Head of Global Finance Programmes

**Head of Global Finance Programmes**

**1 Elmwood, Crockford Lane, Chineham Park**
**Basingstoke, RG24 8WG**
**United Kingdom**

A job with Merlin isn’t like a job anywhere else. With attractions around the world, from rollercoasters to wax figures, we don’t trade in suits, handshakes or briefcases. We trade in fun. In smiles, shrieks and spine-tingles. In Memories. In magic. But there are no tricks behind our magic. Instead, there are people like you. Passionate, dedicated people who are committed to making sure our worldwide attractions and guests’ experiences are the best they can be.

Due to continuing growth and development of Merlin’s attractions and brands on a global scale, we are looking for a **Head of Global Finance Programmes** to join our Finance team on a permanent basis. This role will be located at our The Merlin Hub - Basingstoke office.

**About the role...**

You will need to work collaboratively with senior business leaders and monitor multiple projects to sustain / enhance / extend the current Group Finance system/data footprint. Also influence such stakeholders and facilitating significant and complex system, process and people changes, resulting in improved financial processes and cost reduction outcomes.

Reporting into Director of Group Financial Control, you will oversee Merlin’s Group Finance systems, alongside driving a strategy / change agenda, which will ultimately align all Merlin businesses with this approach / way of working. This currently includes multiple transactional accounting systems (NetSuite, Nav & Sage), along with extended systems (Concur etc), source system integrations; and directly managing the systems which consolidate Merlin’s financial accounts (HFM) and revenue reporting (TM1). Key responsibilities include:

- Responsible for the integrity of financial and master data held in all such systems
- Playing a key role in enabling Merlin to get the most out of its data / reporting capabilities; whilst maintaining adequate controls and ongoing maintenance / support measures
- This team is technically responsible for maintaining and developing several tactical solutions / interfaces (aka off-system-processes), which the UK FHub rely on
- Maintain a broad awareness of other changes, both within and beyond the business, that may impact both the current finance system landscape and any change plans in flight
- Having a strong relationship with several Merlin teams. For example, Merlin IT data/reporting and FinSys support, the centralised UK FHub, many sites across the globe, and key software vendors
- Translating the strategic direction and business objectives into programme plans and holistic change management strategies that support more efficient and effective finance processes
- For Europe and Asia locations specifically, provide technical, programme management and change management support to the Europe and Asia finance process champions, supporting the development of finance system and process strategies, and the associated business cases, for these geographies
- Be the focal point for feedback both to and from the business, to help generate business confidence in the Finance solution and associated change management activities
- Providing leadership to the multiple project workstreams involved in co-ordinating the transition of businesses to the new Finance model, ensuring that key deliverables are completed on time
- Establishing a control framework for managing the programme, including both formal reporting arrangements on progress against key milestones, risk management, programme resource / budget control and benefit tracking

***About You...**
- You will have experience of executing large scale and fast paced finance transformation
- Experience of working in a global business environment
- Extensive experience of working across organisational levels and maintaining working relationships with stakeholders
- Strong quality management principles and processes
- Excellent communication / presentation skills - ability to communicate complexity with a high degree of professionalism
- Strong organisational awareness with a good understanding of common cross-functional issues
- Track record of delivering high-quality work on time in a fast-paced environment
- Track record of proactivity and getting difficult things done
- Strong business finance acumen and analytical skills
- Strong risk assessment and management principles and capabilities
- Track record of establishing governance, scope definition, RAID establishment and review, plans creation and review, quality planning, resource planning and execution
- You should be a strategic business partner and advise key stakeholders on risk and regulations when considering large scale activities
- You will be able to influence strategically by presenting relevant and insightful information to help inform business decisions and direction
- Assimilates information for complex situations and can balance risk