D&T Consolidation & Planning Systems Manager

As part of our exciting Group solutions journey, we have an opportunity for an experienced Consolidation & Planning Systems Manager to join the Digital and Technology team.  This is a great opportunity for a strong functional & technical solution lead experienced in EPM Technologies (Oracle Hyperion and OneStream) at a Group level to establish and own the role from day one. Purpose of role: The role is a business partnering role involving engagement with key Compass Group Finance business stakeholders and requires excellent communication and facilitation abilities underpinned by an in depth understanding of technology and processes. The role is to manage Compass’s Group Oracle Hyperion Financial Management (HFM) and OneStream applications as the primary point of contact (SME) for IT support and ensuring robust IT service delivery from external service providers.  
Possess a strong functional and technical knowledge of Oracle HFM and OneStream.  Highly experienced in providing excellent customer service and problem resolution.  Key responsibilities include:

• Take full ownership of resolving immediate technology system issues as they impact the customer involving troubleshooting, logging, reporting and escalating issues to the relevant stakeholders once all lines of enquiry have been followed.  Including the distribution of support communications when applicable.
• Manage nearshore/offshore partner team resources delivery, ensuring:

First class functional & technical support to end users.Ensure technical support and support processes are provided within agreed support hours. A robust Incident, Service and Change process including impact assessment and root cause when applicable.Analysis and prioritisation of demand to ensure delivery within agreed timescales and we gain maximum value of our applications.Requirements are properly understood, technical design, testing and documentation meets system standards. Maintain Technical documentation in a single repository.

• Responsible for the Upgrade, Release & Change Management lifecycle that involves the stages such as scheduling the release/change and coordinating between teams (Business & Application Supplier/Vendor).
• Partnering with key Business Stakeholders to shape the IT demand gaining buy-in and engagement on medium and long term roadmaps.
• Pro-actively contribute to the continuous improvement of technology/business processes through identifying opportunities for improvement and implementing changes.
• Work with heads of departments and to implement relevant regulatory and legislative changes in a timely fashion.
• Execute all internal processes and perform audits to ensure integrity of all systems and collaborate with functional users to develop all business processes and provide support to all associate activities.
• Provide input and quality assurance into the production of functional and technical specifications for new and existing business managed systems, and/or new components or interfaces between existing systems if required.
• Working with Vendors/Suppliers to develop the ‘Art of the Possible’ and maintain guidelines on best practice for introducing new functionality and integration solutions.

Key experiences: Core Skills & Knowledge 

• Bachelor’s degree required. Masters degree or equivalent experience preferred, or suitable professional qualification where applicable.
• EPM background with strong (5 years+) technical financial consolidation and planning knowledge both through the implementation lifecycle and in a business as usual context within Oracle HFM (v11.2.15) and OneStream Planning (v8).
• Strong knowledge of integration with regional SAP systems through Financial Data Quality Management (FDMEE).
• Use third party tools such as EPM Maestro for monitoring, housekeeping and process automation.  
• Strong SQL, VBScript (for the development of HFM rules).

Functional Skills & Knowledge

• Experience from group reporting processes (eliminations, validations, context and considerations, understand impact of change).
• Experience in conducting design workshops, designing solutions, and producing documentations for relevant configurations and functional specifications.
• Proficiency with various software development life cycle methodologies including waterfall and Agile development.
• Proficiency in Release & Change Management lifecycle that involves the stages such as scheduling the release/change and coordinating between teams (Business, IT & Application Supplier).
• ITIL service management experience and ITIL certification to a minimum of foundation level would be desirable, but not essential.

Track Record (Proven)

• Practical experience in a 2nd or 3nd line technical support role .
• Organised, logical and methodical, flexible person with a deadline driven working manner and an attention to detail and accuracy in both written and spoken English.
• Self motivated and able to work autonomously and within and leading a team.
• Proven experience working with and supporting business teams under pressure to delivery to deadlines.

Proven experience in taking personal accountability and ownership for all deliverables, work proactively and at pace to deliver required milestones.