Programme Director (Tranformation and Financa)

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Job Purpose

This is a broad role spanning Group Finance's Portfolio of projects and will be supported by a Senior Project Manager. Its scope includes, but is not limited to:

• Corporate restructuring or Legal Entity Rationalisation
• Consolidation, Reporting & Planning tool implementation (EPM)
• Finance ERP system
• Other smaller projects across Finance

The Program Director is a senior, hands-on leadership role responsible for launching and managing a multi-faceted programme. This includes driving transformation initiatives, setting up technology and processes for scalability. Success in this role requires strategic thinking and deep delivery expertise across finance.

This position will work closely with senior leaders, such as the CFO, other Executive Directors, the Finance Leadership Team, the Director of Transformation, Group Technology, Legal and HR to ensure programmes are delivered within scope, on time, and on budget.

About our Business Transformation Office

The Business Transformation Office (BTO) within RWS serves as a strategic hub responsible for driving and overseeing organizational and technology change initiatives aimed at enhancing corporate performance, efficiency and competitiveness. It plays a pivotal role in facilitating and orchestrating transformational efforts across various business functions and units, globally.

At its core, RWS's BTO functions as a catalyst for change, working closely with the Executive Leadership Team, departmental heads, and cross-functional teams to identify strategic priorities, define transformation objectives, and develop comprehensive roadmaps for execution. The Portfolio is business driven and often technology enabled. The BTO also acts as the reporting body from all the programmes and projects to the Executive Leadership and ensures there is an integrated plan across the portfolio.

Job Overview

Key Responsibilities

Program Launch & Leadership:

• Lead the in-flight projects and the launch of new complex projects across the Finance Portfolio
• Ensure people, process, technology and data are aligned
• Establish and track OKRs to monitor outcome progress and ensure value realisation
• Develop and manage a detailed programme plan, including critical path activities, timelines, milestones
• Reporting to Programme Steerco and the Finance Leadership Team
• Cost benefit optimisation and realisation leading to the best ROI for RWS

Risk Management & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Identify potential risks and develop proactive mitigation strategies to ensure smooth program execution
• Collaborate closely with senior leadership to align priorities and manage complex stakeholder relationships
• Be a trusted partner to cross-functional teams, balancing multiple priorities and driving alignment

Global & Functional Co-ordination

• Lead cross-functional efforts across European and US time zones to ensure seamless execution
• Partner with internal teams, external 3rd Parties and stakeholders to orchestrate program success

Skills & Experience

• This role requires a leader who is likely to be a qualified accountant and has spent time as a management consultant, consulting primarily in the Finance function
• Proven experience as a Programme Lead / Director / Senior Manager from project ideation to completion
• Expertise in a range of different Finance function programmes and projects
• A solid understanding of Finance systems and can operate in a complex technology landscape
• Ability to work under pressure, manage multiple priorities, and adapt to changing environments and operational needs
• Self-starter with a high level of motivation and entrepreneurial thinking
• Strong understanding of project management methodologies, tools, and techniques

Life at RWS

At RWS, we're here for one purpose: unlocking global understanding.

As a unique, world-leading provider of technology-enabled language, content, and intellectual property services, we remove the barriers to communication to make global connection possible. Our unrivalled experience and deep understanding of language have been developed over more than 60 years. As we look to shape the future, our ambition is to create a world where understanding is universal for everyone.

We work with over 80% of the world's top 100 brands, more than three-quarters of Fortune's 20 'Most Admired Companies' and almost all the top pharmaceutical companies, investment banks, law firms and patent filers. Our client base spans Europe, Asia Pacific and North and South America. Our 65+ global locations across five continents service clients in the automotive, chemical, financial, legal, medical, pharmaceutical, technology and telecommunications sectors.

If you like the idea of working with smart people who are passionate about breaking down language barriers and giving back to their communities, then you'll love life at RWS. Our work fundamentally recognizes the value of every language and culture. So, we celebrate difference, we are inclusive and believe that diversity makes us strong.

We want every employee to grow as an individual and excel in their career. In return, we expect all our people to live by the values that unite us: to partner with colleagues and clients, to adopt a pioneering spirit, to be positive in progressing the work we do, and always to deliver what we promise.

RWS Values

Get the 3Ps right - Partner, Pioneer, Progress - and we'll Deliver together as One RWS.

For further information, please visit: RWS

RWS embraces DEI and promotes equal opportunity, we are an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind. RWS is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at RWS are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, religion, nationality, ethnicity, sex, age, disability, or sexual orientation. RWS will not tolerate discrimination based on any of these characteristics.