POST:Business Lead

Region: UK
Location: International Headquarters (Woking, Surrey)
Division: Finance
Reports to: Head of Finance Systems Intergration Project
Position type: 18 month contract
Grade: 4
Hours: 35
Salary: £40,000 - £45,000

Closing date: 22nd January 2010
To apply: To apply for this role please send your CV and a covering letter to
recruitment.admin@plan-international.org
Purpose

Responsible for leading the functional components of the Finance System Integration Project
What does the job holder plan?

* Secures and coordinates timely representative business input to the different phases of the FSI Project e.g. Vendor selection, Project lifecycle
* Coordinates timely business sign off of business system requirements for FSI (also a key input to the Vendor selection process)
* Minimises disruption to business by working closely with Head of FSI on the FSI planning
* Plans FSI development, data migration, testing and phasing for deployment, working closely with Head of FSI, to minimise disruption to the business
* Integration Test and User Acceptance Test of FSI Project
* Training roll out for the FSI Project
* Sign off of project deliverables by the business (as required)
* Sets realistic business expectations and avoid scope creep

What are the outputs and deliverables?

* Identifies and documents ‘current’ and ‘to be’ FSI business system requirements and processes ensuring business sign off of these.
* Identifies and develops strategy and plan for FSI change management implications of business processes changes
* Integration and User Acceptance Testing plan and results and required follow up
* FSI training requirements developing / coordinating the development and delivery of the Training materials, and business system documentation
* Resolves issues raised by vendor/other stakeholders in relation to FSI requirements
* Delivers communications to the Steering Committee, Project Board, new staff, stakeholders etc as required
* Works with external software vendor to ensure the application meets all stated requirements and specifications
* Ensures vendor documents (e.g. system test cases) reflect the requirements of the system

What does the post holder oversee?

* Identifies and communicates any cross area or cross release issues that affect FSI Phase 1 and other project teams / areas
* Works with project stakeholders (internal /external) to ensure the timely migration of offices to FSI

To whom does the job holder report?

* FinanceDirector

Which teams/posts report into the job holder?

* None Criteria for success
* Functional requirements and designs for FSI are kept up to date and reflect final system
* A smooth transition occurs for the end users onto FSI
* Timely sign off of business requirements
* Minimal Changes required in the FSI solution due to missed or new requirements during deployment or in the short term after deployment

What are the primary linkages for this post?

* Serves as a liaison to the cross-project and operational community
* Liaises with rollout coordinators, providing impact assessment/readiness planning information as required
* Obtains approval of project decisions by the Steering Committee and Project Board as required

Leadership behaviours

* Business vision and direction
* Actively develops staff
* Promotes high performance
* Promotes innovation and learning
* Communicates effectively
* Behaves consistently in approach to work and decision-making

Skills specific to the post

* Able to work towards tight deadlines
* Able to negotiate changes to commitments and requirements
* Able to mediate between parties with opposing viewpoints to bring to an agreed solution
* Capacity to review ongoing and proposed projects to identify opportunities for reuse and process integration
* Appreciation of typical technical problems faced by an IT project/system
* Change Management experience associated with a major system change

Qualifications and experience

* Work experience in a multi-cultural organisation
* Proven track record working on large business led and ICT projects
* Previous/current involvement in Finance Systems Projects an advantage
* Knowledge of Plan Financial systems (GL, GTS and PPM) across different parts of the Plan organisation (NO, IH, RO, CO and PU) which support the current processes would be an advantage or equivalent experience of working with multiple financial systems in a large/global organisation
* Experience of working with resources from all levels within an organisation
* Experience of stakeholder management
* Experience in risk management advantageous
* Fluency in English – additional language skills would be an advantage