Senior Manager â€“ Strategy Delivery Lead

The role of GAO Strategy Delivery Lead, Senior Manager is a central and critical leadership position within the GAO organization focused on driving change across GAO teams and delivery of GAO Strategy. This position will own the execution of the GAO Roadmap which incorporates changes in operating model, process, and technology. The role will be at the forefront of transforming the GAO into the “best in class” global R2R organization. This individual will report directly to the Head of GAO and will work closely with GAO Leadership Team that includes Regional GAO leads, Global Process Owners (GPO), Heads of Shared Services Accounting Centers, and other senior GAO stakeholders. Working closely with the Head of GAO, this role will also closely interact with senior leaders in State Street Finance and other functions, such as Corporate IT, FRIBS, Business Finance, Finance Shared Services, MDM Teams, LFO’s, FP&A and others.

Primary Responsibilities

GAO Strategy Execution

• Primary responsibility for delivery and execution of GAO Strategy working closely with Regional GAO Leads, Global Process Owners (GPO), and Shared Service Center Leads in Poland, India, and China
• Business ownership of multi-year GAO “transformation roadmap” covering a number of key GAO transformation initiatives
• Continuous assessment of implementation risks, priorities, resource requirements, critical dependencies and assumptions behind implementation plans to ensure timely and effective execution
• Support of the GAO Head in reaching consensus on strategic vision and associated implementation plans
• Lead process improvement initiatives including standardization and rationalization of R2R processes, GAO organization, policies, infrastructure, controls, and governance mechanisms across geographies and legal entities
• Assist in developing and executing a change management framework to ensure changes in operating model and internal processes are reflected timely in the GAO organization
• Inculcate the culture of attention to Risk Excellence and continuous self-assessment to ensure compliance with internal policies and regulatory standards
• Assist in developing an operating model that ensures effective use of onshore and offshore GAO resources in the various locations across the globe
• Partner with IT, FRIBS, and external vendors to ensure “best in class” GAO organization is supported by the comprehensive process, technology, and data solutions

Transformation Leadership and GAO Business Representation

• Provide business sponsorship of process, technology and operating model change initiatives supporting and impacting GAO organization
• Lead R2R process change initiatives, working in close partnership with other GAO direct reports, GPO’s, Accounting Center Heads, Regional GAO Leads
• Prioritize the change management initiatives, create focus and mobilize the business-as-usual GAO resources to deliver on change management initiatives
• Facilitate alignment of GAO execution priorities with those of Legal Entity & BU Controllers, Billing, Regulatory Reporting, Corporate IT, FRIBS, MDM, Business Finance, Risk and other partnership organizations
• Assist in developing consistent interaction model with groups outside of GAO organization, including defining standardized SLAs, KPIs, governance, and escalation mechanisms
• Act as the interface with external vendors and consulting firms to facilitate a number of engagements across the globe during the multi-year transformation initiative

Sponsorship and Co-Accountability for Implementation of Accounting Technology/Data Solutions

• Act as a designated “GAO Business Co-owner” (together with relevant GPO’s and regional GAO Leads) of implementation of technology platforms, data solutions, and financial applications impacting GL, sub-ledgers, and other financial and accounting processes performed by GAO
• Co-represent GAO in established governance forums for such technology implementations
• Approve the scope of such implementations, project plans, and timelines, structure of the project teams, costs related to the implementations of such solutions as well as any changes to the above
• Co-own and sign off on BRDs and FRDs for Accounting Technology implementations
• Provide primary sign-off on acceptance of the implemented ‘Technology & Data Accounting solutions’ on behalf of the Controllers Organization at State Street
• Provide sign off on all ‘Technology & Data Accounting solutions’ in order for the implementation project/program to go live

Project Coordination across GAO Teams

• Play a central coordinating role on a number of projects led by the Head of GAO
• Working with designated PMO groups, track the execution of GAO initiatives
• Develop a reporting framework to assist in providing periodic updates to senior management on the status of transformation efforts
• Act as an escalation point for GAO teams during implementation and facilitate communication between key stakeholders within GAO organization
• Drive consistency in implementation approach across workstreams and GAO teams
• Provide change management support to the overall programme and individual workstreams

Qualifications/Experience

Education/Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Finance or Accounting
• CPA / CFA preferred

Experience in core Finance roles

• 10+ years of progressive career in line Finance roles at a Financial institution – CFO, Controller, FP&A, Corporate reporting, SEC/Reg Reporting, Finance Assurance, other areas of Corporate Finance.
• Alternatively, 10+ years of finance transformation leadership experience with major consulting companies
• Prior company-wide ownership of financial processes in a financial institution – close and consolidation, ledger and sub-ledger processes, master data management, risks, and controls framework
• Prior practical experience in main areas of Record to Report (R2R) process (accounting, close & consolidation, transfer pricing/allocations, balance sheet substantiation, regulatory and management reporting, etc.)
• Exposure in creating and working in share-points

Program management and Change Leadership

• Demonstrated experience in program management and delivery of change management initiatives
• Experience with delivery of sizable Finance Transformation efforts on a company-wide basis
• Demonstrated ability to partner with key technology stakeholders and external vendors on large technology implementations. Experience with large complex and cross-organization projects
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate and drive execution at all levels of the organization on a global basis
• Risk Excellence and Operational Excellence mindset with the ability to work under pressure and meet aggressive deadlines and goals

Understanding of Finance architecture and technology

• Broad understanding of Finance Technology supporting Finance Processes