleven, some of which also have an existing presence on the Welcome Break network. Applegreen is the number one Motorway Service Area operator in the Republic of Ireland and the number two Motorway Service Area operator in the United Kingdom. Applegreen prides itself on its Charitable Fund, which was set up in 2009. Every time a customer buys a shop‑and‑fuel or a shop‑only purchase, the company donates 1c to the Applegreen Charitable Fund.